The NCAA’s push to reshape college sports through conference realignments and expanded postseason tournaments persists, but some rivalries refuse to fade.
In Kentucky, the deep-seated animosity between the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals burns bright.
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On any field or court, Wildcats fans jeer the “red birds,” while Cardinals supporters return the hostility. Now, their football rivalry is heating up even more.
The NCAA’s ongoing reshaping of college sports through conference realignments and postseason expansions hasn’t dulled the fierce Kentucky-Louisville rivalry. In the Bluegrass State, the bad blood between the Wildcats and Cardinals remains as intense as ever.
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Fans on both sides bring unmatched passion, booing their opponents with gusto regardless of the sport. Now, the football rivalry just got a major jolt. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Vince Marrow, known as “Big Dog” and a key figure in Kentucky’s recruiting success under head coach Mark Stoops, is leaving Lexington to become the general manager of Louisville’s football program. Marrow, who has been Stoops’ right-hand man since 2013, will oversee roster management, recruiting, and the NCAA transfer portal for the Cardinals on a three-year deal.[](https://www.espn.com/contributor/pete-thamel/4ab01911c3c8d)
This move is a gut punch for Kentucky, especially as Stoops faces a critical 2025 season after a 4-8 record in 2024. Marrow’s recruiting prowess, particularly in Ohio and Kentucky, helped build the Wildcats into a program with eight straight bowl appearances, including two 10-win seasons. His departure to Louisville, a bitter rival, amplifies the stakes for the upcoming Governor’s Cup, especially after Louisville’s 41-14 rout of Kentucky last season.[](https://www.on3.com/news/report-kentucky-associate-head-coach-vince-marrow-finalizing-three-year-deal-as-louisville-gm/)[](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/louisville-poaches-key-assistant-vince-marrow-from-kentucky-as-gm-signaling-major-loss-for-cardinals-rival/)
The NCAA’s overhaul of college sports through conference realignments and postseason expansions continues to stir the pot, but the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry remains a fiery constant. In the Bluegrass State, Wildcats and Cardinals fans fuel their mutual disdain with unmatched fervor, no matter the sport.
RELATED: LSU’s Brian Kelly teases major Big Ten-SEC scheduling partnership
While Kentucky may not be a football powerhouse—let’s sidestep that debate—Mark Stoops has undeniably breathed life into a program that was languishing for decades. However, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports a bombshell: Vince Marrow, Stoops’ trusted “Big Dog” and recruiting maestro, is defecting to Louisville as their football general manager on a three-year deal. Marrow’s move to the archrival, overseeing roster management and recruiting, is a brutal blow for Stoops, especially heading into a pivotal 2025 season after a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2024. With the Governor’s Cup already stinging from Louisville’s 41-14 rout last year, this offseason was the last time Stoops needed to lose his right-hand man. Lexington’s high-stakes season is teetering toward a big letdown.
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