LEXINGTON, Ky. — Malik Cunningham could have been in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday as a part of ACC Soccer Media Days, however the Louisville Cardinals quarterback had an SEC college on his thoughts.
As quoted on WDRB.com, Cunningham vowed that U of L is ready to show the tables on archrival Kentucky when the battle for the Governor’s Cup performs out at Kroger Subject on Nov. 26.
“The entire metropolis, we’ve a chip on our shoulders so no one counts us out,” Cunningham mentioned. “They swear the group up the road is that a lot better than us, and we’re going to point out that they’re not this yr.”
Nobody ought to have extra motivation when UK and U of L renew their annual grudge-fest than Cunningham. As Kentucky has run off a dominant three-game stretch within the Governor’s Cup rivalry, profitable 56-10 (2018), 45-13 (2019) and 52-21 (2021), Cunningham has been the shedding starter at QB in every of the routs.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound super-senior has joined ex-UK QB Jared Lorenzen as the one beginning quarterbacks within the trendy historical past (since 1994) of the Wildcats-Cardinals rivalry to have misplaced thrice. Lorenzen did have a Governor’s Cup win on his ledger, although, too, directing UK to a 22-17 upset of No. 17 Louisville within the 2002 season opener.
So when the Cats and Playing cards throw down in 2022, Cunningham will probably be searching for to keep away from turning into the primary quarterback within the trendy historical past of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry to lose 4 instances as a starter.
Although UK’s one-sided domination of U of L over the previous three video games means the Wildcats ought to be thought of the clear favourite in opposition to the Cardinals till we see otherwise on the sector, there are some causes to assume Louisville may need some hope in 2022.
The first edge the Cats have held over the Playing cards since 2018 has been apparent: Bodily Kentucky offensive strains have mashed overmatched Louisville defenses on the line of scrimmage. Whereas outscoring U of L 153-44 since 2018, UK has outrushed the Cardinals by 1,219 to 579 yards.
Even that staggering disparity doesn’t inform the complete degree of Kentucky domination. In these three video games, UK has scored a mixed 17 speeding touchdowns. On 10 of these 17 TD runs, the Wildcats rusher entered the top zone actually with out ever being touched by a Louisville defender.
In its three consecutive blowouts over Louisville, Kentucky has not been content material with only one 100-yards-plus rusher in every sport. The Wildcats have had two gamers with greater than 100 yards on the bottom in every of their wins over U of L since 2018.
Nonetheless, having had 5 offensive linemen drafted by NFL groups since 2019, Kentucky enters 2022 with extra uncertainty concerning the fortitude of the “Large Blue Wall” than it has had in years.
UK will probably be breaking in three new offensive line starters, together with each tackles. The Wildcats are additionally shifting one in every of their returning regulars, Eli Cox, from guard to middle.
In the meantime, U of L hopes the arrival through the switch portal of Jermayne Lole, the 6-2, 305-pound ex-Arizona State nostril guard, will give its run protection an anchor that has been sorely missing.
The Kentucky schedule the week previous to the Louisville sport will not be as favorable because it has been previous UK’s prior three conferences with U of L. Earlier than its final three video games with the Playing cards, the Cats confronted Center Tennessee State (2018), Tennessee at Martin (2019) and New Mexico State (2021), respectively.
This yr, UK will play SEC East titan Georgia the competition previous to U of L. If the Kentucky season goes because the Large Blue Nation hopes, that assembly with Kirby Sensible’s defending nationwide champions will probably be for the SEC East crown.
Even when it isn’t, Kentucky-Georgia contests are inclined to function hyper-physical, hand-to-hand fight within the trenches. These form of video games can depart a group with a hangover the next week. It’s in all probability not an accident that Mark Stoops-coached UK groups are 2-7 within the week following video games in opposition to Georgia.
The final time U of L beat the Cats, in 2017, it got here the week after Kentucky had performed at Georgia.
When he appears within the mirror, Louisville’s Cunningham can see one space through which U of L should enhance considerably to play competitively in opposition to Kentucky. In his three profession begins vs. UK, Cunningham has accomplished solely 23 of 39 passes for 287 yards and run for under 151 yards mixed.
Total, Cunningham had a boffo season in 2021, throwing for two,841 yards and 20 touchdowns whereas working for 1,031 yards and 20 scores.
Nonetheless, in final yr’s Governor’s Cup battle, Kentucky’s Will Levis was the very best quarterback on the sector, finishing 14 of 18 passes and speeding for 113 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Levis will probably be again for an additional likelihood to show “L’s down” in 2022. To again up his discuss of closing the hole on “the group up the road,” Malik Cunningham will must be the very best QB enjoying at Kroger Subject on Nov. 26.
©2022 Lexington Herald-Chief. Go to kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.
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