Louisville football's latest bowl projections before Governor's Cup

Despite a current three-game losing streak, Louisville football still can reach nine wins to end the 2025 season. The Cardinals host Kentucky in the Governor’s Cup on Saturday and will play in a bowl game to close the year.

UofL reached bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season and has gone 2-2 in the bowl games. With one game left in the regular season, Louisville has been projected to play in several bowl games — with the most common being the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Here are Louisville’s latest bowl projections after Week 13 of the college football season:

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl 

2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida (ESPN)

Pro Football Network: Louisville vs. East Carolina

In 2010, the Gasparilla Bowl was named the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, and the Cardinals defeated Southern Miss, 31-28. Jeremy Wright scored on a 95-yard kickoff return, and quarterback Justin Burke went 20-for-32 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Louisville hasn’t played East Carolina since 2004, when the Cardinals won 59-7 at home. UofL has a 6-4 lead over the Pirates.

Wasabi Fenway Bowl 

2:15 p.m. Dec. 27 at Fenway Park, Boston (ESPN)

Mark Schlabach: Louisville vs. South Florida

The Keg of Nails rivalry game between UofL and Cincinnati was renewed three years ago when the programs played in the Fenway Bowl. Scott Satterfield left Louisville for Cincinnati, and Deion Branch, now UofL's wide receivers coach, was named the interim head coach. Branch jokingly retired from head coaching on top after the Cards earned a 24-7 win over the Bearcats. Maurice Turner had 160 yards on 31 carries. Jawhar Jordan scored twice, carrying the ball nine times for 115 yards.

Louisville and South Florida haven’t played since the 2022 season; the Cardinals won, 41-3. Louisville has a 7-5 all-time series lead over the Bulls.

Go Bowling Military Bowl 

11 a.m. Dec. 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (ESPN)

The Athletic: Louisville vs. Navy

Louisville has never played in the Military Bowl, which began in 2008, but Navy is one of three programs to have played in the bowl three times. The Midshipmen are 2-1, with their most recent appearance in 2017. Navy beat Virginia, 49-7.

UofL and Navy have only played twice (1993-94), with the Cardinals winning both meetings.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl 

2 p.m. Dec. 31 at Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas

College Football News: Louisville vs. Arizona State

Louisville could be back in El Paso this year after beating Washington, 35-34, in last year’s Sun Bowl. Harrison Bailey, who transferred to Florida during the offseason, was named the offensive MVP after he threw three touchdowns and passed for 164 yards. Antonio Watts had the game-winning pass breakup when Washington attempted a 2-point conversion. The Sun Bowl was also the program’s first bowl appearance in 1958. The Cards beat Drake, 34-20.

Arizona State and Louisville played each other three times in the 1990s but haven’t faced one another since the Cards won, 25-22, in 1994.

Duke’s Mayo Bowl 

8 p.m. Jan. 2 at Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, North Carolina (ESPN)

Kyle Bonagura: Louisville vs. Tennessee

Athlon Sports: Louisville vs. Missouri

Louisville may get to Charlotte after all. Two media outlets are projecting the Cardinals to make the Mayo Bowl to play either Tennessee or Missouri. They’ve never beaten either program, going 0-6 against the SEC teams. Louisville also doesn’t have a good record in the Mayo Bowl. It was called the Belk Bowl when the Cardinals lost to Georgia, 37-14, in 2014 and N.C. State, 31-24, in 2011.

Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football bowl projections range from Fenway to Mayo