The University of Louisville and University of Kentucky are set to clash in the 58th edition of their storied rivalry on Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. Both teams enter with 2-0 records, ranked No. 12 and No. 9 respectively. The game will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.
The Battle of the Bluegrass, dating back to 1913, features Louisville hosting Kentucky earlier than usual this season. No. 12 Louisville (2-0) is favored by 6.5 points according to SportsLine Consensus, with an over/under of 173.5 total points.
Kentucky holds a dominant series lead of 40-17 overall and 14-10 in Louisville. The Wildcats are riding a three-game winning streak against the Cardinals, including a 93-85 victory at Rupp Arena in 2024. The rivalry has seen massive crowds, with the largest at 73,361 during a 2012 Final Four game in the Louisiana Superdome, where Kentucky won 69-61.
Teams have met in neutral sites like Indianapolis, Knoxville, New York, Raleigh, and Evanston, Illinois.
Fans can watch on ESPN, though YouTube TV subscribers face a blackout due to an expired carriage deal with Disney. Alternatives include the ESPN app, Hulu Live, Sling, or Fubo.