UofL, IU sign deal to play three-game series in football, basketball

Basketball rivalry starts in 2016, football in 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2015) — The University of Louisville and Indiana University, separated by only 100 miles, have signed a deal to play a three-game series in basketball and football.

The first basketball game will at a neutral site, Bankers Life Arena in Indianapolis, on Dec. 31, 2016. The teams will then meet at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on Dec. 9, 2017 and at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. on Dec. 8, 2018.

Indiana and Louisville will kick off the football series at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sept. 16, 2023 with seating split equally between the two schools. The second football game will be played in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville on Sept. 7, 2024 and the three-game series will be completed at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on Sept. 6, 2025.

“I’ve felt for a long time that these series were a natural for fans from both universities and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition,” said Tom Jurich, UofL vice president and director of athletics. “We appreciate the efforts of Fred Glass and his staff in helping to pull this together. We have played each other in most sports and it has been a very friendly rivalry. There are a lot of fans in Southern Indiana that support both schools who I know will particularly enjoy the competition.”

Indiana and Louisville are recognized among the top 10 men’s basketball programs of all time, with the schools combining for 18 Final Fours and eight NCAA Championships. Indiana holds a 10-7 series advantage, with Louisville winning the last matchup 94-74 on Dec. 9, 2014, in the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic at New York’s Madison Square Garden. That was the first time the teams had met since 2003.

“We have tremendous respect for Indiana and all of their sports programs,” said Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino. “We’re very excited to have Indiana on our schedule. It’s a natural rivalry and it’s great for both universities. Tom (Crean) and I spoke about possible future games while we were together at a function last fall and I’m glad to see that it has become a reality.”

The two border foes have met twice on the gridiron, with Indiana claiming both contests that were both played in Bloomington. The Hoosiers won the first encounter 41-28 on Sept. 14, 1985, and came back the following year to shut out the Cardinals 21-0 on Sept. 13, 1986. It will be the first meeting for the Cardinals’ football program against a team from the Big Ten Conference since falling to Illinois in 2001.

“We are thrilled to renew this regional football rivalry against Indiana,” said Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino. “This will be a great series for both schools, and certainly exciting for both fan bases. I know this series is something our fans have wanted for a long time, and I’m excited that both schools were able to work out a deal.”