An annual traveling trophy known as the Keg of Nails is given to the winner of the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Louisville Cardinals college football rivalry game. Four conferences have been involved in the rivalry: the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA, and most recently the Big East Conference, which changed its name to the American Athletic Conference in 2013. However, both teams are members of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The Cincinnati- Louisville rivalry is thought to be the second-oldest rivalry in Cincinnati history, after the yearly meeting with the Miami RedHawks, and the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team. After the 2013 season, the rivalry was put on hold as Louisville joined the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2014. Cincinnati has a 30-23-1 series lead. Cincinnati was invited to join the Big 12 league in the interim, and it joined the same in 2023.
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What is the rivalry between Cincinnati Bearcats and Louisville Cardinals called?
The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Louisville Cardinals have carried on their rivalry for 54 years as of 2024. The rivalry is called Keg of Nails. This is because, the trophy for the rivalry is a replica of a keg that was used to ship nails. This keg of nails trophy was introduced as a result of fraternity chapters of both UC and U of L determining that the players of the winning team in this rivalry are "tough as nails" as per Card Chronicle. Unfortunately , the present award is the replica of the original award as it was misplaced by the Lousville Cardinals due to some of the reconstructions of their offices.
The Keg of Nails Trophy Winner year by Year
The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Louisville Cardinals forms the basis of the Keg of Nails rophy rivalry. The two teams first faced off on October 2, 1929, with Cincinnati defeating Louisville 7-0. Louisville, on the other hand, goth the first victory of the rivalry on November 14, 1970 by defeating Cincinnati 28-14. In the present times, Cincinnati leads the rivalty with a record of 30-23-1.
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | October 2, 1929 | Parkway Field | Cincinnati | 7–0 |
| 2 | September 24, 1938 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 19–0 |
| 3 | September 28, 1940 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 7–0 |
| 4 | September 27, 1941 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 28–7 |
| 5 | September 26, 1942 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 51–0 |
| 6 | October 7, 1950 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 28–20 |
| 7 | October 13, 1951 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 38–0 |
| 8 | November 7, 1953 | Parkway Field | Cincinnati | 41–0 |
| 9 | November 12, 1966 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 17–3 |
| 10 | November 11, 1967 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 13–7 |
| 11 | November 9, 1968 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 37–7 |
| 12 | November 8, 1969 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 31–21 |
| 13 | November 14, 1970 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 28–14 |
| 14 | November 27, 1971 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 19–16 |
| 15 | October 28, 1972 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 38–13 |
| 16 | October 27, 1973 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 10–8 |
| 17 | September 28, 1974 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 7–6 |
| 18 | September 27, 1975 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 46–27 |
| 19 | November 27, 1976 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 20–6 |
| 20 | September 17, 1977 | Cardinal Stadium | Tie | 17–17 |
| 21 | September 23, 1978 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 28–14 |
| 22 | September 22, 1979 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 22–19 |
| 23 | November 15, 1980 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 20–0 |
| 24 | November 14, 1981 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 24–0 |
| 25 | September 11, 1982 | Riverfront Stadium | Cincinnati | 38–16 |
| 26 | September 24, 1983 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 31–23 |
| 27 | October 27, 1984 | Riverfront Stadium | Cincinnati | 40–21 |
| 28 | October 19, 1985 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 31–9 |
| 29 | October 4, 1986 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 24–17 |
| 30 | September 12, 1987 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 25–0 |
| 31 | October 29, 1988 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 21–6 |
| 32 | September 30, 1989 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 37–17 |
| 33 | November 3, 1990 | Riverfront Stadium | Louisville | 41–16 |
| 34 | October 5, 1991 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 30–7 |
| 35 | October 31, 1992 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 27–17 |
| 36 | October 26, 1996 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 10–7 |
| 37 | November 8, 1997 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 28–9 |
| 38 | October 3, 1998 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 62–19 |
| 39 | November 6, 1999 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 23–13 |
| 40 | October 14, 2000 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 38–24 |
| 41 | October 27, 2001 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 28–13 |
| 42 | November 7, 2002 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 24–14 |
| 43 | November 28, 2003 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 43–40 |
| 44 | November 27, 2004 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 70–7 |
| 45 | October 22, 2005 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 46–22 |
| 46 | October 14, 2006 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 23–17 |
| 47 | October 13, 2007 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 28–24 |
| 48 | November 14, 2008 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 28–20 |
| 49 | November 24, 2009 | Nippert Stadium | Cincinnati | 41–10 |
| 50 | October 15, 2010 | Cardinal Stadium | Cincinnati | 35–27 |
| 51 | October 15, 2011 | Paul Brown Stadium | Cincinnati | 25–16 |
| 52 | October 26, 2012 | Cardinal Stadium | Louisville | 34–31 |
| 53 | December 5, 2013 | Nippert Stadium | Louisville | 31–24 |
| 54 | December 17, 2022 | Fenway Park | Louisville | 24–7 |
FAQs on List of Keg of Nails Trophy Winner Year by Year
A. The Keg of Nails is an annual trophy given to the winner of the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Louisville Cardinals football rivalry.
A. The Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA, Big East Conference (now AAC), and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) have all been a part of the Cincinnati-Louisville rivalry.
A. The Keg of Nails trophy is a replica keg used to ship nails, representing that the players who win the game are "tough as nails."
A. The Cincinnati-Louisville rivalry is the oldest rivalry for the Louisville football team and the second-oldest in Cincinnati history, next to the Miami RedHawks.
A. The rivalry was put on hold after the 2013 season as Louisville joined the ACC. Cincinnati leads the series 30-23-1.
