"football"

In the third quarter, things looked promising for Louisville as they forced a USC punt and Quincy Riley made a huge play with a 61-yard interception return, the longest in Holiday Bowl history. Guerendo capitalized on the opportunity and scored his second touchdown of the game with a one-yard run, cutting the deficit to seven points.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between USC and Louisville on the football field. Head coach Jeff Brohm expressed his excitement for the upcoming match, stating, “We are excited to take on USC on Wednesday night. For our football team to go against such a great team, it’s a great chance for our team to showcase what we are all about. Our guys are excited to get back on the field.”

Head coach Mark Stoops expressed his gratitude for being able to participate in such a prestigious bowl game. He acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, but emphasized his team’s readiness. “We’re excited to be here. We understand we have a tremendous challenge in front of us with Clemson, but our team is preparing well,” said Stoops.

Key, a talented sophomore hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, had an impressive season. He led the Wildcats with 553 yards receiving and was second on the team with 38 receptions. Additionally, he scored five touchdowns.

Stoops expressed his satisfaction with the class, noting the hard work and dedication that went into assembling it. He emphasized the balance between high school recruits and transfer portal additions, highlighting the team’s ability to address immediate needs while also considering long-term development.

Among the signees are nine offensive players, including one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, and three offensive linemen. The Cardinals also added five defensive players, including one linebacker, two defensive linemen, and two defensive backs.

Shorts, who is 29 years old, joins the Wildcats after spending three seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Houston Cougars under Dana Holgorsen. He also served as the Director of Player Development for the Cougars for two years. Shorts expressed his excitement about joining the Big Blue Nation and the opportunity to work under Stoops and offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He acknowledged their accomplishments at Kentucky and in the Southeastern Conference and expressed his desire to contribute to their continued success.

Despite the potential challenges, UK’s offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, acknowledges that Clemson poses a significant threat. Coen describes Clemson as being built like an SEC program, with strong depth upfront and a talented front seven. He emphasizes that Clemson plays a lot of man coverage and applies pressure with a five-man rush, requiring Kentucky’s offense to be on top of their game.

Thrash had an impressive season with the Cardinals, leading the squad in receiving with 63 receptions for 858 yards and six touchdowns. His contributions were instrumental in the team’s success, as they finished with a 10-3 record and made an appearance in the ACC title game.

“It’s kind of ironic to see them again,” Leary said about facing Clemson. “They’re a great team. We know it’s going to be a good challenge. It’s up to us to prepare during this time and make sure that we’re ready to take them on.”