Louisville got the last laugh on the field Saturday, handing Kentucky a humiliating 41-0 beatdown at L&N Stadium. But in a cruel twist of irony, that very beatdown may have just inadvertently upgraded their biggest rival.
Had the game been close, Mark Stoops might still be the head coach today. Instead, the blowout accelerated a change that led to Kentucky hiring Oregon offensive coordinator, and former Louisville quarterback, Will Stein.
Now, Louisville fans are watching a "Card for Life" trade his red and black for Kentucky blue, and the meltdown on social media is glorious. I think the Marrow for Stein trade is one BBN would make all day every day.
Related: Will Stein reportedly hired as next Kentucky football head coach
Louisville football loses one of their own
Stein isn't just a random hire; he is a Trinity High School legend who played quarterback for the Cardinals. For years, Louisville fans claimed him as one of their brightest coaching exports. Now, he is tasked with beating them.
The timeline has shifted from gloating about the Governor's Cup to complaining about the betrayal.
Will Stein better get harassed when he returns to Louisville.
— Kenneth Playne (@KPwonThoseGames) December 2, 2025
Who tf goes to your rival school to coach?? pic.twitter.com/NqvTLXsUY3
The irony of the blowout
You almost have to appreciate the poetry of it. Louisville wanted Kentucky to keep Mark Stoops because they had finally gotten the upper hand. They didn't get their wish, instead the replacement is a modern offensive savant who grew up in their backyard and played at their school.
If Stein turns Kentucky into an offensive juggernaut, every Louisville fan will look back at that 41-0 win and wonder if they should have just taken a knee in the fourth quarter. Some fans are even thinking he will come to Kentucky just to tank.
Hear me out…..what if Will Stein goes there to Kenny Payne their football program?
— King Fiasco (@LJthaFiasc0) December 1, 2025
For Big Blue Nation, seeing the panic set in across the state is the perfect chaser to a tough weekend. Just look at these reactions:
Kentucky hiring Stein seems like the logical move but I just don’t see how a guy can succeed at a school with 1/3 the NIL budget that Oregon has and at a school that prioritizes basketball wayyyy ahead of football.
— Mikel Brown Jr. Stan Account (@MrGolfModel) December 2, 2025
Louisville by 40 in 2026
If UK really does waste 37 million to fire Stoops, regardless of the fact he played at Louisville I just don’t think Will Stein touches that job. He knows way better than to put himself in that spot. Losing situation that would waste his potential.Expecting a downgrade in the end
— JD (@ThatVillenJD) December 1, 2025
Don’t really want to see our boy, Will Stein at Kentucky
— Peter Hepner (@PHep32) December 1, 2025
Kentucky fans thinking Will Stein will be their next coach is comical.
— Magic Man (@Mike_Honcho_Man) October 21, 2025
Will is a top 5 National Assistant and will have access to any job he wants in the next 2-3 years.
He’s not going to the doormat of the SEC with less resources. It’s career suicide for someone his age.
Somebody should really tell him. You gotta love it.