There simply isn't a better storyline in college football right now than the war between the Louisville Cardinals and the Kentucky Wildcats.
And the entire reason why? The head coaches may be the same person, background wise.
Jeff Brohm and Will Stein have way too much in common for this not to be a Hollywood movie script. When you look at their resumes side-by-side, it is almost terrifying how identical their paths to this exact moment have been.
The unbelievable Will Stein and Jeff Brohm connection is college football's best new rivalry
Both of these men were born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Both of them attended the same high school, Trinity High School, where they set massive passing records. And both of them went on to play quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals.
These two guys got their football start in the same city, and they have a lot of the same traits. But now, they are sitting on opposite sides of the most bitter rivalry in the state, and they are competing for a lot of the same guys.
Which one wins that battle more often will lead to more wins on the field. And there is also a big difference between the two men that we have to talk about.
The massive difference in head coaching experience
The major difference right now lies in their head coaching experience. Jeff Brohm has been at the helm in Louisville for three full years now, completely establishing his culture after a successful six-year run at Purdue. He has been through the season as a head coach before, making all the decisions and hiring/firing staff.
Will Stein, on the other hand, is just breaking into the head coaching ranks. But if his aggressive recruiting, massive staff hires, and relentless culture change are any indication, he is taking to the big chair incredibly fast. He brings a youthful, offensive-minded energy to Lexington that is already turning heads nationally.
A cutthroat recruiting war to avenge the Governor's Cup
The two programs have already tangled multiple times on the recruiting trail this offseason, with Louisville coming out on top so far. But this isn't just about winning one game in November; this is a 365-day war for state supremacy.
Last season, Louisville humiliated Kentucky with a devastating 41-0 shutout. It was a massive wake-up call for the Big Blue Nation. Now, Will Stein is pouring every ounce of his energy into making sure that kind of embarrassment never happens again.
When you have two highly competitive former quarterbacks from the exact same high school and college going head-to-head, the stakes are automatically raised.
College football desperately needs great, organic rivalries between coaches. Everyone loves a good rivalry game, but when the coaches get involved, it takes it up a notch. And add in Vince Marrow? This rivalry has a chance to be special over the next few years.