After the previous season saw the Cardinals score an upset victory in the Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators by a score of 33 – 23 , expectations were enormous heading into the next season , especially with the massive conference upheaval leading to the Big East Conference 's transformation into the American Athletic Conference . While the Cardinals once again played an outstanding season , finishing at 11 – 1 overall and 7 – 1 in the American , one loss kept the Cardinals from a return trip to the BCS ; that loss being a 38 – 35 home defeat at the hands of the UCF Knights on Friday , October 18 . After a 31 – 24 overtime victory on the road against the rival Cincinnati Bearcats to claim The Keg of Nails , Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan extended an invitation to play in the game . In addition to being Louisville 's first Russell Athletic Bowl , this will also be the Cardinals ' final game as a member of the American Athletic Conference before moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference for 2014 and will serve as a preview for future conference play , given their opponent already plays in the ACC . It will also be the final Russell Athletic Bowl to be a tie-in for the American Athletic Conference , as that tie-in will go to the Big 12 Conference from 2014 through at least 2019
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2013 Russell Athletic Bowl