Enquirer news services

Louisville will earn the biggest victory in school history if it upsets the third-ranked Miami Hurricanes Thursday night.

For more than two dozen Cardinals, it's more personal.

Many of the 26 Floridians on Louisville's roster never even got a look from Miami when they were recruited. Some have close friends who play for the Hurricanes (4-0).

Whatever the reason, all of them have something to prove when the 18th-ranked Cardinals (4-0) visit the Orange Bowl.

"It's very important," said senior J.R. Russell, a Tampa native and Louisville's leading receiver. "We look at it as life or death."

MIAMI REDHAWKS: After a career day in Miami's 47-27 defeat of Kent State Saturday, senior wideout Michael Larkin (St. Xavier High) was named Mid-American Conference's East Division offensive player of the week.

Larkin, who has caught a pass in a Miami record 43 consecutive games, had career highs of nine receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Miami's career leader in receptions (167), receiving yards (2,320) and receiving touchdowns (30) ranks second nationally among active players in career receiving touchdowns, trailing only Michigan's Braylon Edwards by two.

MU (3-3, 2-1 MAC) plays at Buffalo (1-5, 1-3) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

KENTUCKY: It has become a formula for UK - stay with the opponent until the second half, then collapse under a series of errors.

"The good news is, somewhere in the third quarter, we had a shot at it, and I'm sick to my stomach the way we screwed it up," coach Rich Brooks said Monday, reflecting on the Wildcats'45-17 loss to Alabama on Saturday.

As Kentucky (1-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) tries to correct what's wrong, the schedule won't do them any favors. Four of Kentucky's final six opponents, including South Carolina (4-2, 2-2) on Saturday, either are or have been ranked in the top 25 this month.

Brooks and players said Monday it's becoming more challenging to stay together as a team through the mounting losses. Brooks acknowledged that fans had reasons to be upset with the Wildcats' recent performances, but stopped short of taking full blame for the team's woes, pointing instead to NCAA sanctions, including the loss of 19 scholarships, that occurred before his arrival.