U of L past Notre Dame, ready for UK

Forty-eight hours after the University of Louisville left South Bend, Ind., with a thrilling 31-28 win over Notre Dame, Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino insisted his team has moved onto the next opponent.

In this case, it's not hard to believe him. U of L hosts the University of Kentucky at 12 p.m. Saturday in the 27th edition of the heated in-state rivalry.

"We've had times where you win a big game and you worry about your next game," Petrino said, "but I think playing Kentucky and being senior day … that we'll be able to focus and get ready."

Related:A look at Louisville's path to the Orange Bowl

RELATED: Himmelsbach | Was Notre Dame win historic?

RELATED: Transcript: Pre-UK Q&A with Bobby Petrino

Beyond the rivalry, which in this state is more than enough motivation, U of L (8-3) has its eyes on its second Orange Bowl appearance in program history. Petrino led the Cards there after the 2006 season.

Quite a few dominoes need to fall before a berth in one of college football's most prestigious bowls can materialize, but beating Kentucky's part of that equation. So was beating Notre Dame.

"There are some things sitting out there for us and some things have to happen," Petrino said. "What we really need to concentrate on is winning our next (game) and having the ability to have good things happen if we take care of our own business.

"Certainly they understand there's an opportunity out there to go to a really good bowl game."

Saturday's win lifted a huge weight off the Cardinals' shoulders.

For months now they'd been disappointed with their 23-21 loss at Virginia. The Cavaliers are 5-6 after a hot start, and Louisville had a lead in the game's waning moments but coughed up the win on a muffed punt return.

In terms of name recognition, Notre Dame matched the importance of U of L's games against Clemson and Florida State, and coming this late on the schedule meant it was Louisville's last chance for a win against a big-name opponent.

It was obvious how much emotion and energy the Cards expended on Notre Dame once Kyle Brindza's game-tying field-goal attempt sailed wide right. U of L's players rushed the field and eventually ran to the locker room to celebrate.

But Brandon Radcliff, the running back who churned through 100-plus rushing yards for the third time this season in the Notre Dame win, left no doubt on Monday about where U of L's energy and emotion is now. It's all on Kentucky and the Governor's Cup, just like Petrino said.

"We all feel like we're ready right now," he said. "We put (Notre Dame) behind us."

In fact, Radcliff wasn't the first to say that. It took star linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin all of 15 minutes after Saturday's game to turn his attention to Kentucky.

"I think we all know Coach Petrino doesn't like Kentucky," he quipped.

That's why it wasn't hard to believe U of L's coach on Monday when he said his team had moved on from Notre Dame. And that's why this is as big of a week as any on Louisville's football schedule.

Extra points: Louisville quarterback Reggie Bonnafon earned Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the week honors for the second time this season after his impressive performance at Notre Dame. The quarterback threw for 180 yards and one touchdown and ran 11 times for 67 yards, excluding his four sacks, and two touchdowns.

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).