2012 Louisville Cardinals football team

2012 Louisville Cardinals football
Big East co-champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 33–23 vs. Florida
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 13
APNo. 13
Record11–2 (5–2 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorShawn Watson (1st season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorVance Bedford (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumPapa John's Cardinal Stadium
2012 Big East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 13 Louisville $+  5 2   11 2  
Cincinnati +  5 2   10 3  
Rutgers +  5 2   9 4  
Syracuse +  5 2   8 5  
Pittsburgh  3 4   6 7  
Connecticut  2 5   5 7  
Temple  2 5   4 7  
South Florida  1 6   3 9  
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by third-year head coach Charlie Strong and played their home games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. They were a member of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 11–2, 5–2 in Big East play to finish in a four-way tie for the Big East championship. As the highest rated of the four Big East champions in the final BCS poll, the Cardinals received the conference's automatic bid into a BCS game. They were invited to the Sugar Bowl where they upset the heavily favored Florida Gators.