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
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
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.