Conference Big East Conference AP No. 13 | Coaches No. 13 2012 record 11–2 (5–2 Big East) | |
 | ||
Head coach Charlie Strong (3rd year) Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson (1st full as coordinator, 2nd overall year) | ||
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 defeated Florida.
Previous season
The Cardinals finished the 2011 season 7–6, and a 5–2 record in Big East play gave them a share of the conference championship with Cincinnati and West Virginia. Due to tiebreaking procedures, the Cardinals did not receive the Big East's automatic bid into a BCS bowl (West Virginia received the bid). The Cardinals were instead invited to the Belk Bowl where they were defeated by North Carolina State 24–31.