Checking the ticker for a "Cardinals" score on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-January usually feels like a bit of a gamble. Are we talking about the NFL's desert birds, who just wrapped up a bruising 17-game gauntlet, or are we checking in on college hoops? Maybe you're even looking for the early ripples of MLB spring training news.
The short answer for today, January 14, 2026: If you are looking for the Arizona Cardinals, the season is officially over. They played their final game on January 4, 2026, falling to the Los Angeles Rams with a final score of 37-20.
If you're asking what is the score on the cardinals game for college basketball, things are moving fast. The Ball State Cardinals just took a tough 87-77 loss against Akron last night. Meanwhile, the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals were handed a 79-70 defeat by Virginia on Tuesday night. It's been a rough 24 hours for teams wearing the red bird on their jersey.
The NFL Cardinals: Why There Is No Score Today
It’s a bit of a somber vibe in Glendale right now. The Arizona Cardinals aren't playing today because they didn't make the postseason cut. Honestly, the 2025-2026 campaign was a grind that most fans would probably like to forget.
They finished with a 3-14 record, landing them at the bottom of the NFC West. That final game against the Rams at SoFi Stadium actually looked competitive for a minute. Jacoby Brissett, filling in at quarterback, hit Michael Wilson for a 43-yard touchdown in the second half that actually put Arizona in the lead, 20-16.
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Then the wheels came off.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams' offense woke up and hung 21 unanswered points on them in the fourth quarter. It was a classic "close but no cigar" situation that defined much of their season. Since then, the organization has already shifted into "rebuild mode," which in NFL terms basically means firing people and looking at draft boards. Head coach Jonathan Gannon was let go following the season finale, so the "score" everyone is watching now is who they hire to replace him.
College Hoops: Louisville and Ball State Updates
If you were looking for a live score today, you likely just missed the window. Most of the major "Cardinals" programs played on Tuesday night, January 13.
Louisville's ACC Battle
The No. 20 Louisville Cardinals ran into a buzzsaw against No. 16 Virginia. It was one of those games where you could tell within the first five minutes how it was going to go. Virginia opened with a 14-0 run. Louisville spent the rest of the night playing catch-up, but they never quite got over the hump, eventually losing 79-70.
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Isaac McKneely, who actually transferred from Virginia, led Louisville with 23 points. It's a bit of a "bittersweet homecoming" narrative there, but the score didn't reflect the effort.
Ball State in the MAC
Over in the Mid-American Conference, the Ball State Cardinals traveled to Akron. They kept it interesting, led by a massive 30-point performance from Armoni Zeigler. But Akron’s home-court advantage is no joke—they’ve won 25 straight at James A. Rhodes Arena. The final there was 87-77 in favor of the Zips.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Score That Isn't a Game
If you're looking for the St. Louis Cardinals, you won't find a box score, but you will find a massive trade headline that hit the wires just yesterday. In a move that has basically set the MLB world on fire, the Cardinals traded 10-time Gold Glover Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Technically, there’s no "game score," but St. Louis is "losing" about $31 million in that deal. They are paying the Diamondbacks to take Arenado's contract off their hands as part of a massive roster purge. After already shipping out Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to Boston earlier this winter, the Cardinals are officially tearing it all down.
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Spring training is still over a month away. The first chance to see a St. Louis "score" will be February 21, 2026, when they face the Marlins in Jupiter, Florida.
Summary of Recent Cardinal Scores (January 13-14, 2026)
| Team | Sport | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | NCAA Basketball | Virginia | 70-79 | Loss |
| Ball State | NCAA Basketball | Akron | 77-87 | Loss |
| Arizona | NFL | LA Rams (Jan 4) | 20-37 | Loss |
What to Watch Next
Since there isn't a game happening this exact second, here is how you can stay ahead of the next set of Cardinal scores:
- Louisville Men’s Basketball: Keep an eye on the ACC standings. Their next big test is coming up this weekend. They are currently 12-5 overall and need to bounce back to stay in the Top 25.
- MLB Spring Training: Mark February 21 on your calendar. That is the first "live" score we will get for St. Louis as they debut a very young, post-Arenado lineup.
- NFL Draft Prep: For Arizona Cardinals fans, the "score" to watch is the 2026 NFL Draft order. With a 3-14 record, they are currently sitting in a prime position for a top-three pick.
The lack of a live game today is actually a bit of a breather. Between the NFL season wrap-up and the MLB trade chaos, it’s a weird time to be a Cardinals fan, regardless of the sport. If you’re checking the score, you’re usually looking for a win, but right now, most of these teams are just trying to find their footing for the future.
Keep an eye on the Saturday college basketball slate for the next live Cardinals action.