The expectations surrounding Louisville football are higher than they have been in years.
Entering his fourth season at the helm, head coach Jeff Brohm looks to take the Cardinals to the next level. In each of Brohm’s first three years, the Cardinals have won at least nine total games. The Cards are coming off another bowl victory, and they enter 2026 with legitimate aspirations of winning a conference championship.
The Cardinals were picked third in the ACC’s preseason media poll. However, if Louisville is going to make a run for a championship, they will have to take a step forward.
The first month of the season is arguably the most important, facing a national semifinalist from last year and one of the ACC’s top dogs. Avoiding the likes of Miami and Clemson, the schedule overall is favorable for a team looking to get back to the ACC Championship and punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff for the very first time.
Week 1: vs Ole Miss (Nashville)
Prediction: Louisville 27, Ole Miss 20
There is no easing into things this year. The Cardinals will face a highly touted Ole Miss team in a neutral-site affair. Also, this matchup will be the first between ranked teams in the 2026 season.
Ole Miss had one of the most explosive offenses in college football last season and returns Heisman contenders Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. Chambliss took over for Austin Simmons after he went down with an injury, and never looked back. The former Ferris State QB finished third nationally in passing yards with a 22:3 TD/INT ratio. Lacy finished third nationally in yards (1,567), second in rushing touchdowns (24), and enters this season as a frontrunner for the Doak Walker award. The Rebels lose their top-two pass catchers but return Deuce Alexander, who racked up nearly 700 yards, and is positioned for a heightened role this year.
Chambliss will also get to throw to Johntay Cook and Darrell Gill Jr, Syracuse’s two leading receivers from last season. Despite losing Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr, this Rebel offense will once again be one of the best not just in the SEC, but in the entire country.
While it wasn’t a focal point of their 2025 success, their defense had a pretty decent campaign. While mostly full of transfers, they retain some major pieces of the defensive line. Suntarine Perkins, Will Echoles and Kam Franklin are all running it back. They could even return some starters from last year who were granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The linebacker group got an upgrade too, with the addition of former California Golden Bear Luke Ferrelli. This unit will give the Louisville offense a serious challenge in the first game of the season.
However, Jeff Brohm has a knack for pulling the big upset. He has knocked off a top-12 team each of the previous three years for the Cardinals. Ole Miss will begin the season ranked ninth, and is likely the highest-ranked team the Cardinals will play this season. If you like history, and Brohm’s success in big games, this is a popular upset pick.
Week 2: vs Villanova
Prediction: Louisville 45, Villanova 14
The Cardinals welcome the Wildcats on their Friday night home opener. While you probably haven’t heard much of the Villanova football program, don’t completely write this matchup off yet. The Wildcats are coming off an appearance in the FCS Playoff semifinals in a season where they won 12 games.
The Wildcats averaged about 30 PPG last year, but face a major problem at the quarterback position. Pat McQuaide, who was coming off a 3,000 yard season, was recently denied eligibility by the Patriot League after previously receiving an injunction to play. The Wildcats were warned that if McQuaide plays in any games, then they will be forfeited. If he is indeed ineligible, there isn’t a clear option to replace him; much of the room has no experience. However, running back Ja’briel Mace returns after logging 978 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Notably, Mace broke Villanova’s single-game rushing record, going for 291 yards and four touchdowns against Towson in 2025. If Villanova doesn’t feel good about their situation at quarterback, Mace will be the centerpiece of the offense.
The Wildcat defense loses many pieces after being a top-20 unit in the FCS. This could allow the inexperienced Lincoln Kienholz to find his footing and have a big day. The Cardinals should be able to handle the Wildcats soundly in Week 2.
Week 3: vs SMU
Prediction: Louisville 30, SMU 24
An argument could be made that this is the most important game of the entire season for the Cards. Since they joined the conference in 2024, the Mustangs have been very successful, going a combined 14-3 against ACC opponents. Louisville is 0-2 against SMU since they’ve joined the ACC, most recently falling 38-6 in a game to forget for Cardinal fans.
Star QB Kevin Jennings is back for a final year in Dallas. Last year, Jennings had a career high in passing yards (3,641) and passing touchdowns (26). As Louisville fans are all-too familiar with, Jennings is a dual threat who isn’t afraid to use his legs, having 558 career rushing yards. However, he is losing his top-two targets from last year, and that will be an adjustment he will have to make.
There are certainly more concerns for the Mustangs’ defense than their offense. They finished 2025 as the 88th total defense (NCAA stats), and are losing their two-best players on that side of the ball. While the linebacking core is solid, the biggest liability is the secondary. Last season, the Mustangs finished second-to-last in the entire FBS in passing yards allowed per game.
This game might be determined by the first team to hit 30, and if Lincoln Kienholz begins to feel comfortable by this point, he could be in store for a good outing.
Week 4: vs Wake Forest
Prediction: Louisville 28, Wake Forest 20
In the first year without former head coach Dave Clawson, the Demon Deacons had their best season since 2021. New head coach Jake Dickert led the school to a 9-4 record and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory, also finishing runner-up to Tony Elliot for ACC Coach of the Year.
Wake brings in UNC transfer Gio Lopez as the starting QB after spending a season in Chapel Hill. Lopez said the move from Belichick and UNC to Dickert and Wake has been a ‘breath of fresh air’ after citing the struggles he went through last season. If Lopez is able to return to his South Alabama form, where he threw for over 2,500 yards and 18 TDs in 2024, the Deacs should be doing business once again in the ACC. The offense is losing leading rusher Demond Claiborne, but retaining leading receiver Carlos Hernandez in a completely re-tooled room.
The Wake defense did the heavy-lifting last season, finishing with a top-30 unit, fourth in the ACC (NCAA stats). The Demon Deacons return many defensive players, including junior safety Davaughn Patterson, who logged 80 tackles last season. They also boast a strong defensive line and rushing defense, which placed sixth in the ACC in 2025.
Wake Forest will present a good challenge for Louisville, and it may be one of those games that takes the offense a little bit to get going. However, I think a collective effort from both sides of the ball will prevail the Cards to a 4-0 start.
Week 5: at NC State
Prediction: Louisville 20, NC State 31
NC State is coming off an 8-5 season, ending the year on a three-game winning streak. It’s safe to say that 2025 was very much an up-and-down year for the Wolfpack. Dave Doeren’s team started out 3-0 before losing four of the next five. Then, they responded by beating #8 Georgia Tech 48-36. With a favorable schedule this year, they look to finally take the next step.
The Wolfpack are led by star quarterback, junior CJ Bailey, who is coming off a terrific sophomore season. Bailey had over 3,000 passing yards with 25 passing TDs, along with six TDs on the ground. His 6-foot-6 frame makes him a tremendously gifted athlete under center.
Surrounding Bailey, the Wolfpack offense has dealt with major turnover. Near 1,000 yard rusher, Hollywood Smothers, is now at Texas, and his top-five pass catchers from last season are gone. While there isn’t much continuity on that side of the ball, Bailey has some solid newcomers at receiver. Buffalo transfer Victor Snow and App State transfer Davion Dozier should make an immediate impact.
Things were suspect on the defensive side last season, finishing 109th in total defense and 130th in passing defense. Luckily for the Wolfpack, they return some productive starters and add talented transfers. While the defense may not be in the top half in the ACC this year, it will be improved.
This is easily a game where the Cardinals may trip up. The Wolfpack offense may be one of the better ones in the ACC, and Bailey can catapult them into being real contenders. Carter-Finley Stadium is one of the most underrated venues in the conference, and this will be the first true road test of the season for Louisville.
Week 6: vs Florida State
Prediction: Louisville 24, Florida State 20
Mike Norvell enters this season with a red hot seat. He holds an overall record of 38-34 as head coach of the Seminoles. In 2023, the Noles became the first undefeated power conference champion to be left out of the College Football Playoff, and since then, things haven’t been the same in Tallahassee. After starting 3-0 last season, including a win against Alabama, the Noles only managed to win two more games.
The 2025 season, while certainly disappointing, was a step forward from 2024. The Noles ranked top-10 in yards per game and top-30 in points per game (NCAA stats), and are returning some impact players on both sides of the ball. First Team All-ACC WR Duce Robinson is coming off a 1,000 yard season, and edge rusher Mandrell Desir recorded 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss as a freshman.
The Seminoles also added former Texas RB Quintrevion Wisner. He rushed for 597 yards last season after a thousand yard campaign in 2024, which earned him Third Team All-SEC honors. Wisner joins returning back Ousmane Kromah, who together should make for a great backfield. On the defensive side, they bring in former Southern Miss linebacker Chris Jones, who recorded 133 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss for the Golden Eagles last year. Jones will be a big boost to a solid linebacker group and the defense overall.
At quarterback for the Seminoles is Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels, who only saw action in four games last year. Prior, he was a two-year starter at Stanford where he threw for nearly 4,000 yards. However, over those two years, he struggled to take care of the football, throwing 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, as well as having 16 career fumbles.
Florida State certainly has a talented roster and could give Louisville a tough challenge in this Friday night showcase, but the Cards bounce back here after a loss.
Week 7: at Syracuse
Prediction: Louisville 27, Syracuse 20
Syracuse enters 2026 looking to put a disappointing 3-9 season behind and prove that Year 3 of the Fran Brown era can be a turning point. Brown’s first year at the helm was one of the Orange’s best seasons in recent memory, going 10-3. 2025 was a different story, winning just three and finishing last in the conference.
A big part of last year’s collapse was QB Steve Angeli going down with a season-ending injury in September. With him, Syracuse was a completely different team. The Orange started the year 3-1 with a convincing road win against Clemson, before losing out. In the four games he played in, Angeli finished with a total of 1,317 passing yards, 10 TDs, and 2 picks. If he can stay healthy this year, Syracuse will certainly have a better year.
However, Angeli loses much of his supporting cast. Their top two rushers and top seven receivers are all gone, so this offense will rely on many transfers and young talent. Five-star freshman WR Calvin Russell suffered a torn Achilles in April, and is expected to return at some point this season. In Russell’s absence, Zamondre Merriweather is expected to be a favorite target of Angeli. Merriweather arrives from the JUCO ranks after amassing 961 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games for Glendale CC.
The Syracuse defense was second-to-last in the ACC and 124th nationally in yards per game allowed last season (NCAA Stats). This year, things are already looking up after bringing in former Toledo DC Vince Kehres. Kehres led one of college football’s best defenses last year, as the Rockets finished second in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. The Orange retain a good chunk of their defensive production and add some quality pieces from the portal.
Syracuse should be much improved this season, and this could easily be a game that the Cardinals overlook; but Louisville takes care of business heading into the bye week.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: vs Stanford
Prediction: Louisville 28, Stanford 14
After the bye, the Cardinals host the Cardinal for a Halloween matchup. Stanford enters the season with new head coach Tavita Pritchard, who was most recently the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders. Pritchard inherits a team coming off of a four win season and faces a tough ACC schedule in his first year.
Pritchard, a former Stanford quarterback, spent time with Jayden Daniels, Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota and Sam Howell in Washington. Now, he gets to work with former Michigan QB Davis Warren. Warren started for Michigan in 2024, but simply didn’t perform to the Wolverines’ standards. In nine games, he finished with 1,199 passing yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. The California native now finds himself back home looking to make the most out of this opportunity.
Stanford does return leading rusher Micah Ford, who is expected to play a big role in the backfield. Ford missed some time due to injury last year, but finished with over 600 yards and four touchdowns. Stanford brings in FCS First-Team All-American Nico Brown, who led the FCS with 108.5 receiving yards per game. The Yale transfer will be a top priority for Warren in the passing game.
The defense is returning much of their production from last year and actually only has one incoming transfer. They return their three leading tacklers, most notably linebacker Matt Rose, who tallied 106 last season. Senior safety Scotty Edwards is coming off a year with 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Jahsiah Galvan finished last season with 50 tackles and two forced fumbles, solidifying the linebacker room as a strength for this defense.
The previous matchup between these two teams was a hard one for Cards fans to forget, but Louisville prevails this time around and survives a potential Halloween scare.
Week 10: at Georgia Tech
Prediction: Louisville 24, Georgia Tech 33
Georgia Tech has consistently been in the top-half of the ACC since Brent Key was hired in late 2022, and has been on an upward trajectory. The Yellow Jackets won nine games last year and were on the fast track to the conference championship game before losing two of three ACC games to end the year.
This will be Key’s first season without Haynes King, who is now with the Carolina Panthers, as they turn to Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza. Mendoza, the younger brother of Fernando Mendoza, didn’t see much action on the field in Bloomington. However, he finished 2025 with a decent line, going 18/24 for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. If Mendoza can put that together for a whole season, Tech will be in good hands.
The running back room is once again a strong suit for the Jackets. Malachi Hoskey, who has rushed for over 2,600 yards in his career, enters his senior season, and Michigan transfer Justice Haynes is coming off a ten touchdown season. The receiving room loses their top-three pass catchers. Jordan Allen, finished last year with 22 catches for 304 yards, and will receive a much bigger role this season. Tech brings in Elon transfer Isaiah Fuhrmann, who caught 46 passes for 907 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore.
The defense returns their top-two leading tacklers, linebackers Kyle Efford and EJ Lightsey, who will be the leaders of that group. The defensive front hasn’t produced at a high level, but certainly has potential. They are led by Rutgers transfer Jordan Walker, who logged 28 tackles and a sack last season. The secondary definitely has the most question marks, which ultimately cost them down the road last season.
Despite losing some stars, Georgia Tech has a high ceiling in 2026. If Mendoza can look just a little like his brother, they will have a good year. As the Cardinals enter the final stretch of the season, this is easily a place they can fall.
Week 11: at North Carolina
Prediction: Louisville 38, North Carolina 17
Year one of the Bill Belichick era went about as badly as it could have. The Tar Heels finished 4-8, with two ACC wins, in a very tumultuous year. Before going against Louisville, UNC has to play Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt, and Miami. So, if this season is like anything last year, Louisville may not even get the chance to face Belichick. In that case, UNC would most likely promote new offensive coordinator, and former Louisville coach, Bobby Petrino as interim. That would make for some great storylines, but we aren’t there yet.
North Carolina had one of the worst offenses in the entire country, finishing 118th (second-to-last in the ACC behind Stanford) in points per game and 129th (last in the ACC) in yards per game (NCAA stats). They brought in Wisconsin transfer QB Billy Edwards, who won the starting job on Aug. 18th. He only played in two games for the Badgers last season due to an injury, but most recently played in 2024 for Maryland. Edwards finished that season with 2,881 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Availability and consistency have been issues over Edwards’ career, but if he’s able to stay in the field, he can have a solid season.
Edwards will have a good core of receivers to throw to, headlined by Jordan Shipp. Shipp returned to UNC following a 671 yard, six touchdown season, and is in line for a great junior year. Mason Humphrey arrived from Lehigh, where he had a 651 yard, four score season. Also, Edwards is reunited with junior Wisconsin receiver Trech Kekahuna, who has a career 614 yards. Outside of those three, the receiving core drops off.
The only positive takeaway from last year was the defense, who actually performed well. UNC finished top 40 in yards per game allowed, and near the middle of the ACC in points per game allowed (NCAA Stats). Their defensive success is credited to their ability to get into the backfield. Melkart Abou Jaoude returns after having a 47 tackle, 10.5 sack season. Also, they added Richmond edge rusher Donovan Hoilette, who was First Team All-Patriot League in 2025; Hoilette finished the year with 48 tackles and nine sacks. Abou Jaoude and Hoilette will be a very talented pair on this defensive front.
Belichick and North Carolina look to have a bounce back year. They certainly have some pieces to make it happen, but it’s just a matter of piecing it all together. At this point in the season, Louisville cannot afford to take a loss, and they should take care of business against a team with plenty of uncertainty.
Week 12: vs Pitt
Prediction: Louisville 32, Pitt 24
In what will be Louisville’s final ACC game of the year, this could be the deciding factor whether or not they will be playing for the conference championship in Charlotte. Pitt is coming off an eight win season with a bad taste in their mouth. After starting 2-2, the Panthers clawed their way back into ACC championship contention by winning their next five games. However, they would end the year losing three of their final four games, including a loss in the Military Bowl.
The main reason for Pitt’s middle-of-the-season success was due to a change at quarterback. About a month into the season, head coach Pat Narduzzi elected to bench Eli Holstein in place of freshman Mason Heintschel, who made an immediate impact in the turnaround. Heintschel ultimately finished the year with 2,354 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine starts. Despite having an offense that ranked 65th in yards per game (NCAA stats), their passing offense ranked top-20 nationally, thanks to Heintschel.
With that in mind, expect the passing attack to be a key part of their offense. Pitt returns their third-leading receiver, Cataurus Hicks, who finished last year with 422 yards and four touchdowns; his workload will undoubtedly increase with the departure of their top-two pass catchers. Heintschel will also get to toss to Western Carolina transfer Malik Knight. Knight recorded 774 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and immediately becomes a top target in a room that doesn’t return a whole lot of production.
In the backfield, Ja’Kyrian Turner is coming off an impressive freshman season, where he got plenty of action while Desmond Reid dealt with lower body injuries. Turner finished with 745 yards and seven touchdowns, and is being joined by Western Kentucky transfer La’Vell Wright. Wright put up nearly 500 yards and ten touchdowns for the Hilltoppers, and is another talented back in Pittsburgh.
Pitt had the 32nd ranked total defense in the country last year, and that was carried by their rushing defense, who ranked 8th nationally (NCAA Stats). They were able to retain some of their starters on the defensive line, including Isaiah Neal, who collected 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2025, and Jimmy Scott, who recorded 18 tackles and 4.5 sacks. They lose two key linebackers in Rasheed Biles and Kyle Louis, but retain Braylon Lovelace, who had a career high 80 tackles last season. Some additional transfers to this unit make it once again very solid.
It is always a battle between Louisville and Pittsburgh, and this year shouldn’t be any different. With a pass defense that has been a sore spot on the Pitt defense, this could be where Lincoln Kienholz, with nearly a whole season of starting under his belt, shines.
Week 13: at Kentucky
Louisville 35, Kentucky 17
Louisville enters the 2026 Governor’s Cup after having won the previous two by a combined 82 to 14 score. It’s safe to say things are much different this year. Out goes Mark Stoops, and in comes former Louisville QB and Oregon OC Will Stein in Lexington. Stein was able to get the SEC’s fifth-best transfer class, according to 247 Sports, and has a lot to work with this year.
At quarterback, UK brings in Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey. His collegiate arc is very similar to Lincoln Kienholz’s; Minchey battled CJ Carr for the starting job, before ultimately falling short just before the season began. Minchey has never started in college, but certainly can make an impact at the Power 4 level. He is a dynamic playmaker with a combination of good arm strength and quick legs. Similarly to Kienholz, there isn’t a lot of film on him, and could be a boom or bust.
If healthy and utilized properly, the ground game can be a major aspect of Stein’s offense. They bring in Texas RB CJ Baxter, who has rushed for 855 yards over his career. Baxter missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, and appeared minimally in 2025 due to a hamstring injury early in the year. In 2023, Baxter was in a stable of talented backs, and rushed for 659 yards and five touchdowns. When healthy, Baxter has loads of potential.
The receiving corps is led by LSU transfer Nic Anderson. Similarly to Baxter, injuries have been a common theme in Anderson’s career. Last year, he missed multiple games due to a knee injury and missed the majority of the 2024 season because of a quad injury. In 2023, Anderson was Oklahoma’s second-leading receiver with 798 yards and scoring 10 times. Also added to the mix is Southern Utah transfer Shane Carr, who finished 2025 with 744 yards and four touchdowns.
The Wildcats ended 2025 with the 67th ranked total defense.. They return some key pieces who provide a solid foundation for a group looking to improve. Safety Ty Bryant is running it back for his senior season. The Lexington native recorded 76 tackles (which led the team) and four picks in his best collegiate season. Paired with Bryant is safety Jordan Castell. The Florida transfer racked up 54 tackles and two interceptions last season; this combo should make for a much improved pass defense for the Cats.
Kentucky certainly has the potential to make some noise in Stein’s first year, but the schedule is hard to ignore. The Wildcats will be playing many high-profile opponents, meaning the ceiling can be sky-high, and the floor can be very low. With these circumstances, Stein will have a successful season, even if that means winning only five games. This matchup certainly has the potential to be a tough one.
Overall Record Prediction: 10-2 (7-2)
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