Louisville Cardinals Pull Off Thrilling Comeback Victory Against Miami Hurricanes
In an exhilarating match-up, the Louisville Cardinals emerged victorious against the Miami Hurricanes with a final score of 38-31. The Cardinals now improve their all-time series record against Miami to 4-11-1, including a 1-6-1 record in Miami.
Louisville’s win takes their overall season record to an impressive 10-1, marking their seventh 10-win season and their first since 2013 when they finished with a record of 12-1. Additionally, the Cardinals finish their ACC regular season play at 7-1, matching their best ACC record achieved in 2016.
The Cardinals secured second place in the ACC with this win, guaranteeing their spot in the ACC Championship game. They will face off against Florida State on December 2. Head coach Jeff Brohm has now become the first coach to lead teams to two different Power Five conference championship games in consecutive seasons. Last year, he led Purdue to the Big Ten Championship against Michigan.
Throughout the game, Louisville showcased their offensive prowess, completing passes to a total of 12 different receivers, matching their performance from the Murray State game earlier this season. The Cardinals also demonstrated their ability to start strong, scoring on their first possession for the eighth time in 11 games this season, including seven touchdowns. Their defense also continued its impressive form, extending its streak of holding opponents scoreless on their first possession to an impressive 15 games.
Several players made notable contributions to secure the victory for the Cardinals. Running back Isaac Guerendo rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run. Guerendo also added an 11-yard reception to his impressive performance. Another standout was running back Jawhar Jordan, becoming the first Louisville running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Javian Hawkins in 2019. Jordan rushed for 33 yards on nine carries, pushing his season total to 1,009 yards.
Tight end Nate Kurisky played a crucial role, making five receptions for 50 yards and scoring on a two-yard pass from quarterback Jack Plummer. This touchdown marked Kurisky’s second of the season. Wide receiver Jamari Thrash also made an impact, scoring Louisville’s first two-point conversion since 2017 to give the Cardinals a narrow 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter. Thrash also had one reception for seven yards.
Offensive lineman Trevonte Sylvester made headlines when he scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard reception from Plummer. This touchdown brought the Cardinals to within one point of the Hurricanes at halftime, with a score of 21-20. Before Sylvester’s touchdown, the last offensive lineman to score for the Cardinals was Mekhi Becton in a 31-7 win against Indiana State on September 8, 2018. The only other Louisville offensive lineman to have a touchdown reception besides Sylvester is Shawn Kreis in a 39-0 win against Northeast Louisiana on November 11, 1995.
Kicker Nick Lopez also had a noteworthy performance, making the first field goal of his Louisville career and successfully adding an extra point to contribute to the Cardinals’ victory.
With this thrilling comeback victory, Louisville claims their fourth comeback win of the season, matching the feat achieved by the 2012 Cardinals team. The Cardinals now eagerly await their upcoming ACC Championship game against Florida State, with hopes of clinching the title and further solidifying their status as a formidable force in college football.
