Louisville, Kentucky – The University of Louisville Cardinals are gearing up for an exciting showdown against their intra-state rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats, this Saturday at L&N Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m., and fans can catch all the action on ABC. Veteran commentators Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, and Katie George will be calling the game.
The Cardinals have their sights set on their 11th win of the season, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2012. Furthermore, Louisville is determined to end their four-game losing streak against the Wildcats and secure their first home win since 2014.
Last week, Louisville clinched their 10th win of the season with an impressive 38-31 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. This win guaranteed the Cardinals a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title game, which will be held on December 2nd at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This also marks the first time in the school’s history that they have qualified for a conference championship.
Louisville’s quarterback, Jack Plummer, had a standout performance against Miami, completing 24-of-37 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns. Plummer has thrown three or more touchdown passes in a game three times this season, and it was his 12th career game with three or more touchdowns.
The game-winning play came in the fourth quarter when Plummer connected with Kevin Coleman on a 58-yard pass, putting the Cardinals ahead 38-31 with just 4:17 left on the clock. Despite giving up a season-high 486 yards of total offense, the Louisville defense managed to keep the Hurricanes out of the end zone on four occasions within the five-yard line. Quincy Riley’s crucial pass breakup on fourth down in the end zone was a pivotal moment in the game.
Louisville demonstrated their resilience by securing their fourth come-from-behind win this season against Miami. Trailing 28-23 entering the third quarter, the Cardinals outscored the Hurricanes 15-3 in the final quarter. This marks the most come-from-behind wins for Louisville since the 2012 season.
The Cardinals received unexpected touchdowns from Nate Kurisky, Trevonte Sylvester, and Evan Conley in the game against Miami. Sylvester and Conley scored their first touchdowns of the season, while Kurisky reached the end zone for the second time in his career.
Louisville’s tight ends also contributed significantly to the victory, combining for nine receptions, 112 yards, and a touchdown. The offensive line also deserves recognition for not allowing a single sack against Miami, despite facing one of the nation’s top pass-rushing defenses.
With a home record of 6-0 this season, Louisville is looking to make history by going 7-0 at home for the first time ever. They are also chasing their 12th consecutive home win, which would be the second-longest streak in school history.
Head coach Jeff Brohm deserves commendation for guiding the Cardinals to their spot in the ACC title game. With this accomplishment, Brohm becomes the first coach to guide two different teams to conference title games in consecutive seasons, having previously led Purdue to its first Big Ten West title last year.
The Cardinals have demonstrated offensive prowess throughout the season, averaging 38.8 points per game and scoring 30 or more points in five games. Additionally, they have recorded 25 rushing touchdowns so far this season and have scored at least one rushing touchdown in 10 out of their 11 games.
As the highly anticipated game against Kentucky approaches, Louisville is looking to make a statement by securing their 11th win and ending their losing streak against their rivals. The Cardinals are determined to continue their winning ways and make a strong push towards the ACC title game.
