Louisville football dominated Eastern Kentucky in Week 1 after the Cardinals won 51-17. Jeff Brohm improves to 1-0 for the third straight season with the Cardinals and will now have a short week to prepare for a sneaky James Madison team as they will kick off Friday, September 5.
The Cardinals demonstrated considerable potential in yesterday's win, but they also exposed some areas where they still need improvement. So, with that said, here are two Louisville Cardinals stocks rising, two that are falling after the Cardinals' dominant Week 1 win over Eastern Kentucky.
4. Isaac Brown - RB
Isaac Brown was the star of the show on offense, and he did it in just six carries. The preseason All-American showed why he deserves more attention and carries in 2025 and why he got all the hype entering the 2025 season.
Brown logged six carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He was dominant when he was on the field and showed his ability to explode through the gaps like he did for his 31-yard run, but also showed off his quick twitch and ability to slip through the tackles like he did for his 68-yard run.
Louisville went up 41-0, and that was pretty much the end for Brown's Week 1 debut in 2025, but the six carries we saw proved he is poised for another historic season. Louisville's star running back didn't need much more after averaging 21 yards per carry in the first half, as his 2025 Heisman campaign has officially started.
Related: It only took Isaac Brown 5 minutes to show Louisville something must change
3. Falling - Brady Allen
The Cardinals went to Brady Allen to start the second half, and Louisville's QB2 did not impress many with his performance in Week 1. While he went 6-of-9 for 69 yards and a touchdown, he also threw an interception and didn't pass the eye test.
The Cardinals' second string was hard to watch after their dominant first half, as Louisville scored just 10 points in the second half after scoring 41 in the first. Louisville's offense stalled with Allen running the offense, and Cardinals fans took to social media, suggesting that Deuce Adams should be their QB2 moving forward after the first week.
Allen's poor showing proved just how vital the first strings are and that Moss must stay healthy this season if the Cardinals want to have a successful season.
Related: Louisville football QB immediately on transfer watch after Jeff Brohm's QB2 decision
2. Rising - Clev Lubin
Louisville's defensive line was one of the areas of concern entering the 2025 season, but Jeff Brohm made it clear during fall camp that they were exceeding all expectations. Well, after dominating the trenches and the first game, Louisville fans definitely feel confident.
The star of the Cardinals' defensive line was Coastal Carolina transfer Clev Lubin. The edge rusher is coming off a dominant 2024 season, and he carried that momentum right into 2025. Lubin logged two sacks in the first quarter for the Cardinals and gave the fans a brief preview of what is to come in 2025.
Lubin earned 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, and 9.5 sacks last year. Louisville fans are confident after his Week 1 performance that he can be the Cardinals' dominant force on their defensive line after he was able to disrupt multiple plays in just one half of football.
Related: 5 bold predictions for Louisville football’s 2025 season
1. Falling - Backups on offense
Louisville football fans quickly learned in just the first game that these backups are not going to win football games for the Cardinals. Louisville's defense looked excellent throughout the game, but the Cardinals' second-string offense was a hard watch at times.
Throughout the second half, the Cardinals' offense scored just 10 points and struggled to move the ball against an FCS defense. This game immediately proved the Cardinals' starters must stay healthy throughout the year, especially on the offensive line.
Louisville's second-stringers are inexperienced, and so they must get some game time in games like these. However, scoring just 10 points in the second half and not moving the ball effectively has some fans worried about the backups heading into Week 2.
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