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Louisville’s 2018 Schedule Conducive to Better Crowds

By Presley Meyer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 02: Dez Fitzpatrick #87 and Jaylen Smith #9 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate after Fitzpatrick caught a touchdown pass during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 02: Dez Fitzpatrick #87 and Jaylen Smith #9 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrate after Fitzpatrick caught a touchdown pass during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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This week, the ACC announced some early-year game times for the 2018 season. Not to get too ahead of ourselves, but this is already the best season ever.

It is a well-known fact that the University of Louisville fan base loves to have a good time. Although Louisville has a very knowledgeable, passionate fan base, we like to lead up to the game with elaborate tailgates, and just flat out have a good time- win or lose (hopefully win, though).

From the cabooses, to Old Cardinal Stadium, to the green lot, to everywhere in between, Cardinal faithful love supporting their team, but most also love to indulge in a nice drink or twelve before commencing on another butt-kicking in The Oven. The better the tailgate, the better the overall game atmosphere tends to be.

One thing that normally holds the fan base back from having an incredible time at the games, is the dreaded noon game. Over the last three seasons, the Cards have played in EIGHTEEN (18) noon or 12:20/12:30 games. That is half the games Louisville has played in the last three years that have kicked off before most people have had lunch.

In contrast, Louisville has only played six of its 18 home games at night:

9/16/17 vs. Clemson (8pm)

11/12/16 vs Wake Forest (7pm)

10/14/16 vs Duke (7 pm)

9/1/16 vs. Charlotte (7pm)

9/17/15 vs. Clemson (7:30pm)

9/26/15 vs Samford (6pm)

That stinks.

Enter the ACC Network. In 2019, the ACC Network will officially be a TV channel available on all major providers. The ESPN-owned station, in similar form to the SEC Network, will assure that Louisville plays nearly all of its games on an ESPN/ ABC affiliated network, or the ACC Network. This also assures that Louisville will play the majority of it’s games in “prime time” slots, or times that would maximize TV viewership.

Although UofL is one year away from officially being under that ACC Network scheduling umbrella, it looks like their schedule is already beginning to take the ACCN form. The home schedule is already 3 for 3 on night games, which is more than all of last season. Here is what the home schedule looks like so far:

9/8/18 vs Indiana State – 7 pm (ACC Network Extra)

9/15/18 vs Western KY – 7:30 pm (RSN)

10/5/18 (Fri.) vs Georgia Tech – 7 pm (ESPN)

Additionally, the Cards will open the season against defending national champions Alabama on ABC at 8:00 pm (holy crap).

Look for this to be a continuing trend in 2018. It is unlikely that many more game times will be announced at this point, but if Louisville is even remotely good this year, there will be more home night games ahead. Louisville still has home games without a set game time against Florida State, Wake Forest, NC State, and Kentucky. In my opinion, at least two of those will wind up being night games.

All of this adds up to quite possibly the most lively Louisville football season ever. The stadium expansion will be complete by game 1, and there are seven (7!) home games, as well as a neutral game.

With more time to spend in the tailgate lots, in addition to an experienced and potentially fun product on the field, Louisville fans should be ecstatic for the 2018 season.

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