Louisville football: Ranking the top plays since 2010
By Jacob Lane
No. 3 – Teddy Bridgewater’s miracle touchdown pass to Damian Copeland against Cincinnati
We’ve made it to the creme de la creme of Louisville football plays of the last nine years. While all of the plays up to this point have been absolutely great, none of them hold a candle to these three.
In 30, 40, or 50 years these three plays will be plays that your grandkids or great-grandkids still see and watch in awe. There’s probably some arguing that the Texas A&M run for Lamar Jackson or game-winning pass to Jaylen Smith should be here, but in my opinion, these three plays stand out head-and-shoulders above the rest. Starting with number three.
When we put up the question on Twitter about “non-Lamar Jackson” highlight plays that stuck out since the year 2010, this play was mentioned considerably more than any other play.
In the final installment of the “Keg of Nails” rivalry between the Cards and longtime rivals Cincinnati, Louisville had every reason to keep pushing. Though Central Florida, who handed the Cards their only loss on the season, had all but booked up a trip to the BCS, the Cards still had a chance.
With the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, with Louisville down by four, a big play was needed and there was no one else more fitting to give it to them than Teddy Bridgewater. With pressure coming from every angle, Bridgewater dropped back, spun around the defenders and right when it looked like he was going to be brought down he heaved up a last-ditch attempt to the endzone.
That pass just so happened to be a perfect throw where no one else could get it aside from star wide receiver Damian Copeland.
Louisville would go on to win the game in OT.
No. 2 – Terrell Floyd puts Florida on upset watch on the opening play of the Sugar Bowl (2013)
No one gave Louisville any shot to beat Florida heading into the 2013 Sugar Bowl after the Cards went 10-2 on the season. But Louisville fans and the Louisville players knew it was going to happen. Leading up to the game, Louisville safety Calvin Pryor predicted that the team was going to “shock the world.”
I had an unshaken faith headed into this game that the Cards would win, but when the game kicked off I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous. So much was on the line for the Cards, as the program hadn’t been to a game this meaningful since 2007.
On the first play of the game, with all eyes watching, Louisville got things started with a bang as Jeff Driskel dropped back for Florida and threw a strike. Fortunately for Louisville fans the Cardinal defense, that pass was tipped and intercepted by Terrell Floyd. That led to a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown, putting the Cards up 7-0 and putting a little “oh s$%t they’re for real” into the minds of Florida.
This play set the tone for the game and it gave Louisville the necessary momentum to pull off arguably the biggest win in program history. Louisville dominated the game in every phase and it put the program onto the map in a new way.
https://twitter.com/UofLFootball/status/1144334588975734784
No. 1 – Lamar Jackson hurdles a defender, producing the play he’ll forever be known by as a Louisville QB
Was there any doubt in your mind what would be number one on the list of top plays since the year 2010? To me, this is the play that announced to the world that Lamar Jackson was going to be a whole different beast than anything or anyone ever before in Louisville football history.
After putting up eight total touchdowns in three-quarters of football against Charlotte in week one of the 2016 season, Jackson came into the Friday night primetime game against Syracuse looking to continue his Heisman bid.
That’s exactly what he did to the tune of 610 total yards, 5 touchdowns, and a legendary Heisman hurdle. That play is what defined his Heisman campaign in 2016. No matter how many incredible runs he made from 40, 50, or 60 yards out, no matter how many incredible dimes he dropped, or how many defenders he made miss – this was the play that was always shown.
Since then, it’s been immortalized as a $100,000 chain and hopefully, even sooner it will be a statue at Cardinal Stadium.
Next. 21st century All-Cardinal offensive team. dark
There’s no denying that-that game was the first step in locking up the 2016 Heisman Trophy for Lamar Jackson, seeing as how his 610 total yards was the most in ACC history and he became just the second play in FBS history to throw for 400 passing yards and run for another 150 in a game. But without this play, that Heisman campaign may not have had a defining moment.