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Louisville football: Key takeaways from loss to Florida State

By Will Reddington

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 29: Nyqwan Murray #8 of the Florida State Seminoles runs into the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown after catching a pass ahead of Rodjay Burns #10 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 29: Nyqwan Murray #8 of the Florida State Seminoles runs into the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown after catching a pass ahead of Rodjay Burns #10 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first quarter of the game at Cardinal Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Louisville football dropped their first and maybe most winnable ACC game against FSU on Saturday. What can we take away from the 35-24 loss?

Louisville football put their fan base through a rollercoaster of emotions on Saturday in Tallahassee. The best and the worst moments of this young season all seemingly occurred in this one game. The Cardinals started the second quarter down 21-0, the offense couldn’t find a first down and the defense looked completely lost. But the game slowly but surely, completely turned around.

Louisville held the ball for almost the entire second quarter, finishing their long drive with a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Malik Cunningham to star wideout Tutu Atwell in the left corner of the end zone to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard.

Louisville kept the momentum, outscoring FSU 10-0 in the third. Malik Cunningham looked like a different player in the second and third quarters vs. the first. Cunningham wouldn’t be denied on his four-yard touchdown run that cut the lead to just four.

Shortly after, he made his best throw of the season. He found Dez Fitzpatrick on a 74-yard bomb for a Louisville touchdown, giving the Cards their first lead of the game. They had now scored 24 unanswered points, it felt like it was the Cardinals game for the taking at this point.

The Louisville defense was up to the challenge at the moment, forcing a three and out and getting Cunningham the ball back. Louisville was on the verge of the red zone before a game-turning interception from the Seminoles.

This gave Wisconsin transfer and new Florida State QB Alex Hornibrook a chance to take back control of the game. He did just that, on as simple of a 60-yard touchdown as you will ever see. A blown coverage/blitz assignment left the left side of the field completely wide open, as FSU took control once again.

The Cards still with their backs against the wall, picked up a crucial stop to get another chance at offense after forcing Florida State to a field goal in the final minutes. But a costly roughing the kicker penalty put the game on ice for the Noles.

This game had the power to make you as a fan feel hopeless, invincible, nervous and disappointed. Here are my major takeaways from the Louisville loss at Florida State.

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