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Louisville football: Can the Cards pull off a massive upset in 2020?

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 02: Tu Tu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 02, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 02: Tu Tu Atwell #1 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 02, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – SEPTEMBER 02: Jared Goldwire #90 of Louisville football chases Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game at Cardinal Stadium on September 2, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Notre Dame defeated Louisville 35-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame

Louisville shocked the nation in the 2019 season opener when it took an early 14-7 lead against Notre Dame and then kept things more than respectable against the Irish.

Ultimately, the Cardinals lost their 11th consecutive game and the first of the Scott Satterfield era but still stood a lot to gain from a hard-nosed battle.

This season would be the perfect opportunity for Louisville football to exact revenge on the Fighting Irish- This time in a late November match-up in South Bend.

The Cardinals took advantage of the Irish run defense and played a bit of ball-control offense in order to keep things tight last season. However, the whole dynamic of the team shifted in 2019 when Micale Cunningham became the guy at quarterback.

Louisville will obviously be entering a tough environment when they head up north in 2020, and the Irish coaching staff will be sure to remind the players that the last time the Cardinals came to town in 2014, they left with a win.

Why Louisville can win

Though Notre Dame will be on guard this time around, Louisville football and its fans have had this return game circled on the calendar for six years. There’s a sizeable Catholic population and Fighting Irish following in Louisville- About 30,000 of which traveled to South Bend last time. No one can truly predict how COVID-19 will ultimately impact the attendance, but if all things are a go, you can bet a ton of Louisville fans will be in attendance once again.

Additionally, it doesn’t feel like Louisville fears Notre Dame by any means. Yes, they were highly ranked in 2019 and will be again in 2020. However, Louisville will be ready. Almost every one of the Cardinals who will contribute this season was on the roster last year, and they will have plenty of tape to study leading up to the game.

The Irish return starting quarterback Ian Book and its entire offensive line, however, the skill position players are largely an unknown.

Next. Depth chart preview: Wide receiver and Tight end. dark

Louisville absolutely has the weapons to make this one a game, especially if the Irish are looking ahead to rival USC the week after.

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