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Louisville football: Three reasons Cards could benefit from spring season

By Presley Meyer

Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Dez Fitzpatrick #7 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 26: C.J. Avery #9 of the Louisville Cardinals reaches to recover a fumble by Joe Reed #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 26: C.J. Avery #9 of the Louisville Cardinals reaches to recover a fumble by Joe Reed #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers on October 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

A better chance at competing for ACC title

From the most obvious storyline to the most compelling storyline. If Louisville football saw the season pushed back to the spring, perhaps it would give the Cardinals a better shot and securing their second ACC Atlantic title.

Aside from the fact that Louisville would have more time to grow and develop in an extended offseason, maybe there’s a good chance that the Cardinals could benefit from the demise of other teams.

With a shift in the college football landscape, this would mean that the season would likely run into April. Why is that important? Because of the timing of the NFL Draft in 2021.

The draft is slated for April 29th, which would mean that the end of the college football season would be butting up against the NFL combine and any pre-draft work outs and meetings that would be taking place.

This wouldn’t be a big deal for every team, but for a team like Clemson, moving to the spring of 2021 could be greatly detrimental. Consider that Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the odds-on favorite to be the first player drafted. And what about star running back Travis Etienne? He opted to pass on the 2020 draft to return for one more year. But a pushed-back season could hurt his stock if he chooses to play and attend school right before the draft.

Sure, the draft could be moved back. But how much is the NFL going to be willing to budge on the rules? If the draft is in, say, June instead, it may not sway players that much more.

There are plenty of other guys like Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson or Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham, who are likely first round picks in 2021, who would be faced with the choice of staying or leaving school to prepare for the draft.

All of this would be to the benefit of Louisville, who has some solid pro prospects, but nobody who is proven enough yet to bounce before playing another season.

The draft date is something to keep an eye on in terms of what could come of the 2020 (21) season.

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