As expected, Louisville football is 2-0 through the first two games of 2025. The Cardinals have been heavily favored in both contests and have taken care of business, sitting exactly where they should be heading into their first bye week. But just because they’re undefeated doesn’t mean they’re without flaws. The whole purpose of scheduling “cupcake” opponents early is to expose and address weaknesses before the gauntlet of conference play begins.
The opener against Eastern Kentucky was over before it really started. Louisville stormed out to a 41-0 lead by halftime, and while the 51-17 final was convincing, it’s hard to evaluate growth in a game that lopsided. The only true takeaways were negative ones: too many turnovers on offense and a lack of discipline with penalties across the board. The Week 2 matchup with James Madison, however, provided a much clearer read on where this team stands heading into the off week.
Every team has shortcomings in September, and Louisville is no exception. The difference between being a good team and a great one is whether those issues get fixed in time for league play. Right now, three question marks stand above the rest, all on the offensive side of the ball: third-down efficiency, a run game that hasn’t fully clicked, and an offense that leans too heavily on explosive plays. These are the areas Jeff Brohm and his staff will no doubt be dissecting as the Cards reset and prepare for the tougher tests ahead.
3 biggest questions Louisville football must answer during their bye week
3. What happened to the run game?
Through two games, Louisville’s rushing attack appears on the surface to be business as usual. The Cardinals have flashed balance between running and passing, and Isaac Brown has already delivered highlight-reel touchdown runs. But a deeper look suggests the ground game is struggling — and that’s concerning with ACC play right around the corner.
Take out Brown’s two explosive scores (68 yards vs. EKU, 78 yards vs. JMU), and the numbers look far less impressive. Louisville running backs have combined for just 152 yards on 41 carries — that’s 3.7 yards per carry and 76 rushing yards per game against an FCS team and a non-Power Four opponent. For context, Louisville averaged 185 rushing yards per game in 2024, ranking 33rd nationally. Even after removing big runs early last season, the Cards still averaged 176 yards and 6.0 yards per carry across their first two matchups.
The difference is in the trenches. The offensive line hasn’t generated consistent push, forcing Louisville to rely on Brown’s home-run ability rather than a steady “ground and pound” approach. That’s not sustainable. Jeff Brohm’s ideal offense wears down defenses with methodical runs, opening the door for play action and chunk passing plays later. Right now, averaging 3.7 yards per carry simply won’t cut it against ACC defenses. Getting the run game back to form — and making it the backbone of the 2025 Cardinals — must be priority No. 1 coming out of the bye week.
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