2. Turnovers
Turnovers can swing games faster than anything else in football, and Louisville learned that lesson the hard way in Week 1. The Cardinals lost the turnover battle 0-3 against Eastern Kentucky, with Moss throwing two interceptions and the team coughing it up once more. Fortunately for Louisville, the talent gap meant the Colonels couldn’t fully capitalize, but that margin of error won’t exist against stronger competition.
Last season, Louisville finished with a +6 turnover margin, forcing 17 and giving away 11. While that’s technically on the positive side, it placed them firmly in the middle of the pack nationally. Elite teams create havoc on defense and consistently win this category. Clemson, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Penn State all ranked among the best in turnover margin last year, and all made the College Football Playoff. To reach that level, Louisville must take the ball away more frequently while limiting giveaways.
James Madison represents a major test in this area. In 2024, the Dukes didn’t just win the turnover margin—they dominated it. Their +20 margin led the entire country, built on 29 takeaways and only nine giveaways. They already showed in Week 1 that they still have a nose for the football. For Louisville, protecting the ball will be just as important as moving it. If Moss can play a clean game and the defense can manufacture at least one or two takeaways, it could be the difference between a routine win and a four-quarter battle.
Related: Miller Moss’s interceptions are nothing for Louisville football fans to worry about