3 under-the-radar players who must step up for Louisville to avoid an upset vs. JMU

The stakes are high for both teams as the Louisville Cardinals look to notch a win against a reputable Group of 5 opponent, while the James Madison Dukes hope to add a massive win to their College Football Playoff resume. The result for both teams could have a significant impact on setting the tone for the rest of the season, as well as on whether the teams will be able to reach their preseason goals.

Various media outlets have begun speculating this matchup as a potential upset alert for the Cardinals, who are the favorite entering the game on Friday. It’s gaining steam as an opportunity for the Dukes to capitalize and put their name solidly in the mix for the Group of 5 CFP spot. Head coach Jeff Brohm and crew will look to put these discussions to bed on Friday and show that Louisville football deserves more respect on the national level.

For Louisville to achieve this goal, coach Brohm will need big performances from the stars of the team, such as Miller Moss and Isaac Brown. However, Brohm will also need a big day from a few under-the-radar guys to keep the upset worry at bay.

3 under-the-radar players who must step up for Louisville to avoid an upset vs. JMU

3. Jabari Mack, CB

The Louisville secondary looks to have a spark from senior Jabari Mack. With the injury sustained by Week 1 starter Rodney Johnson, Mack will be the senior leader and the last line of defense for the Cardinals in Week 2. The Louisville defense looks to build upon a solid performance against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels last week. Mack will play a key role as the Cardinals look to slow an offense that posted 45 points against Weber State in Week 1.

Mack looks to improve on a slow Week 1, where he posted only 1 tackle with his body of work. The Dukes showed an efficient passing game to complement their heavy run attack in their win over Weber State. Mack’s presence will need to be felt and on full display if the Cardinals hope to slow down Duke’s offense and keep their scoring in check. The Louisville offense will surely score plenty of points. It will be up to Mack and the Louisville defense to provide the needed stops to assist.