Louisville football suffered a heartbreaking loss last weekend in their crucial ACC matchup against Virginia. It was the same story, just a different game with the Cardinals. They started slow and had self-inflicted mistakes, which drove Louisville fans crazy.
The good news is that Louisville football is still very well in the hunt in the ACC, but the bad news is that their path got a lot more difficult after this loss. Their next game is at Miami, one of, if not the best, team in college football. Then, after that, they have to play Clemson and SMU. The fans may laugh at Clemson, but even with their early struggles, they still have plenty of talent on that roster. Then with SMU, they just made the playoffs last season, and want to prove that it was not a fluke.
With that being said, Louisville football and fans have to move on. They have to stay locked in and prepare for the rest of the season. Here are five bold predictions for the remainder of Louisville football’s 2025 season.
5. Louisville finishes No.1 in scoring defense in the ACC
The biggest bright spot for the Cardinals this season is their defense. This unit has bailed the offense out for their slow starts multiple times and has overcome turnovers. Even with the offense turning the ball over twice last weekend, and both of those mistakes leading to touchdowns, the Cardinals' defense forced the game into overtime.
This defense has the potential to finish at the top of the ACC, and this team and its fans know it. They currently sit at fifth in scoring defense in the ACC, giving up exactly 21 points per game. Miami ranks at the top of the conference with 13.6 points per game. That difference will be tough to overcome, but if any defense can, it is this one. It helps that the Cardinals play the Hurricanes in their next game. If Louisville football shuts them down, which they have the talent to do, and if the offense pulls its weight, then they could have a chance to finish at the top of the conference in scoring defense.
If TJ Quinn can rally his boys and keep their heads up after their tough loss, then they can save the Cardinals' season. The team and fanbase may be down right now, but they have to look ahead and prepare against the Hurricanes. If there are any positives after the loss, it is this star-studded defense.
4. Miller Moss ends the season with 25+ passing touchdowns
Yes, that would be at least three passing touchdowns per game for the rest of the season. Here is why Miller Moss could end the season with 25-plus passing touchdowns. It is simple: the Cardinals have no running game. With the mix of injuries, poor blocking, and going down early in games, Moss has had a lot on his shoulders. Duke Watson once again hobbled off the field last weekend. He has been banged up multiple times this season. When the Cardinals do run the ball, the offensive line has poor blocking. Miscues, bad schemes, or timing issues, whatever the reason is, this line can not block in the run game.
If Louisville football wants to make a deep postseason run, then it will have to rely on Moss. It is not what this team wanted to do coming into the season, but it is the cards they have been dealt. Fans were excited for the potential that this backfield had, but unfortunately, it may not come to fruition this season. This team will have to face reality to be successful this season.
Moss has thrown for over 300 passing yards in three straight games. The volume is there for three passing touchdowns a game; they just have to convert on a few mistakes to punch the ball in the end zone. He has thrown for five touchdowns in the past two games, and Jeff Brohm looks to ride the hot hand. The connection between Moss and receiver Chris Bell has been elite this season. Bell is a star and has helped his quarterback out tremendously this year, which is one of the main reasons why Moss will finish with 25-plus touchdowns for the season.
3. Chris Bell will be a 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist
Chris Bell has been a significant piece of this Louisville football team, but especially in the last two weeks. He has 305 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games, and there are no signs that point to him slowing down. With the way this offense is going, he will get plenty of looks this season. Bell has already tied his season high for receiving touchdowns with four, and just over 200 yards to set his high for most receiving yards in a season.
He has been the number one target for Moss all season, and no reason that will not continue. This offense will have to run through Bell, especially with the poor running attack. This is a huge season for the Louisville wideout, and he is off to a great start. He was a Preseason All-ACC receiver, but who expected him to be this good? Bell has the potential to be a Bletnikoff finalist and join legendary college receivers such as Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Blackmon, and Calvin Johnson.
Being a finalist could position him as a highly touted prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. His 6-foot-2 frame is exactly what NFL teams want on the pro level. Bell could stitch his name in Louisville and college football history this season. He will make Louisville football a must-watch for scouts this year.
2. Louisville football runs the table
The fans may be sad and frustrated with the program after the loss to Virginia, but there is a lot of season left. It is not as if the Cardinals lost to an inferior team, as the Cavaliers are a legitimate team this season. If Louisville football took care of the ball, the talk around this team would be completely different. This team still has a lot of talent and potential.
The Cardinals are not perfect by any means, but this team can run the table. The three biggest games left for them are Miami, Clemson and SMU. These will not be easy games, but with the way the defense is playing and the Moss and Bell connection getting stronger week by week, Louisville football can do the unthinkable. Their first step will be winning at Miami in their next outing. If they pull that upset off, then they could be set for the rest of the year. The momentum they would gain from that win could propel them to an 11-1 regular season. This season is far from over, and Louisville football will prove that in the coming weeks.
A single loss does not define a season, and Louisville has the pieces to recover in a big way. The offense still has plenty of firepower, and the Cardinals can compete with anyone left on the schedule if they can sustain drives and limit turnovers. Head coach Jeff Brohm has demonstrated his ability to rally his team in the face of adversity, and this group possesses the resilience to bounce back. With playmakers on both sides of the ball and a defense capable of creating game-changing plays, Louisville football remains in position to make a run in the ACC. The path will not be easy, but the Cardinals have the talent and determination to finish strong and remind everyone why they were considered one of the conference’s most dangerous teams.
1. Louisville gets its running game back on track
This may be the biggest bold prediction, but the rushing attack may come around. It would be so unfortunate if this team can not capitalize on the talented backfield of Watson and Isaac Brown. There is no way they can expect Moss to throw the ball 45-50 times a game. Brown has a great average per carry with 7.3 yards per run, but it all came at the beginning of the season.
It will be interesting to see how this team will rebound after the bye week, and hopefully, they come back with better run schemes. If they want a chance at Miami, they will have to get some production out of the backfield. This will also help Moss out a lot, but as of now, he will have to carry the offense. This team showed flashes of a good run game at the start of the season, but it was against lesser opponents.
Whether Louisville's early-season ground game success was an anomaly or an indication of untapped potential will become clear in the coming stretch. There is no denying the backfield's skill, but whether or not that potential gets capitalized against more formidable ACC defenses will depend on play design and consistency.
Related: 3 biggest threats to Louisville football's ACC Title dreams
Louisville football will have its second bye of the season this week. Their next game will take place on Friday, October 17, at Hard Rock Stadium at 7 p.m. local time.