The 2025 college football season is just a couple of weeks away, and the Louisville Cardinals are emerging as one of the top sleeper choices to crash the 2025 College Football Playoffs. With the addition of Miller Moss and returners in Isaac Brown and Chris Bell, this offense is loaded with talent and potential.
However, Louisville football fans still have some areas of concern and need answers quickly from head coach Jeff Brohm. With the Cardinals' first matchup of the 2025 season just 17 days away, here are five burning questions Louisville football must answer before the 2025 season.
5 burning questions Louisville football must answer before 2025 season
5. Who will step up for Louisville's secondary?
The nation knows that this Louisville offense is poised to break out in 2025, but the glaring area of concern is the Cardinals' defense, specifically their secondary. After losing four of their top five defensive backs from last season, Ron English has a tall challenge at hand.
The Cardinals added some depth from the Transfer Portal as JoJo Evans and Rodney Johnson are emerging as potential starters, but the uncertainty of their skill remains. English stated in his latest press conference that the secondary is improving, but making the transition to Power 4 is a challenge for both defensive backs.
Last season, the Cardinals' defense struggled to cover the deep ball and gave up way too many big plays. Entering 2025, the fans are worried about the secondary and the lack of competitive experience. D'Angelo Hutchinson is one of the Cardinals' key returners in the secondary. While he has the potential for a breakout season, the Cardinals desperately need a couple of defensive backs to step up for Louisville.
Related: 3 key positions that Louisville football can't afford to face injuries in 2025
4. How good will Miller Moss be?
One of the biggest questions entering the Cardinals' 2025 season is how good Brohm can make Miller Moss? The transfer quarterback is coming off a letdown season where he was eventually benched after throwing nine interceptions.
However, the hype around Moss is higher than the hype that was around Tyler Shough or Jack Plummer. The potential for Moss is much higher than that of Louisville's previous two transfer quarterbacks, and they went on to have spectacular seasons at Louisville.
Moss must limit bad decisions and rushing his throws. Brohm has made it clear that Moss is making drastic improvements this offseason, but still has some areas of concern. The Cardinals have dreams of an ACC Title, and for that to happen, Moss must play up to his potential.
He has shown flashes of brilliance in his career, like when he threw for six touchdowns against the Cardinals in the Holiday Bowl, and when he threw for 378 yards on a 75 percent completion percentage. The potential and highlights are there; now, Brohm must get that from Moss in every game.
Related: 3 crucial factors Miller Moss must master to lead Louisville to an ACC Title
3. Can the Cardinals defense limit the big plays?
The main thing Brohm has preached all fall camp is that his defense must limit big plays. The Cardinals' defense was below average in this category last season, and Louisville lost some key players from last year.
The Cardinals will need more pressure on the opponent's quarterback, and the secondary has to stay in front of the ball. English and Mark Hagen's defense has to step up in this category if Louisville wants to return to Charlotte and make its first College Football Playoffs.
Last season, Louisville gave up 27 points per game in ACC play, and with the Cardinals' gauntlet of an ACC schedule, Louisville has to limit one-score games and big plays. The Cardinals' defense ranked No. 74 in the nation last season in total yards, and Louisville has to improve in that stat if it wants to reach its full potential.
The Cardinals' defense will rely heavily on their star linebackers to limit the rushing attack, but the new faces up front and in the secondary have to step up, provide pressure, and keep the ball in front of them.
Related: Jeff Brohm exposes Louisville defense’s biggest flaw that must be fixed immediately
2. How good is Jeff Brohm's running back room?
Louisville's rushing attack is expected to be one of the best in the nation. The Cardinals' two key returners, Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, each averaged over 7.4 yards a carry, which led the nation. Brown is trending as a Preseason All-American, and Watson has proved all offseason that he can take some of the load from Brown.
Brown's 1,168 rushing yards last season are the most rushing yards by a player to return to college football. He quickly etched his name in program history after he broke Lamar Jackson's rushing yards record, and tied Jackson's record for most 100 or more rushing yards in a game in a single season.
As for Watson, he returns to college football after leading all of college football in yards per carry with at least 50 attempts. He went on to average 8.7 yards per carry and is now expected to take an even bigger leap heading into year two.
Louisville's two sophomore running backs have the full capability to lead this offense and squad to a College Football Playoff berth. Last season, they proved they can guide Louisville to a historic dominant win over Clemson, and nine wins, and now they just have to put a full season together, which is 100 percent doable.
Related: 10 Louisville football players generating the most buzz in 2025 fall camp
1. Can Louisville make it to the CFP?
Yes. This Louisville team can 100 percent crash the College Football Playoffs. However, it will be challenging. Many experts are giving Louisville their flowers and picking them as college football's top sleepers, but with the Cardinals' schedule, it is a tall task.
Louisville has some challenging road games in 2025 as the Cardinals will face Pitt, Miami, Virginia Tech, and SMU. On top of that, they also have to face Clemson at home on a Friday night. For Louisville to make the CFP for the first time, Brohm must guide this Cardinals team to at least 10 wins and return to Charlotte.
Pick and choose how you may, but Louisville has to find a way to go 10-2 and beat some of the best ACC teams. If the Cardinals can go 11-1 (as some predict), then Louisville would go to Charlotte with a massive resume.
The Cardinals' offense has the skill and tools to guide this team to the College Football Playoffs. It will come down to the defense.
Related: Louisville 2025 game-by-game predictions: Can Cardinals beat Clemson again?
For all the latest on Louisville football's offseason, stay tuned.