Louisville football is set to kick off this Saturday with Eastern Kentucky from L&N Stadium. The time has finally come. The moment Louisville fans have all been waiting for. The Cardinals are coming off a 9-4 season a year ago, during which they experienced numerous highs, including beating Clemson for the first time in program history. However, they also faced some lows, such as losing to Stanford and failing to return to the ACC Championship game.
The Cardinals will begin their 2025 College Football Playoffs push this weekend against East Kentucky. The Cardinals should dominate this game from start to finish, and many stats prove that. So, here are five crazy stats that make Louisville unbeatable against Eastern Kentucky
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5 crazy stats that makes Louisville unbeatable against Eastern Kentucky
5. History proves the Cardinals will dominate
The Louisville Cardinals hold a dominant 20-7-1 record against Eastern Kentucky. Louisville's last loss was back in 1985, and the Cardinals have won the last five matchups and nine of the previous 10. The Cardinals and the Colonels have played each other four times since 2010, and it has been dominant wins from Louisville.
Louisville won the four games 116-23, averaging a score of 29-6. The last three matchups are where Louisville has really picked it up and dominated as the Cardinals beat the Colonels 30-3 in 2021, 42-0 in 2019, and 44-7 in 2013. That is an average win by 35 points, making it clear that the Cardinals are poised to dominate Saturday and even have a good chance to cover the 38.5 point spread.
4. Louisville's dominant FCS win streak
Louisville football has won 25 consecutive games against FCS opponents, as the Cardinals' last loss to an FCS opponent came against Marshall back in 1987. Eastern Kentucky currently competes in the United Athletic Conference at the FCS level and is coming off an 8-5 season and a 6-2 conference record. The Cardinals dominated their FCS opponent last season, who actually competes in the same conference as the Colonels, as Louisville beat Austin Peay 62-0.
Austin Peay went on to put up a good fight against the Colonels last season, as Eastern Kentucky only won by three points in overtime. The Cardinals' dominant FCS win streak and their impressive victory over a similar opponent only prove that Louisville is poised for another dominant Week 1 win.
3. Jeff Brohm and Louisville's impressive home opener record
Jeff Brohm has dominated his home openers since he joined Louisville as its head coach. The Cardinals defeated Murray State and Austin Peay by a combined score of 118-0. The Cardinals' two home openers against FCS opponents make it clear that the Cardinals have a bit of a streak going on at the moment, as Louisville has shut out its two FCS opponents in its home season openers for two consecutive seasons.
As for Louisville, they have won 10 of their last 14 home openers, including their last three. Louisville has a 70-33-3 record at home for their home openers, and they will look to make it 71. History indicates that the Cardinals have dominated their home openers and are expected to do so again against their FCS opponent on Saturday.
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2. Eastern Kentucky's recent FBS record
Eastern Kentucky will represent the FCS against the Louisville Cardinals, and the past indicates Brohm and his Cardinals should earn a win quite easily. The Colonels faced two FBS opponents last season and lost a combined score of 87-7. Mississippi State dominated the Colonels to start the season last year, winning 56-7, and the Bulldogs only won one game after that.
As for 2023, they went 0-2 again and lost a combined score of 94-30. The track record suggests that Louisville shouldn't just start the season 1-0, but they should dominate and possibly even shut out the Colonels. The Cardinals are significantly better than the previous four FBS teams Eastern Kentucky has faced, making it seem likely that Louisville will dominate from start to finish in all three phases of the game.
1. The Cardinals explosive offense
Louisville's offensive star power should dominate Eastern Kentucky throughout the whole game. Last year against Austin Peay, Isaac Brown got just five carries but ran for 123 yards and a touchdown. Duke Watson earned six carries and gained 86 rushing yards and a touchdown, and with the Colonels' inexperience and track record against FBS opponents, Louisville's star running backs should dominate yet again to start the 2025 season.
As for Chris Bell, Louisville should expect a big-time performance from the preseason All-ACC receiver. Last year, Ja'Corey Brooks started hot with 83 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Bell and Louisville fans should have similar expectations. The Cardinals' offense should steamroll Saturday and be way too explosive for this weaker FCS defense.
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Louisville and Eastern Kentucky will kick off on August 30 at 3 p.m. local time. For all the latest on Louisville football's 2025 season, stay tuned.