The road to the ACC championship game finally begins for the Louisville Cardinals this week, as they travel to Pittsburgh to play the hometown Panthers in their first ACC matchup. Louisville football remains undefeated through their first three games and has high hopes entering ACC play of potentially playing their way into a spot at the prized ACC title game. The wins were not always the prettiest, but the Cardinals showed flashes of their potential and got the job done.
The defense has been the early standout of the Cardinals this year, showing plenty more promise than previously expected during the preseason. The defensive line, led by star Clev Lubin, has been dominant, setting the tone for the defense with continual pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The offense has fallen short of expectations so far this season; however, they have steadily improved week after week, gaining confidence along the way. Many Cardinals fans are hoping for the return of star running back Isaac Brown this week and a return of the run game as the focal point and driver of the offense.
The Cardinals will have a tough road to the ACC title, as they will face many of the ACC's preseason contenders along the way. Multiple games will be “make or break” for Louisville’s ACC title chances as the season progresses.
Here are five matchups on that journey that will be critical for Louisville to win and will define the Cardinals' chances of playing for the ACC title.
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5. Virginia at Louisville (October 4th)
The Virginia Cavaliers have been one of the early bright spots of the ACC this season, starting the season with a 3-1 record. The Cavaliers have provided a high-flying aerial attack, led by quarterback Chandler Morris, who currently has 1,050 passing yards and eight passing touchdowns through the first four games. Virginia fell early in a close battle to the North Carolina State Wolfpack on the road, 35-31. However, the Cavaliers have had strong showings in their other games and will prove to be a formidable opponent for the Cardinals in the second week of ACC play.
Louisville will be coming home after a hard-fought matchup against the Pittsburgh Panthers, hoping to stay undefeated against the Cavaliers. This matchup will be a test of willpower for the Cardinals, who will undoubtedly be the favorites entering the matchup. The Cardinals will need to keep their focus and avoid looking ahead to the matchup with the Miami Hurricanes, which will occur the following week after the bye. Louisville should prevail, but keep an eye on this game as a potential letdown game for the Cardinals.
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4. Louisville at SMU (November 22nd)
The Louisville Cardinals will look to avenge their 7-point loss from last season against the SMU Mustangs as the last ACC matchup of the season. SMU has underperformed so far this season compared to its preseason expectations, losing early games to two Big 12 opponents, the Baylor Bears and the TCU Horned Frogs. However, SMU will still look to be a contender in the ACC as they open ACC play against the Syracuse Orange this week.
This matchup for the Cardinals will be Louisville's last chance to bolster its ACC resume and will likely have significant implications for the ACC title game. Traveling on the road to play at SMU will add an extra level of difficulty to the matchup for the Cardinals. This game will be the perfect final test for the Cardinals and will likely determine their fate in the ACC title race for the 2025 season.
3. Louisville at Pittsburgh (September 27th)
The first game of ACC play for the Cardinals will be a tough spot in a location where the Cards have historically struggled. Louisville is 0-3 at Pittsburgh since the Cardinals joined the ACC back in 2014. The most recent loss was a 38-21 defeat in 2023, Jeff Brohm’s first year, which came in a huge letdown spot, ending an otherwise undefeated season. The Panthers on the road have been a thorn in Louisville’s side, one that the Cardinals have never been able to pull out.
This game is even more critical this year, as it will be the first conference test for the Cardinals and will set the tone for Louisville’s ACC title chances from the start. Louisville obviously wants to start strong and send a message to their ACC foes with an undoubtedly dominant win. Louisville will also look to avenge their previous struggles and finally put a “1” in the win column for the historical matchup at Pittsburgh.
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2. Clemson at Louisville (November 14th)
Although this game does not appear to have the same intensity and ACC title implications as previous matchups have had, the Louisville-Clemson game has become one of the best ACC rivalries in recent memory. Stemming back to the Lamar Jackson-Deshawn Watson thriller in Death Valley in 2016, and as recently as last year, when Louisville went into Death Valley as a heavy underdog and left with a 33-21 upset win, this game has continually been must-see television. This year should be no different, especially if coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers can right the ship after a choppy start to the season.
This game will come later in the year for the Cardinals, which will be a critical time for Louisville if they are still vying for a chance at an ACC title spot. This could be a year where the roles are reversed, and the Tigers are attempting to play spoiler to Louisville’s end-of-season goals and add further fuel to the evolving rivalry. Luckily, this game will be played at home for the Cardinals, and they will hopefully add another quality win to their resume.
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1. Louisville at Miami (October 17th)
The most critical matchup for the Louisville Cardinals this season will come against the toughest opponent on their schedule. The Cardinals will travel down to Coral Gables to face the tough, dominant Hurricanes in a matchup that will very well put the winner on a fast track to the ACC title game. The Hurricanes have looked the part of the best team in the ACC with majorly ranked wins over Notre Dame and South Florida, as well as a massive win against the Florida Gators. Hurricane QB Carson Beck has settled into a comfortable position. He will look to lead the Hurricanes to the ACC title and further the College Football Playoff in his anticipated last year of eligibility.
Louisville has had recent success in Coral Gables, highlighted by a clinching ACC title spot win against the Hurricanes in 2023. The loser of this game could potentially still make the ACC title game and force a rematch at season’s end, however, the road gets very tough with little to no room for error. The Cardinals will rely on the leadership of coach Jeff Brohm, as well as the stars on offense and defense, to navigate this challenging environment and hopefully head home with a huge upset win. A win at Miami would not only be a season-defining win but also a program-defining win as the NIL and new age of college football continue to transform.
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For all the latest on Louisville football's 2025 season and recruiting, stay tuned.