The Louisville football team fell short of its two major goals in 2025. Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals set out to return to the ACC Championship game and earn their first berth in the College Football Playoffs. However, Isaac Brown got hit by the injury bug, and this team lost three straight in November.
Now, spring ball is just around the corner, and after Louisville ranked fifth in On3 Sports' offseason rankings, the Cardinals' fans have the same two goals as last season. Heading into 2026, Louisville is considered one of the best teams in the ACC after Brohm rebuilt this roster. They have an explosive offense with Brown, Tre Richardson, and Lincoln Kienholz. On defense, they are led by key returners Clev Lubin, AJ Green, Antonio Watts, and Stanquan Clark.
When Louisville fans look at this year's schedule, they will see it is much more manageable than last year's. So, with the Cardinals trending toward a top-15 team in the nation next season and a favorable schedule, what is the best-case scenario for them next year?
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The best-case scenario for the Louisville football team in 2026
Louisville opens the year off with its two hardest games in the first three weeks. The Cardinals take on Ole Miss in Week 1 in Nashville, and then SMU in Week 3 inside L&N Stadium.
After that rough stretch, the Cardinals' ACC slate is very favorable as they don't play Miami, Clemson, Virginia, or Duke this year. The Cardinals' hardest games outside of Ole Miss and SMU will be Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, and Pitt. Besides those teams, they play five of the seven worst teams in the ACC from last season in Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford, North Carolina, and Wake Forest.
The Cardinals are already earning bold predictions that they will go undefeated in their ACC schedule from CBS Sports' Cody Nagel. The best-case scenario for this Cardinals team in 2026 is that they go 11-1 in the regular season, win their first ACC Championship, and punch their ticket to their first College Football Playoffs.
The Cardinals have the talent and coaching staff to start 3-0 and beat Ole Miss and SMU in the first three weeks, but even if they escape those two games, going undefeated is incredibly challenging, even with Louisville's favorable schedule.
The path is there for the Cardinals to go 11-1; it won't be easy, but this team has the capability to be one of the most explosive offenses in college football and to have a historic season, claiming their first ACC Title and their first College Football Playoff berth.
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For all the latest news and updates on Louisville football's 2025 season and recruiting, stay tuned.