Louisville football has high expectations entering the 2026 season, as the Cardinals had one of the best offseasons in the nation. A lot of media outlets and fans are high on Louisville, calling them a dark horse not only to make a run at the ACC crown but also to make the College Football Playoffs.
ESPN just turned up the heat on Jeff Brohm ahead of Louisville’s 2026 season
Louisville’s 2026 season will get off with a hot start as the Cardinals aren’t playing Eastern Kentucky, James Madison, and Bowling Green in the first three weeks. No, Brohm isn’t ducking the smoke and is playing the Ole Miss Rebels in Nashville, Tenn., for a highly anticipated Week 1 showdown.
CBS Sports' Brad Crawford recently gave predictions for all the notable Week 1 matchups, and when it came to Louisville vs. Ole Miss, he warned the Rebels that this is no cupcake matchup.
Louisville football continues to draw major respect ahead Ole Miss showdown
Crawford has Ole Miss sneaking by the Cardinals with a 38-35 victory, but with Ole Miss as 8.5 point favorites, the CBS Sports football analyst reports the Cardinals are no walkover.
"Ole Miss paid up this offseason to keep running back Kewan Lacy from leaving, along with assisting with the legal team for quarterback Trinidad Chambliss against the NCAA for eligibility purposes. The Rebels may hold the SEC's most potent 1-2 punch offensively, but it's the other side of the football that must prove its worth for Pete Golding. This is a dangerous game for the favorites considering Louisville's confidence level. The Cardinals have managed three consecutive finishes with nine or more wins under Jeff Brohm and love the Lincoln Kienholz (Ohio State transfer)-Isaac Brown combination they'll have in the backfield.Brad Crawford
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Louisville 35"
The Cardinals' offense is expected to be highly explosive, as they are projected to put up 35 points against the Rebels. Louisville will be led by star running back Isaac Brown and Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz. They also added three 4-stars on the outside in wide receivers Lawayne McCoy and Tre Richardson and tight end Brodey Foley.
As for the defense, Louisville can shock many here, as they will have key returners up front in Clev Lubin and AJ Green, and in the middle at the linebacker position, Stanquan Clark, TJ Capers, and Antonio Watts. This defense will look to shock many, as it doesn’t get the same love the offense gets, and if they can contain Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, then Louisville has a real chance of a big-time Week 1 upset.
Crawford has been high on Louisville all offseason as he put Louisville firmly on the College Football Playoff watch earlier this offseason, and while he makes an early prediction of Louisville losing Week 1 to Ole Miss, he is letting everyone know this is a “dangerous game” for the Rebels, and Louisville could upset Ole Miss in Week 1.
Related: Way-too-early Louisville football 2026 game-by-game predictions
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