The Cardinals will face the Syracuse Orange this evening in their fifth ACC matchup. However, while this afternoon and evening’s slate is loaded with thrilling matchups, the talk of college football isn’t really about the games, but about the College Football Playoff expansion.
CFP expansion could finally unlock Jeff Brohm's vision for Louisville
Earlier this week, ESPN reported that College Football is nearing a final deal that would expand the playoffs from 12 to 24. The Cardinals and Jeff Brohm should be all-in on this expansion, as it gives them a much better chance to make the coveted playoffs. Louisville has yet to make the playoffs, and with the expansion, it should move the Cardinals from an ACC contender to a consistent CFP contender.
However, if the expansion gets finalized and there are 24 teams next year, one thing is certain: Brohm will have much more pressure and no excuses for missing the playoffs.
Louisville’s CFP expectations could change dramatically with expansion
With the playoffs expanding from 12 to 24, Louisville is one of the teams that will benefit most. Since Brohm arrived, the Cardinals have won nine or more games every season, including 2023, when they won 10 and made it to the ACC Championship Game. He has also earned the nickname “giant killer,” as he has shown every season he can compete with the nation’s biggest brands, defeating Notre Dame, Clemson, Miami, and SMU, and playing Ole Miss super close.
However, Brohm also consistently loses games he shouldn’t. Louisville has struggled to put together a full season, making it hard for the Cardinals to make the 12-team playoffs. That's why Louisville will benefit from the expansion. Now, the Cardinals have a margin for error but can still compete for a playoff spot.
So, with the expansion and 24 teams making it, Brohm and Louisville have no excuses for missing these playoffs. Brohm has to figure out how to prepare his team for smaller games like Stanford, Cal, and NC State, and he must put the team in a position to be a top-24 team every year.
Louisville fans are starving for a playoff berth, and the expansion is a golden opportunity for Brohm and this program. Entering the 2026 season, the Cardinals had some lofty expectations, with Brohm landing a top-five Transfer Portal class and bringing back key starters like Isaac Brown and Clev Lubin. And while the playoffs won't be for this year, it would have been a huge disappointment if Louisville didn't make a 24-team playoff format in 2026, and as of now, they are sitting at 3-3.
So, if the expansion happens, he must build a roster that can be a legit playoff team in the 24-team format. The Cardinals' path to the playoffs would get much easier with the expansion, and with that, of course, comes pressure on the head coach. The Cardinals should be an 8-9 win team every year, and the playoff expansion puts them on the bubble every year.
Now, he needs to fix those bad losses, beat the teams they should beat, put Louisville in a good spot to be a top-20 team, keep the Cardinals off the bubble, and elevate them as a consistent playoff team.
Whether fans agree with the expansion or not, it still sounds like it's coming. And when it does, Brohm must keep improving this program, take it to the next level, and earn its first CFP berth.
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