The College Football season is quickly approaching, and the Louisville football fans are eagerly awaiting it. The Cardinals have a massive Week 1 showdown in Tennessee against Ole Miss, where Louisville has a real chance to send a strong message to the college football world that this Cardinals team is the real deal this year.
The Cardinals have put together some solid seasons under head coach Jeff Brohm, but now Louisville has its eyes set on two things it has never accomplished: the ACC Title and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
Josh Pate recently broke down a few teams that have never made it to the College Football Playoffs and who could be this year's new playoff teams, and Brohm and the Cardinals were one of his top choices.
Josh Pate is high on Jeff Brohm and Louisville
The Cardinals are consistently a top 25 team under Brohm, but now Louisville needs to put together a full season. Their best season under Brohm was his first year, when he led Louisville to a 10-win season, a win over Notre Dame, and a trip to their first ACC Championship Game.
Now, the Cardinals are trying to have a similar season as 2023, but take it to that next level and earn a berth to the College Football Playoffs, and Pate believes the Cardinals can make it happen.
“If they beat Ole Miss in Week 1, I think instantly Louisville becomes a favorite to make the playoffs,” stated Pate. “Their propensity to get the absolute most out of the portal class they bring in. There is a lot sneakily to like about Louisville.”
Pate is one of many reporters and analysts who are high on Louisville this offseason. The Cardinals currently have the third-highest odds to win the ACC, only behind Miami and slightly behind SMU.
What makes Louisville’s path to the College Football Playoffs so likable is its 2026 schedule. The Cardinals have Ole Miss and SMU, but after those two huge early games, Louisville’s schedule is very favorable.
The Cardinals don’t have to play Miami, Clemson, Duke, or Virginia, and play five of the seven worst teams in the conference from this past season. Those five teams had a combined 12-28 conference record and were outscored by a combined 298 points.
Pate talked highly of Louisville recently, stating he “leans hard” for the Cardinals to have a better record this season than last year, and he makes it clear that if Louisville can upset Ole Miss, their odds will immediatley favor them to be a College Football Playoff team for the first time in program history.
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