Louisville improved to 2-1 this past weekend after defeating the SMU Mustangs 41-31. Now, following the Cards' huge win over SMU, Louisville is cementing itself as a legitimate contender in the ACC and emerging as a major challenge to Miami.
Miami's path to ACC Title doesn't look nearly as easy as major threat emerges
The Cardinals have been to the ACC Championship Game only once since joining the ACC. Louisville lost to Florida State in 2023 in Jeff Brohm’s first year as head coach, and now he has a clear path back to the big game in Charlotte.
ESPN Analytics sends a clear message about Louisville’s path back to the ACC Championship Game. After beating SMU, the Cardinals have emerged as one of the conference's top teams and a major contender.
Louisville football has a clear path to ACC Title Game
For those who don’t know, ESPN releases a win percentage for each college football game. Entering the season, Louisville fans had a few games circled on their calendars, but after three weeks of football, the Cardinals' schedule looks even more favorable than we thought.
According to ESPN's Analytics, the Cardinals are projected to win every game, and they give Louisville a 60-percent or higher chance of winning. Louisville’s schedule looks very favorable for the rest of the season, as the Cardinals don’t have to play Miami, Clemson, Virginia, or Duke.
Now, the Cardinals' toughest remaining game is at Kentucky in the Governor's Cup. ESPN Analytics gives Louisville a 60.8 percent chance of winning after Kentucky went on the road and upset Texas A&M this past weekend. Besides that game, the next toughest game is at home the week prior against Pitt, where ESPN gives the Cardinals a 61.2 percent chance of winning.
Other than those two games, Louisville has a 70 percent chance or higher of winning the rest. So, while it is only week 3 and Louisville definitely can't get ahead of themselves, it is also worth noting that if the Cardinals can take care of business and beat the teams they should beat, they have a legit, clear path back to the ACC Championship Game.
And not only a path back to Charlotte for the second time in program history, but also a path to finish this season 11-1. With an 11-1 record, Louisville would likely play Miami in the ACC Championship Game, and with that dominant record, the Cardinals would likely be a lock for their first-ever CFP berth.
It is an exciting time to be a Louisville football fan, and ESPN Analytics now loves the Cardinals and their chances of going on a run the rest of the season.
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