Best-case scenario: Final record 11-1, ACC record 7-1
On the contrary, Louisville football exceeds many experts' predictions, meets the fans' expectations, and is one of the best teams in the ACC and the nation. The Cardinals' offense has limitless potential with their elite playmakers, and with Brohm as head coach, the Cards are poised for a breakout season.
Louisville has shown it can get over the hump and win the big games. They dominantly beat Notre Dame and Clemson over the past two seasons, and last year, they just needed a couple of stops, and they would have shocked the Hurricanes as well. The Cardinals' rushing attack is one of the best in the nation, and Chris Bell is emerging as the ultimate playmaker on the outside.
The Cardinals get Clemson at home this year, making that Miami showdown a massive test. In this scenario, Louisville takes care of business and avoids any upsets, wins two games against Clemson, Miami, and SMU, and finishes the year 11-1, returning to Charlotte for the ACC Championship game. Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus stated the Cardinals might be an 11-1 football team, proving this scenario isn't just the best-case scenario, but maybe even a likely scenario.
Once Louisville returns to Charlotte, they get Miami or Clemson in the ACC Championship game, and this offense leads them to victory, and they punch their ticket to their first-ever College Football Playoffs. The Cardinals have a path to make history this season. The season will come down to those three big showdowns in the regular season and then getting over the hump and winning their first-ever ACC Title game.
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