Louisville has played its way into the ACC title and subsequently, the College Football Playoff conversation. The Cardinals enter Week 11 at No. 15, hosting unranked Cal in conference play and needing to hold serve with Georgia Tech, Pitt, and SMU behind unbeaten Virginia at the top of the ACC. However, they’ll have to do it without their best offensive player.
Sophomore running back Isaac Brown was limited through much of the early season, but he will miss his first game of the year on Saturday at L&N Stadium. Brown has been ruled out by head coach Jeff Brohm.
Brown leads the team with 782 rushing yards on just 91 carries, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt. Brown has also made five trips to the end zone, including one in each of the last two weeks. Over Louisville’s last three games, Brown has rushed for 448 yards on 45 carries.
His three-game streak of 100-yard outings is the longest since Lamar Jackson went for over 100 yards in seven straight games in 2017, his Heisman Trophy season.
Isaac Brown has three straight games with 100 rushing yards 🔥
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 1, 2025
The last Louisville player with a longer streak was Lamar Jackson in 2017 with seven games. pic.twitter.com/deWZyQrnrH
Brown was injured late in the fourth quarter of last week’s 28-16 win over Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. On his 16th carry of the day, Brown looked to take an awkward step as he veered toward the sideline and went down untouched.
Here is the play that Louisville Running Back Isaac Brown injured himself on. #GoCards #Louisville
— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) November 1, 2025
TV: CW https://t.co/LOGkgM8mxd pic.twitter.com/fFKoKan428
Following the game, Brohm confirmed that Brown "will be out for a while." That's concerning news for Louisville's offense because Brown could be the unit's most explosive playmaker.
Isaac Brown ruled out for Louisville in Week 11 vs. Cal
With Brown out, Louisville will need to lean on its deep backfield. That depth, though, could be taking a hit with Duke Watson listed as probable on the injury report leading up to the game. Watson is expected to play, but may not be at 100 percent.
Watson, last year’s second-leading rusher in a backfield tandem with Brown, has run for only 64 yards on 24 attempts this season. Watson has only played in four games this year and has not recorded a carry since October 4 in a 30-27 overtime loss to Virginia.
With Watson’s injury struggles, sophomore Keyjuan Brown has filled the void, accounting for 321 yards and a team-leading six rushing touchdowns so far this season. Even if Watson plays, Keyjuan Brown will be a featured piece of Louisville’s offense.