The Louisville Cardinals are looking to get back in the win column after their crushing loss to Wake Forest as they take on North Carolina State this afternoon. This marquee matchup marks the Cardinals' first real road game of the season, as the Cards have played three games at home and one game on a neutral field.
Louisville vs. North Carolina State: how to watch, odds, injuries, and more
With the Cardinals' eyes on an ACC Title, this afternoon marks a must-win game for Jeff Brohm and Louisville. However, the Cardinals' injury report is long, and the initial report included some notable players.
One player who stands out from the rest is the Cardinals' starting quarterback, Lincoln Kienholz. The 4-star transfer from Ohio State got hit hard against Wake Forest late in the game, and now, with the game just hours away, Louisville fans are holding their breath to see whether he'll play.
Is Lincoln Kienholz playing against North Carolina State?
Earlier this week, Louisville fans heard Brohm call the Cardinals quarterback a game-time decision, but he didn’t go into much detail about his star player's injury.
"He has something," stated Brohm "I'm not going to probably elaborate. It will be a game-time decision."
Now, as the game gets closer and closer, the Cardinals fans are still waiting. On3 Sports' Pete Nakos tweeted last night that there has been no update on Kienholz, and the Cardinals' starting quarterback is still questionable and a game-time decision.
Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz remains a game-time decision for tomorrow at NC State, sources tell @Brett_McMurphy and me for @On3.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) October 2, 2026
Will evaluate and decide after warmups. Davin Wydner or Briggs Cherry would get the start if Kienholz can't go.https://t.co/mzjaJYYOBa https://t.co/A4ZR1aVopq pic.twitter.com/VfvDTascHa
Kienholz has been a huge piece of this Cardinals offense: the 4-star transfer is ranked No. 16 in the league with 1,140 passing yards and leads the Cardinals with six rushing touchdowns. He has emerged as a true star in college football and is a top-tier dual-threat quarterback in the league. He can throw on the run or use his legs to extend plays.
However, Louisville fans are now holding their breath, hoping Kienholz gets upgraded after warmups and earns the start against the Wolfpack. If Kienholz isn’t able to go or is limited, Cardinals fans can expect to see 4-star freshman Briggs Cherry or West Georgia transfer Davin Wydner.
Cherry and Wydner have gotten game-time reps this season, but not many, as they have thrown the ball a combined six times.
With the Cardinals in a do-or-die situation this weekend, Kienholz's availability will be crucial not only to Louisville's chances of beating the Wolfpack on the road this afternoon, but also to the Cardinals' hopes of returning to Charlotte.
The Cardinals and Wolfpack will kick off at 3:30 p.m. local time. This story will be updated after the next injury report.
Add us as a preferred source on Google