Week 2: vs James Madison (Sep. 5)
James Madison comes to town for a Friday night clash as Louisville takes on a tougher test in Week 2. The Dukes are coming off a strong 9–4 season that included a high-scoring upset over North Carolina and a bowl game victory to close out the year.
JMU returns key playmakers, including standout running back George Pettaway, and boasts two additional players who earned preseason All-Sun Belt honors. The Dukes are looking to build on last year’s success and continue their rise as one of the top programs in the Group of Five.
Known for their physical, hard-nosed brand of football, James Madison won’t make things easy. Still, Louisville holds a clear advantage in overall talent and depth. This game will be a noticeable step up from the opener against Eastern Kentucky, but it’s also an opportunity for Miller Moss to settle in and get comfortable in Jeff Brohm’s offense.
If the Cardinals can take care of the ball and win the battle in the trenches, they should be able to pull away and move to 2–0 on the season.
Prediction: W (2-0) Louisville 31- James Madison 17
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