Louisville football's biggest unanswered questions a week before Eastern Kentucky

Louisville football is just one week away from kicking off their 2025 season against Eastern Kentucky. The Cardinals have a lot of potential and expectations ahead of the season, but still have some big questions that loom.

Jeff Brohm and his Cardinals are going to have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation, and maybe even one of the best offenses, but for that to happen, Brohm must solve some concerns on the offensive side. Defensively, Louisville fans have a lot of unanswered questions, even after their fall camp and three scrimmages.

So, with the season just seven days away, here are Louisville football's biggest unanswered questions a week before Eastern Kentucky.

Jeff Brohm is still seeking answers to these questions for Louisville

5. How will Miller Moss perform with Louisville?

After being benched in eight games and having a big decision-making and turnover issue with USC, Brohm had a tall challenge of getting the old version of Miller Moss. The 4-star commit and 4-star transfer has tremendous upside and plenty of potential, but can Brohm get the best out of him? Which version will Louisville get?

Moss enters the 2025 season as Louisville's most important player, and if the Cardinals want to return to Charlotte, he must perform consistently and show areas of improvement in decision-making. His performance will impact the Cardinals' ACC and College Football Playoffs chances.

4. Can the Cardinals defense force turnovers?

Last season, Louisville's defense was one of the worst in the ACC at forcing turnovers. The Cards went from finishing with the fourth most interceptions in the ACC to No. 12. The Cardinals forced just 10 interceptions last season, and if Louisville wants to compete for ACC glory, this new secondary must step up like they did in 2023.

As for forcing fumbles, the Cardinals didn't stand out in this category either. The Cardinals forced just seven fumbles in both 2023 and 2024, and will be middle of the pack in the ACC standings. Forcing a total of 17 turnovers last year won't cut it for their 2025 goals. So, if Louisville wants to take down Clemson, Miami, SMU, and others, then this defense must step up and give the ball back to the offense and allow them to score.

3. Can Richard Owens offensive line step up?

Louisville's offense has quite possibly the program's highest expectations since Lamar Jackson was here, winning the Heisman. The Cardinals' offense is loaded with talent, but will it live up to expectations? Louisville's offense starts with its rushing attack, and for the running backs to play up to their potential, the offensive line must step up.

Brohm has made it clear that this offensive line isn't impressing them as of right now, and after losing multiple key starters from last season, Brohm and Richard Ownes turn to Pete Nygra and various transfers. The Cardinals' linemen must also protect Moss. The star quarterback needs some time to operate, and as good as the wide receivers are, if this line can't give Moss time to get open, then it doesn't matter who is on the field. College football games are won in the trenches, and the line must play to the standards.

2. Can Louisville limit the big plays on defense?

Brohm has addressed this issue recently, but he also said he has to wait and see how it transitions for real games. The Cardinals' defense was giving up big play after big play last season, and essentially cost them some losses, notably against Miami. If Louisville wants to win the ACC or beat Miami or Clemson this year, the defense and the secondary must step up and limit the ball being thrown over their head.

Key additions like JoJo Evans and Rodney Johnson Jr. appear to be making drastic improvements in the Cardinals' secondary, but the glaring questions won't be solved until they are truly tested. Louisville's defensive backs must play like they did in 2023, and with Brohm and Ron English leading a completely new group, the Cardinals faithful enter the season with their eyebrows raised.

1. Can this offense play up to its potential?

The Cardinals' offense is loaded with talent, but how good can they truly be? With expectations through the roof, this offense will have to carry this team in 2025. The defense has a lot of questions, but on offense, the team is led by multiple preseason All-ACC candidates, and even an All-American in their star running back.

The running back and wide receiver room is stacked with talent, and if the offensive line and Miller Moss play up to Brian Brohm's standards, then this offense should pick it up right where it left off last year. Louisville's offense was the only team to score 24 points or more in 2024, and there is no reason Brohm's offensive unit can't do that again.

This offense is too talented to mess around and not make this year special. Brown, Bell, Moss, and company have the potential to make this year not just special, but a historic season. The glaring reason Louisville is a dark horse team to crash the College Football Playoffs is because of this offense's explosive potential. The Cardinals' offense is poised for another massive season and a date in the ACC Championship game.

For all the latest on Louisville football's offseason, stay tuned.