Louisville football's 2025 season has taken a drastic turn after the Cardinals were 7-1 and ranked No. 15 in the College Football Playoffs, and were looking like the frontrunner from the ACC. However, they have now dropped their last two games, both of which were at home and favored.
The Cards are now 7-3 and will try to go out and end the season on a high note, earning nine wins or more in Jeff Brohm's first three seasons. A big reason the Cardinals were able to start 7-1 and pull off their massive upset over Miami is because of their superstar wide receiver, Chris Bell. The wide receiver has taken the nation by storm and has emerged as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Well, the Cards' star wide receiver got some thrilling news yesterday as he learned he is a semifinalist for the 2025 Biletnikoff Award.
Related: Louisville's rising superstar just shot up Mel Kiper's updated NFL Draft Big Board
Chris Bell's breakout season earns massive Biletnikoff recognition
Bell earned a spotlight for this prestigious award after his dominant season through the Cards' 10 games. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound wide receiver has been nearly unstoppable this season so far as he has logged 67 catches for 871 yards and six touchdowns.
Bell leads Louisville in all categories thanks to his dominant three-game stretch, where he earned nine catches or more in all three games, and secured 441 receiving yards combined and five touchdowns. Bell is known for his breakaway speed, while also being a physical receiver who can go and get to his spot. He has also made ridiculous one-handed catches throughout the season. He is the ultimate game changer, and while Louisville's season has taken a turn for the worse, he is getting the spotlight he deserves.
He ranks in the top three in receptions and receiving yards in the ACC, and is tied for first with the most receiving touchdowns in the conference. He also ranks No. 8 for the most receptions and No. 12 for most receiving yards nationally.
He is one of 13 semifinalists, and the only other receiver representing the ACC is Florida State's Duce Robinson. The list will be cut down to three finalists on November 25. Now, Bell and the Cardinals will return to the field Saturday against SMU in Louisville's final ACC game of the season.