Louisville football was extremely active this offseason, and many Cardinals fans are excited to see what this roster will look like. Louisville is entering the 2026 season with high expectations, as Jeff Brohm wasn’t just able to recruit and land big-time players; he also recruited from within and kept some stars, like Issac Brown.
Jeff Brohm and Louisville gaining serious CFP buzz as ACC dark horse contender
Louisville was ranked as high as No. 14 in ESPN’s way-too-early rankings, but just a couple of weeks ago, the Cards got a crushing update from the network, learning they had dropped seven spots. Louisville fans are kind of used to this type of stuff at this point, but dropping seven spots after ranking No. 4 in On3 Sports' best Transfer Portal classes is a head scratcher.
Louisville football falls seven spots in latest ESPN rankings
Louisville is often disrespected and doesn’t get the love it deserves, and now Brohm will have a golden opportunity to prove the doubters wrong. The Cardinals falling seven spots in ESPN’s rankings just another examplet they don’t get the respect they deserve.
"2026 outlook: Jeff Brohm will be back for a fourth season at his alma mater after his name was linked to seemingly every big-time coaching search. Kienholz was the No. 13 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2023 and threw 36 passes in two seasons with the Buckeyes. The Cardinals lost their top two receivers in Bell and Lacy. Richardson was one of the fastest players in the SEC, and McCoy caught 27 passes for 396 yards at FSU. Getting tailback Isaac Brown back from the transfer portal was paramount. The Cardinals will have to rebuild their offensive line, and there are replacements coming for the defensive front as well."
Louisville was jumped by teams like Utah, Washington, Iowa, Michigan, Alabama, and USC. Some teams have a stronger case than others, but as Mark Schlabach wrote, Louisville’s offense is going to be explosive and will be led by this elite running back group.
Yes, they have concerns and questions up front, but they added some key pieces in Cason Henry and Eryx Daugherty. On the defensive side, they kept Clev Lubin and AJ Green, and added elite ACC edge rusher Tyler Thompson, who had seven sacks this past season. So, while this Louisville team isn't flawless by any means, the offense has the potential to be elite, which is why ESPN had them at No. 14.
Now, Louisville will have a huge opportunity to prove they deserve that top 15 spot they once had. They open the season against Ole Miss, who ranks No. 9 in these rankings. So, if Louisville goes and shocks the nation and not just covers the 7.5 but upsets the Rebels, Brohm and Louisville will climb the rankings and will be put where they firmly deserve, and that is back inside the top 15.
Related:10 biggest Transfer Portal commitments for Louisville football this offseason
For all the latest recruiting news and updates for Louisville football, stay tuned.
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