Louisville football has a massive Week 3 showdown, as the Cardinals already face their second-ranked opponent of the season. The Cardinals face No. 16 SMU on Saturday at home in what many are calling Louisville’s biggest game of the season.
Louisville football has the perfect blueprint to upset No. 16 SMU this weekend
Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals are currently 1-1, after defeating Villanova last week in a dominant 59-13 win and falling to No. 8 Ole Miss in a thrilling 41-38 shootout. Now, the Cardinals will look to defeat 2-0 SMU for the first time in program history, as the Cards are 0-2 since joining the ACC and 0-4 against SMU in program history.
The Cardinals are anticipating a sold-out crowd for this massive game this weekend, and just moments ago a Louisville basketball legend announced he will return to campus and play his first game this season.
Donovan Mitchell will make his return to Louisville this weekend
Pat Kelsey is known for hyping up the Cardinals' other sports departments, and the head coach did just that for this massive game. Kelsey posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating “We need to pack the joint y’all… Make it the most hostile environment in the history of Louisville Football. Card Nation…can’t wait to watch you guys do what you do. Illegal procedures, off sides…timeouts. Wreak havoc on our opponent Saturday from 3:30-7:00.”
Well, he grabbed Cardinals legend Donovan Mitchell’s attention as the NBA All-Star reposted the video and announced he will be in attendance this weekend.
"See yall Saturday!! 🫡🐔" stated Mitchell.
See yall Saturday!! @GoCards 🫡🐔 https://t.co/tJm2pacrcO
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 18, 2026
Mitchell is not only one of the best guards in the NBA but has also remained loyal to the Cardinals over the years. Mitchell has attended multiple sporting events over the years, including football and basketball games. The former Cardinal is one of the most beloved Louisville alumni in recent memory, as he not only returns to support his former school but also to practice with the men’s basketball team.
Mitchell currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers and has made the NBA All-Star Game seven times, a Louisville Cardinal record, and has scored 15,272 points in his NBA career, which is also a Cardinal record.
It is always great to see Mitchell show love for Louisville, and the NBA All-Star returning for the Cardinals' biggest game of the season is exactly what UofL fans wanted to hear. It will be a thrilling Saturday game, with major ACC Championship implications. College football fans won’t want to miss this one, even if you aren’t a fan of Louisville or SMU.
It is a top-25 showdown, as No. 23 Louisville hosts No. 16 SMU this Saturday, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. local time on ESPN 2.
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