Louisville football fans have been begging for an Isaac Brown game so far this season, and they might finally get it. Through four games, Brown has pretty much only played three games, not including his one carry for 18 yards against Bowling Green. This year, he has logged 32 carries for 250 yards, and the fans are screaming to see more production and action from the preseason All-American.
Well, Louisville fans, good news. This showdown with the Virginia Cavaliers presents the perfect opportunity for Brown to deliver his statement game and prove why he was considered one of the best running backs in the nation entering the 2025 season. The Cardinals' star running back is poised to break through this weekend and have a Heisman-like performance, and send a loud message to the rest of the ACC that he is back.
Isaac Brown will have a dominant performance against Virginia
This Saturday is going to be Brown's show. The star running back showed in week 1 that he can lead this team to a victory when he rushed just six times but for 126 yards and two touchdowns, but he hasn't been able to have a dominant game since. Against James Madison, his statistics look good, as he ran 12 times for 104 yards; however, this is somewhat skewed, as one carry was for the game-sealing 78-yard touchdown.
Before that massive run, he was struggling to find gaps, and the defense did a great job containing him. However, Brown is looking at this UVA defense and can't wait for Saturday, because this is his game to log 15 carries or more and to rush well over 100 yards.
Virginia's run defense has struggled immensely against quality opponents. The Cavaliers gave up over 200 rushing yards to North Carolina State and Florida State. The Wolfpacks, Hollywood Smothers laid the blueprint out for Brown to dominate this weekend as Smothers rushed 17 times for 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Brown is due for a game like this, and despite UVA's defense ranking in the top 25 for run defense, it is clear that against their better opponents, they struggle to stop the run. Louisville's rushing attack should be one of the best in the nation with their dominant duo of Brown and Duke Watson, and it appears this could be the game they finally break out.
Last year against Virginia, Bronw earned 20 carries for 146 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Brohm and the Cardinals have to give Brown the ball and give him the carries he deserves.
Louisville fans believe this is a must-win game if they want to return to Charlotte, and for the Cardinals to secure a win over Virginia, the Wolfpack revealed a clear path to do so by running the ball down their throats. With that being the blueprint, expect Brown to dominate and to be a nightmare for Virginia's defense.
Related: 3 bold predictions for the Louisville Cardinals vs No. 24 Virginia Cavaliers
Louisville and Virginia will kick off next Saturday, October 4, from L&N Stadium at 3:30 p.m. local time.