After a slight step back in Jeff Brohm's second season with Louisville football, the Cardinals' head coach has built significant momentum entering his third season, particularly through the Transfer Portal. The Cardinals were able to add 4-star quarterback Miller Moss and return crucial players like Preseason All-American Isaac Brown, making them a legitimate threat in the ACC.
Louisville is a program that is on the rise, and while they are a dark horse to make the College Football Playoffs, it is clear this is one of their best year in a long time. The Cardinals' goals entering the 2025 season are to make history. If they want to make their first College Football Playoff, they will likely have to win their first-ever ACC Title.
The good news for Louisville fans is that they have one of the best coaches in the nation, not just in the eyes of fans but also nationally. Brohm has been showered with praise from experts this offseason, but the Cardinals' head coach has just been added to an elite list for a prestigious award.
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Louisville's Jeff Brohm headlines the 2025 award watch list of elite coaches
Brohm is becoming one of the most well-respected coaches not just in the ACC, but in the nation. He led Louisville to its first ACC Championship game in his first season and finished that season with a 10-4 record.
Last year, the Cardinals finished 9-4, giving them an impressive 19-8 record through two seasons. He is now one of 26 coaches listed on The Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List.
College Football’s most coveted coaching award.
— The Dodd Trophy (@thedoddtrophy) July 7, 2025
The 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watchlist is here 👏🏆
Read more >> https://t.co/DSxNy18gjr#DoddTrophy | presented by @pncbank pic.twitter.com/Yxx1uAkwdz
The Dodd Trophy has been awarded yearly since 1976, and Brohm will look to be the first Cardinals head coach to win this prestigious award. Brohm has had a tremendous first two seasons, outside of an impressive record, as he led Louisville to defeat the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 20 Duke Blue Devils, both in 2023. He also led Louisville to beat the Clemson Tigers for the first time in program history just last season.
The ACC has three other coaches on this elite Watch List, as Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key all were included on the list.
Brohm will look to make history and bring the Cardinals their first ACC Title, as well as their first trip to the College Football Playoffs in 2025. If he can do that, it could definitely lead to awards, including the Dodd Trophy Award.
Related: Jeff Brohm gets high praise as Louisville football chases history in 2025
For all the latest on Louisville football's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.