Louisville football spring practice began earlier this week and Jeff Brohm is beginning to prepare his Cardinals squad to make history.
UofL is currently flying under the radar in the ACC as all eyes are going to wards Miami and Clemson, and there Louisville stands by themselves. Cardinals win total for next season is 8.5, and Vegas give Louisville a depressing 90-1 odds to win the National Championship.
Cardinals offseason is headlined by the commitment of Miller Moss, and then some other moves like Jojo Evans, and Demon Clowney. UofL is set to begin their 2025 season on August 30 against Eastern Kentucky at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
While all Louisville football fans are being told their "season-defining" game is October, 17 against Miami in the Hard Rock Stadium, but there is also a gruesome stretch of games that fans will be on the edge of their seats from kickoff until clock hits zero.
Louisville football stretch in November will determine their fate
Yes, that Miami Hurricanes game in week seven is as important as it gets, but if Cardinals slip up and lose, their season over and would have to win out, including this three game stretch. Even if they win, if they want a shot at ACC Championship, this three game stretch in November is still a nightmare stretch that will determine their fate.
The stretch starts on Nov. 14, as Louisville will play the Clemson Tigers at home, and that game will determine just where this Cardinals team will go. Louisville secured their first-ever win over the Tigers last year in a 33-21 victory, and will look to double their win total over Clemson, and then make history again and defeat Clemson in consecutive years for the programs first time.
The Cardinals are 1-8 in their history against Clemson, and in the way-to-early-rankings, Clemson comes in first for the ACC at No. 7. Cardinals are ranked No. 20, and if Louisville can get past Miami in week 7, then this game has potential to be home of ESPN's College Football Gameday show.
The uphill battle for Louisville starts vs Clemson, but then that next week is against the 2024 ACC regular season title champions, SMU Mustangs. This game will take place Nov. 22 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium and has the potential to either be the season-saving game and put Cardinals into the ACC Championship, or destroy all hope at history and the College Football Playoffs.
SMU comes in ranked No. 15 in ESPN's rankings, and after a hard-fought battle test with Clemson Jeff Brohm will have to prepare his Cardinals for yet another dogfight. Cardinals will look to make history again in this game as they will try and secure their first-ever win over SMU. Cardinals are 0-3 in their meetings with the Mustangs, including last years 34-27 loss at home.
Finally, Louisville football will end their season at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in the annual Governor's Cup showdown with their in-state rival the Kentucky Wildcats. Cardinals defeated Kentucky last year 41-14 at Kentucky's home field, but this years game could be a season-changing game.
Yes, Louisville should win this game, but after being in two dog fights with Clemson and SMU, Louisville will have to scrap for a victory against their rival. Last year college football fans saw Georgia Tech take Georgia to eight-overtimes, so anything is possible.
Louisville football is trying to cement their name at the top of the ACC Standings and show they aren't pretenders, but real contenders. If Cardinals wan that to happen they will most likley have to escape this brutal battle-tested stretch 3-0 or at very worst 2-1 if they want a shot at the ACC Championship.
Jeff Brohm and Louisville football are going to have their work cut out for them once November hits, and no other stretch is as tough as this one for the Cardinals.