The game Cardinals fans are already labeling as their biggest of the 2026 season comes extremely early, in Week 3, against the SMU Mustangs. With Louisville’s recent struggles against the Mustangs and both teams entering with high expectations, this is set to be a massive ACC September showdown.
Louisville and SMU are both likely to enter the 2026 season ranked, as ESPN has Louisville ranked as high as No. 14 and SMU ranked No. 17. With Brohm eyeing a spot in the ACC Championship game and his first-ever birth in the College Football Playoffs, expect this team to be hungry and motivated.
Isaac Brown and this stout defense find a way to beat SMU at home for the first time in program history. Louisville improves to 2-1 on the season and earns a massive first conference win.