Stop teams from completing passes.
Overall, the Cardinal secondary wasn’t awful, but bad things happened when it struggled. And now, again, it has to replace a slew of parts. Last season, Louisville was 7-0 when allowing quarterbacks to hit fewer than 65% of their passes, and 2-4 when allowing that or more.
It allowed nine touchdown passes in the eight regular season wins, 11 in the four losses, and gave up four to Washington in the close-call 35-34 bowl win.
- Louisville Team Preview
Miller Moss, QB, Sr.
No, the former USC starter isn’t as good as Tyler Shough, but when he’s on he might be a little bit stronger than Jack Plummer was two years ago. Moss is a good veteran who knows what he’s doing, but he and USC had a problem coming through in key moments before he got benched.
Top Transfer In: Makylan Pounders, OT
Okay, fine. So Pounders isn’t the best of the many Louisville transfers coming in - Purdue guard Mahamane Moussa is probably that guy - but he should be the most important. The former 6-5, 310-pounder from Mississippi State will likely take over the left tackle gig because …
Top Transfer Out: Monroe Mills, OT
The Cardinals have options at tackle, like Pounders, but not having around a talent like Mills at left tackle is a drop-off for a line that was terrific in pass protection. Mills is now working at Virginia.
at Miami, Oct 17
Overall the schedule isn’t bad. The Clemson game is at home, and the trips to SMU, Virginia Tech and Pitt aren’t too nasty, but Miami is the big one. With a week off to get ready, win in Hard Rock, and the ACC title chase is on.
- 2025 Louisville Cardinals Schedule Breakdown
1. Chris Bell, WR Sr.
2. Isaac Brown, RB Soph.
3. Stanquan Clark, LB Jr.
4. TJ Quinn, LB Sr.
5. Miller Moss, QB Sr.
6. JoJo Evans, S Sr.
7. Duke Watson, RB Soph.
8. Caullin Lacy, WR Sr.
9. Clev Lubin, EDGE Jr.
10. Pete Nygra, C Sr.
- Sacks: Louisville 34 for 194 yards, Opponents 15 for 123 yards
- 3rd Quarter Scoring: Louisville 137, Opponents 55
- 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 66% (21-of-32), Louisville 41% (9-of-22)
Can Miller Moss match the Cardinal quarterback production of the last few years? Can the secondary hold up in shootouts, and can the pass rush make everything easier?
Jeff Brohm has a good team in place that should hang around the ACC hunt and be in the mix for big things for most of the season, but the second half is too rough to get through without a few scratches.
It’ll be like the first two seasons. Louisville will be close, and it’ll get to nine wins and a restaurant-quality bowl, but it won’t push through an improved ACC up top.
Set The Louisville Cardinals Win Total At … 8.5
Likely Wins: Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, James Madison, Virginia
50/50 Games: Boston College, Cal, Kentucky, at Pitt, at SMU, at Virginia Tech,
Likely Losses: Clemson, at Miami
- Louisville Team Preview
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