LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville football is walking into a storm — literally and figuratively.
The Cardinals (4-1, 1-1 ACC), fresh off a bye week and their first loss of the season, will head to South Florida on Friday night to face undefeated No. 2 Miami (5-0, 1-0 ACC) in what may be their toughest test of the Jeff Brohm era. It's a national TV showcase at Hard Rock Stadium, with ESPN on the call and the Schnellenberger Trophy on the line.
Miami is chasing its first 6-0 start since 2002 and has already notched three ranked wins this season, over Notre Dame, Florida and Florida State.
Louisville looks to bounce back from a 30-27 overtime loss to Virginia and prove it still belongs in the ACC title hunt. Brohm's team has already won on the road at Pittsburgh and has been solid defensively, but turnovers and a sputtering run game have put them behind the sticks on offense against better teams
Louisville coach Jeff Brohm has made a habit of slaying giants — including No. 2 Ohio State in 2018 and No. 10 Notre Dame in 2023 — but says the key against Miami is simple: “You can't beat yourself.”
Some details to get you ready:
The Time
7 p.m. ET | Friday, Oct. 17, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (capacity: 64,767)
How to Watch / Listen
TV: ESPN (Dave Pasch play-by-play, Dusty Dvoracek analyst, Taylor McGregor sideline). Streaming: ESPN app (with TV provider login)
Radio: Louisville Sports Properties Network, 93.9 The Ville FM, 1450 AM (Paul Rogers play-by-play, Craig Swabek analyst, Jody Demling sidelines). Streaming audio: ESPN Louisville app. Sirius/XM: Ch. 133
The Line
Spread: Miami is a 13.5-point favorite. Over/Under: 50.5 (DraftKings)
Notes: The home team is 0-3 straight up and against the spread in the past three meetings. This is the biggest underdog Louisville has been since it was +16 at Notre Dame in 2020, a game it lost 12-7. It's the second time the Cardinals have been a double-digit underdog under Brohm. The first time, they pulled a 33-21 upset at No. 11 Clemson as a 10-point dog. Louisville is 1-4 ATS this season; Miami is 4-1. The over is 4-1 in Louisville's last five road games.
Key matchups
Louisville's Offensive Line vs. Miami's Front Seven: Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor lead a Miami defense that ranks No. 1 in the ACC in scoring (13.6 ppg allowed) and second in rushing yards allowed (87.4 ypg). The Cards allowed five sacks against Virginia and will need better protection for Miller Moss.
Miller Moss vs. the rush: The Cards' quarterback has thrown for 1,358 yards and seven touchdowns but has also tossed four interceptions. Brohm hinted this week that other quarterbacks could see situational packages, but that's more about creating opportunities — not replacing Moss
Explosive Plays vs. Conservative Defense: Miami has allowed just 14 plays of 20+ yards all season – eighth fewest in the nation. Louisville has had only one play of more than 30 yards through its first two ACC games.,
Players to Watch
LOUISVILLE
Wide receiver Chris Bell is coming off a 170-yard, two-TD game against Virginia. Safety D'Angelo Hutchinson, Has 32 tackles and one interception in two ACC games. Running back Isaac Brown is battling injury, but averages 7.3 yards per carry when healthy and is absent from Louisville's last injury report.
MIAMI
Quarterback Carson Beck, a Georgia transfer, has 11 TDs to just three INTs and leads an offense scoring 35 points per game. Freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney is one of multiple Miami speedsters at the position and had 107 yards and 2 TDs against Florida State. Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is a disruptive pass rusher with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
The Coaches
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (3rd season, 23-9 at U of L; 89-53 career)
Miami: Mario Cristobal (4th season, 27-16 at Miami; 89-76 career)
Head-to-head: Tied 1-1
Series History
Miami leads the all-time series 12-4-1, including 6-1-1 in Miami. The Hurricanes won the last meeting 52-45 last season. Louisville's last win came two years ago in Miami, 38-31.
Quick sideline storylines
QB Watch: Brohm hinted at using packages that might utilize different quarterbacks — not as an indictment of Miller Moss, but to jump-start the run game (and maybe give Miami more to prepare for).
Bell Ringer: Louisville wideout Chris Bell has 22 catches for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns in his last two games. The Hurricanes limited him to just 1 catch in last year's shootout.
Penalty problem: Louisville ranks 110th nationally in penalties per game with an average of 7.4 per game and is 120th in penalty yardage per game at 72.4.
Line in the bermuda: Miami's defensive front is elite — allowing just 87.4 rushing yards per game. Louisville's offensive line surrendered 5 sacks against Virginia and must rebound. The Cards are averaging just 53.5 yards rushing in two ACC games.
Turnover Battle: Miami ranks 5th nationally in turnover margin. Louisville has coughed up two or more turnovers in three straight games. Mistakes will equal disaster in this one.
Beck's Resume: Miami QB Carson Beck is 29-3 as a college starter, the best winning percentage of any active FBS quarterback. He's thrown 11 touchdowns in five games with only 3 picks.
Schnellenberger Stakes: Friday's winner takes home the Schnellenberger Trophy — a bronzed pair of Howard Schnellenberger's boots. Miami won it last year in a 52-45 thriller. It was created before the teams met in 2023 in Louisville, and honors the former coach who led both programs to prominence.
Road test history: Louisville is just 5-37-1 all-time on the road against ranked opponents. Their last such win came at Clemson last season.
Injury report: From the ACC, Louisville has the following players listed as out -- LB Stanquan Clark, QB Travis Egan, RB Duke Watson, RB Jamarice Wilder, RB Shammai Gates, OL Naeer Jackson, OL Mak Pounders, OL Tyler Folmar. The following are listed as probable. DL Micah Carter is questionable, and DB Rodney Johnson and RB Keyjuan Brown are probable. Miami will be without DL Hayden Lowe, WR Chance Robinson, TE Dylan Reiman, OL Ralph Scroggins, OL Demetrius Campbell and TE Jackson Carver. Linebacker Bobby Washington Jr. is questionable. The injury report will be updated at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The Quote
“We are excited about the opportunity to go down to Miami to play a really good football team. I think Miami is as talented as any team in the country, and any team we've played in the last two years since I've been here. They're really good, without question. This is the most talented team they've had at every position. … We'll definitely have to play very well in order to win, but that's why you practice all week and get ready. It's a great opportunity to play just an outstanding football team that's playing as good as any anyone in the country right now.”
— Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm
The Pick
Miami 31, Louisville 14
This may be Brohm's toughest assignment yet at Louisville. The Cards will need to play clean, hit a few chunk plays, and withstand Miami's athleticism. Easier said than done. Isaac Brown needs to have a huge game, and he's capable. But everything hinges on an offensive line that has been anything but inspiring, against a Miami front that is fearsome. If Brohm has a little magic — and he has in the past — this would be a good time for it. Otherwise, I'd take Miami to cover (and think hard about the under).
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