They were the team that wasn't supposed to be in this deal. One of the teams, anyway.

One of the best additions to the University of Louisville schedule over the last decade is the team the Cardinals will face Saturday for the fifth time in program history: Notre Dame.

Sometimes, you just get lucky.

Because of the loss to Northern Illinois, which was beaten by Buffalo Saturday, Notre Dame needs to beat Louisville and Southern Cal with gusto if the Irish expect to compete in the national 12-team playoff.

A night like Saturday night certainly had to be the goal when athletic director Josh Heird sealed the recruitment of Jeff Brohm to become the next University of Louisville football coach last December.