LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Halftime is over. Time to return to the field. Stretch. Sprint. Huddle. Everybody return to their seats.
On Monday I looked back at the 5 Biggest Stories of 2024 on the local scene. On Tuesday I nominated 5 Stories that deserved bigger headlines.
On Wednesday let’s look ahead:
What will be the 5 Biggest Stories for the rest of 2024?
1. Can Jeff Brohm and Louisville hang another 10-win season?
With 10 voting points, Brohm’s first U of L squad started the 2023 season ranked No. 34 in the Associated Press preseason football poll.
The Cards beat Georgia Tech in their season opener — and lost nine poll points. Louisville won another game and lost that voter. They finally cracked the Top 25 after beating North Carolina State to move to 5-0.
A victory over Notre Dame bumped the Cards to No. 14. A loss at Pittsburgh broke U of L’s momentum but they rallied to No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the College Football Playoff poll before a loss to Kentucky left Brohm’s first team with a 10-2 record.
Can the Cards win 10 again?
ESPN’s Football Power Index projects 7.9 wins. Vegas set the over/under win total at 8.5.
Bill Connelly’s respected SP+ rankings at ESPN.com put the Cards No. 28. A year after ranking U of L No. 53 before the season, Phil Steele has the Cards No. 32 in 2024 in his yearbook.
Ten wins seem unlikely, especially with games at Notre Dame, Clemson and Kentucky.
Louisville won five games by a touchdown or less last season while only losing once by less than 10. The Cards played seven home games — and had more fans in Indianapolis for a game against Indiana. Louisville will finish with four of its last five games on the road, with one home game after Oct. 19.
Better to under promise and over deliver. Ten wins this season would be a remarkable year.
2. Does Kentucky football have a quarterback?
Sure. Kentucky’s quarterback will be Brock Vandagriff, the transfer from Georgia.
Unless it’s Gavin Wimsatt, the quarterback from Rutgers.
I think.
Devin Leary was supposed to lead the Wildcats to great things last season after transferring from North Carolina State. Leary posted big numbers with the Wolfpack and was considered a prime catch in the transfer portal.
Leary was not the answer. He finished ninth in the Southeastern Conference in passing, throwing a dozen picks while completing less than 57% of his passes.
Enter Vandagriff, a three-year backup at Georgia.
And Wimsatt, a surprise transfer from Rutgers post spring practice. Wimsatt ranked 10th in passing in the Big Ten with a 47.8 completion percentage and only one more touchdown pass (9) than interceptions.
Vandagriff is unproven, completing 12 of 21 passes in three seasons. Wimsatt, a native of Owensboro, is inconsistent, throwing 14 TDs and 17 interceptions over three seasons with the Scarlet Knights.
With another new offensive coordinator (Bush Hamdan), quarterback is another blank Mark Stoops must fill at Kentucky.
3. Will the crowds return for Louisville men’s basketball?
The numbers reported to the NCAA say the Louisville men’s program filled 52% of the 22,090 seats at the KFC Yum! Center last season. The Cards announced average attendance was 11,504, which ranked No. 26 in the nation.
To borrow a line from baseball announcer Bob Uecker, if that’s the case many of the people showed up dressed as empty seats. Scanned attendance at many games was less than 7,000 fans.
Expecting Pat Kelsey to win big his first season with an entirely new roster is unreasonable.
Expecting Louisville fans to get back on board and actually put at least 11,504 people in the seats for games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents is entirely reasonable.
And I believe they will.
4. Can Curt “I Win: Google Me,” Cignetti win at Indiana?
Consider Cignetti the irresistible force. In 13 seasons as a head football coach at three programs at three levels of the game he has never endured a losing season.
Consider Indiana football the immovable object. The Hoosiers have produced three winning seasons since 1994.
Cignetti nearly bristles at the mention of Indiana’s past. Irrelevant, he says.
His trademark lines have been:
“I’ve never had a losing season and I don’t intend to start now,” and “I win. Google me.”
Will Cignetti win in Year One at Indiana after recruiting more than 30 players in the transfer portal?
Vegas placed the IU over/under win total at 5 — as in 5-7.
Phil Steele picked IU 12th in the 17-team Big Ten.
ESPN’s FPI index forecasts 5.3 wins.
Several factors align in Indiana’s favor. By buying out of their game at Louisville, the Hoosiers have eight home games. UCLA, Michigan State, Washington and Michigan all have first-year coaches. Maryland lost quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. The Purdue game is booked for Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
Getting to seven wins is possible but unlikely. Google it.
5. Will the Atlantic Coast Conference crumble?
One of the trickiest things I will have to remember this fall is to quit using the term “Power Five” conferences.
It’s now a Power Four.
The Pac-12 became a footnote this week. Four teams joined the Big Ten. Four joined the Big Ten. Stanford and California joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Washington State and Oregon State got left behind.
We’re not done here. With a considerable edge in revenue, the SEC and Big Ten command the field. The Big 12 moved aggressively in recruiting new members, even after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.
The ACC looms as the league most likely to fracture. Clemson and Florida want out and appear determined to do whatever it takes, including spending large amounts of money, to get there.
If (or when) they leave, expect North Carolina and Virginia to follow. UNC and UVA have the academic profile that fits the Big Ten, which could grow its footprint on the East Coast.
The realignment game will be in the news. It always is.
More local sports stories:
- CRAWFORD | No "fight?" Louisville's Kelsey talks offense and defense, without the f-word
- GREEVER | NWSL commissioner sees 'bright future' for Racing Louisville FC, looks for better exposure
- The Ville participants eager for another chance at the TBT
- Former Louisville star Donovan Mitchell reportedly agrees to max contract extension with Cavaliers
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