LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — In a game that could not have started worse, Louisville didn’t just survive its ACC opener. It survived it twice.
The Cardinals spotted Pittsburgh 17 points in the first quarter, surrendered another double-digit lead just before halftime, and still somehow found a way to leave Acrisure Stadium with a 34-27 win Saturday — thanks to a resilient defense, resilience from quarterback Miller Moss, and five game-changing Pitt turnovers.
It was a comeback in two acts, and Louisville needed every one of Pittsburgh’s miscues to make it happen.
After throwing a 75-yard pick-six to fall into a 17-0 hole, Moss settled in and improved as the game went on. The senior finished 33-of-51 for 339 yards and three touchdowns — two of them in the second half — as the Cardinals overcame a nonexistent run game (30 carries, 55 yards) and multiple special-teams miscues.
Moss connected with Chris Bell for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17, hit Jaleel Skinner for a game-tying score in the third, and found tight end Nate Kurisky for the go-ahead touchdown with 7:03 remaining.
Bell led all receivers with 10 catches for 135 yards. Caullin Lacy added eight receptions for 95 yards, while Kurisky and Skinner combined for nine grabs and two scores.
Louisville’s defense didn’t just rebound — it responded. After giving up those early points, the Cardinals capitalized on five Pittsburgh turnovers, including four in the second half.
The biggest came courtesy of Antonio Watts and T.J. Quinn. Watts picked off Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein in the end zone to halt a potential go-ahead drive. Quinn jumped a route in the fourth quarter and returned it 33 yards to the Pitt 7-yard line, setting up Moss’ final touchdown toss.
Louisville also recovered two fumbles — one on a muffed punt in the second quarter that set up the team’s first touchdown, and another that led to a field goal.
The Cards held Pitt to just 1-of-10 on third down and 80 yards rushing, and they controlled possession for more than 36 minutes.
The first half was a roller coaster: Louisville went from trailing 17-0 to tying the game at 17 after two quick scores off Pitt mistakes — only to surrender 10 points in the final 1:47 of the half.
But in the second half, Louisville cleaned it up. The defense pitched a shutout, special teams didn’t flinch, and Moss guided two fourth-quarter scoring drives — a 12-play, 72-yard march capped by Skinner’s touchdown, and a 2-play blitz after Quinn’s interception.
Louisville overcame eight penalties for 87 yards — including two unsportsmanlike conduct flags — but never turned the ball over again after the early pick-six -- and was not penalized in the fourth quarter.
The win moves the Cardinals to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC. They return home next week to face a Virginia team that upset Florida State Friday night.
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