LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- No. 2 Miami entered Friday night as the hottest team in college football. Deep, talented, and maybe the most expensive roster outside of a Marvel sequel.
But Louisville had Jeff Brohm. And a team that generated a ton of confidence during nearly two weeks of preparation.
The Cardinals coach came loaded — with trick formations, tempo, misdirection and a mindset that said, “What have we got to lose?” And if you looked closely, something was missing from the Howard Schnellenberger Complex by the time the Louisville equipment truck left town. That was the kitchen sink. Brohm threw it on the opening drive.
Two quarterbacks on the field. Then three. Direct snap to a wide receiver. A fake field goal on fourth down inside the 10. And finally, a quarterback sneak for a touchdown by Miller Moss. Eleven plays, 75 yards, and a statement that Louisville wasn’t just there to compete.
It came out to win — and did.
The Cardinals stunned Miami 24-21, securing just the second win over a No. 2 team in program history. The first was Lamar Jackson’s 63-20 masterpiece against Florida State in 2016. This one was different. Less flash. More fight.
“This is what college football is all about,” Brohm told ESPN afterward. “Every week is going to be a contest to the end. … We finally got a lead this year, were able to get some blitzes and disguises. … We just wanted to be creative and throw the defense off a little bit. That’s what football is all about — let your players have fun with it. … But we ran out of them. I’ll learn my lesson. We’ll have more ready the next game.”
Louisville didn’t just beat Miami. It outplayed the Hurricanes across the board. It ran the ball better (119 yards to 63). It protected the quarterback. It picked off Carson Beck four times — the most in his college career.
Moss threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Bell continued his All-American-type season with nine catches for 136 yards and both scores.
Louisville led 14-0 after its pair of early touchdown drives. But after Miami clawed back to make it 24-13 in the fourth quarter, the game hung in the balance. Then came the only thing that really went wrong: Isaac Brown — back near his hometown of Homestead and rushing for 113 yards — fumbled. A play later, Miami turned it into a touchdown and two-point conversion to close the gap to three.
Still, Louisville didn’t flinch. It burned clock. Flipped the field. And when Miami had a final chance to tie or win, Beck’s fourth interception — tipped by JoJo Evans and secured by freshman linebacker T.J. Capers — ended it.
Louisville carried off the bronzed boots of Howard Schnellenberger — and walked out with a defining win in Year 3 under Brohm.
The Hurricanes may have five-stars. But Louisville had the guy calling the plays.
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