LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — ACC Media Days are less about headlines than breadcrumbs.
Coaches don't usually walk to the podium intending to reveal their biggest concerns or their clearest priorities. But over the course of an hour, if you listen closely enough, they usually leave a few clues.
Jeff Brohm did Thursday.
He critiqued his own performance from last season. He explained why Louisville's passing game must take the next step. He spoke at length about a defense he believes can become one of the program's strengths. And he made it clear that an opening stretch featuring Ole Miss and SMU has changed the urgency of Louisville's preseason.
Here are the three Brohm comments that offered the clearest window into how he sees the Cardinals heading into 2026.
1. Louisville's next offensive leap depends on the passing game
Everyone expects Louisville's offense to revolve around running back Isaac Brown and one of the nation's best backfield combinations.
Brohm sees the next step somewhere else.
Asked whether Louisville's offensive philosophy had evolved around its running game, Brohm instead offered perhaps his most revealing self-evaluation of the day. He believes he leaned too heavily on Brown at times last season, leaving the team in a tough spot after he was injured.
Check out this exchange:
Q: I know you like throwing the ball, but you’ve got these running backs. What's it been like? Have you done much tinkering in the offseason about offensive philosophy? I know it's hard then if they get hurt to go back to what you do.
BROHM: "Well. I think we've done a good job of running the ball (at Louisville). Like, at Purdue, we could not run the ball. We didn't have the people to do it. We could throw it. Here we've got runners. We've done a good job. So I think that's been a strength. We'll continue to keep improving it, but that's been a strength.
Lincoln Kienholz throws a pass during a Louisville spring practice drill on Saturday, March 28.
"I think we've got to make sure we can throw the ball consistently and throw it vertically and get some quick scores. Driving the ball 10 plays a drive with defenses now -- you make a mistake or two and it doesn't work. You’ve got to get some quick scores.
"So, for us, vertical passing game, the play-action game is what we want to work hard to improve. And then there's going to be some games if you're down, you’ve got to throw it. So we’ve got to be good at just throwing it when we need to. But we're still going to use those runners. Those are guys that you can create big plays with. You're not going to throw an interception. You're not going to take a sack. You know, there's less chance of negative play.
"But I think we've got to improve on the others, to take a little pressure off of that, because I think when we lost Isaac, I probably relied on him in the running game too much and wasn't as aggressive as I needed to be."
2. Brohm believes Louisville can win with its defense
Earlier Thursday, defensive end Clev Lubin was asked what he wanted Louisville's defense to become.
His answer was simple.
"The reason we win games."
Listening to Brohm discuss his defense, that confidence doesn't appear to belong only to the players.
Asked by WDRB's Haley Schoengart what has impressed him most about the unit, Brohm spent nearly two minutes working through the roster, mentioning player after player by name. Coaches don't usually volunteer that much detail unless they genuinely like what they have.
Q: Clev said he thinks that this defense is the fastest he's played with in his college career. What's impressed you the most with that side of the ball from spring through summer?
BROHM: "I like our defense. I think we always try to over-recruit that side of the ball, and I think defense and quarterback play is vital in order to win.
"So with Clev Lubin and AJ Green coming back at the defensive end position, I feel great. Then you have Micah Carter's another good defensive end that's young. We added Tyler Thompson and Gerard Smith, who are defensive ends, that’s five legitimate guys that can play, and we're going to have to get them on the field.
Louisville defensive end Clev Lubin led a defensive attack that helped Louisville stave off an upset bid by James Madison.
"Demeco Kennedy, a transfer defensive tackle from Purdue, has been outstanding to this point, so I think he can really help the interior there. We're not as deep there, but he can really help. Our linebacking core starters have experience. Backup position, they don't, but you know they're capable.
"And I think in the secondary, with the additions we had in Koen (Entringer), Kaleb Beasley, T.J. Banks, D.J. Waller, those are four legitimate players to add with Tayon Holloway, and got Anthony Watts coming back. We brought back Ben Perry, who's played for us, so we know what we're getting. I think they're capable guys.
"Now you’ve got to go produce and play and gel together and all that, but you know I would anticipate us playing well."
3. There is no easing into this season
Brohm has talked for months about Louisville's challenging opening schedule. He returned to it Thursday because it affects far more than Week 1.
Opening against Ole Miss before an early ACC showdown with SMU doesn't just shape the schedule.
It shapes August.
Every practice, every evaluation and every rep carries a little more urgency when there's no room for a slow start.
What Brohm said:
"Originally we were scheduled to play a non-Power Four team. We made that adjustment. We've added Ole Miss. I just think it's a great challenge. What goes into it is you got to prepare, you've got to get ready to go, step up game one. There can't be no easing into the season. You have to bring your best.
"For us, our team knows, hey, right off the bat, we've got to play good football. It helps you prepare in the off-season, in the summer. Hopefully we have a great fall camp, but we're looking forward to the challenge."
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