LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- When Louisville takes on Eastern Kentucky to open its 2025 football season — the third under head coach Jeff Brohm — it's easy to dismiss the game as a typical FCS warmup. But history says the Cardinals can't afford to overlook the Colonels.
Brohm no doubt will remind his team that the last time Kentucky played host to EKU — just two years ago — it was tied 7-7 at half and trailed 10-7 midway through the third quarter of a 28-17 win. The Colonels have a proud tradition and are coming off an FCS playoff appearance.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Some things to know about the matchup:
The Time
Saturday, August 30, 3 p.m., L&N Stadium (58,923), Louisville
How to Watch/Listen
TV: ACC Network (Jorge Sedano play-by-play, Rodney McLeond analyst, Victoria Arlen sideline).
Louisville Radio: Louisville Sports Radio, 93.9 FM (ESPN Louisville), WGTK 970 AM, ESPN Louisville app (Paul Rogers play-by-play, Craig Swabek analyst, Jody Demling sideline). Listen online here.
The Line
Spread: Louisville is a 38.5-point favorite at FanDuel (some other sportsbooks do not offer a line because EKU is an FCS opponent).
Over/Under: 56.5
Notes: Louisville is 4-0 straight up and 1-3 against the spread against EKU in its past four meetings. It is 2-0 against the spread against FCS opponents under Brohm (combined score of 118-0). EKU failed to cover in losses to Mississippi State and WKU last season. Brohm is 8-3 against the spread as a home favorite at Louisville.
The Coaches
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (third season, 19-8 at Louisville; 88-52 in his 12th season overall). First meeting vs. EKU.
EKU: Walt Wills (sixth season, 30-26). He is 0-1 against Louisville.
Last Meeting
Malik Cunningham ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead Louisville to a 30-3 win in 2021. It was the first win of the season for Louisville in a year where they would finish 6-6. Braden Smith returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown in the game, whose margin would've been a bit wider had receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce not dropped the ball on the one-yard line of what would have been a 95-yard touchdown pass.
Series History
Louisville leads the series 20-8-1 and has won five straight. The last EKU win was a 45-21 blowout in 1985 in old Cardinal Stadium.
The Records
Louisville is coming off a 9-4 season, which included a win 35-34 win over Washington in the Sun Bowl.
EKU went 8-5 last season, which ended with a 22-17 loss to Villanova in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
Players to Watch
Louisville: Running back Isaac Brown has drawn preseason All-American notice after rushing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns as a true freshman. Quarterback Miller Moss is starting his first game as a Cardinal after completing 299 passes for 3,400+ yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons at USC.
EKU: Myles Burkett was named EKU's starting quarterback on Monday. A three-start recruit, he began his career at Wisconsin, before transferring to Albany, where last season he started nine games and completed 54.7% of his passes for 1,840 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also carried 76 times for 134 yards.
Quick Sideline Storylines
Louisville is looking for its third straight season-opening win, and fourth straight win overall.
On defense, Louisville's newcomer to watch is edge rusher Clev Lubin, who had 9.5 sacks last season at Coastal Carolina.
Louisville has scored at least 30 points in each of its past three games against EKU.
Louisville's next game is a Friday night, Sept. 5, home contest against James Madison on ESPN2.
The Quote
"I've been at Western Kentucky, when you're there you've got a chip on your shoulder, you're hungry and you're out to prove what type of football you can play. So anytime you've got a chance to play against a power four opponent you're going to be ready to go. These players are going to be licking their lips and ready to play football and show what they can do."
-- Jeff Brohm on EKU
The Pick
Louisville 49, EKU 10.
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