LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes visit L&N Cardinal Stadium Saturday as the highest-ranked visiting team to play here since No. 3 Clemson handled the University of Louisville, 45-10, in October 2019.
The Hurricanes are fixtures in the early projections for the 12-team national playoff, likely to earn a first-round bye. Their quarterback, Cam Ward, is one of the top three contenders for the Heisman Trophy, a certain top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miami leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense and total defense. Over nearly 20 seasons in the league, the Hurricanes have never won the ACC title. They are convinced this is their year.
That is the challenge Jeff Brohm's Cardinals face Saturday.
The Time: Saturday, Noon; L&N Cardinal Stadium.
How to Watch/Listen: TV — ABC Sports, WHAS 11 (Joe Tessitore, play by play; Jordan Rodgers, analyst; Stormy Buonantony, sidelines); Radio — Louisville Sports Properties, 93.9 FM (Paul Rogers, play by play; Craig Swabek, analyst; Jody Demling, sidelines).
The Line: Point Spread Miami favored by five; Over/under total points 60.5.
The Last Time: Departed U of L quarterback Jack Plummer passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinals won at Miami, 38-31, last season.
The Series: The Hurricanes lead 11-4, although the programs have split four games since Louisville joined the ACC in 2015.
The Records: Miami is 6-0 with road wins over Florida, South Florida and California. Miami's last two wins have been by a combined five points. Louisville improved to 4-2 by defeating Virginia last weekend. The Cards have played three consecutive one-possession games.
Player to Watch for Miami: Ward has thrown for more than 300 yards and at least two touchdowns in all six wins. Although Brohm complimented Ward's running ability, the quarterback uses his legs to extend plays to find open receivers. Ward has 161 yards rushing on only 28 carries. CBSSports.com projected Ward to be the No. 4 overall pick, and first quarterback, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Player to Watch for Louisville: Quarterback Tyler Shough ranks fourth in the ACC in passing yards per game (279, 91 fewer than Ward) and QB rating (162.2). But Shough has thrown an interception in his last three games and his 231 passing yards at Virginia were a season low.
Sideline Storylines:
- Miami became only the second ACC team in two decades to rally from a 25-deficit when the Hurricanes dug out of a 35-10 hole in the third quarter to win at California two weeks ago. During that period, ACC teams had been 1-401 when trailing by 25 or more.
- Ward is the first Miami quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards in his first six games, an accomplishment that eluded Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Gino Torretta and other Miami greats.
- The Hurricanes lead the nation in third down conversion rate at 60.3%.
- Former Louisville linebacker Jaylin Alderman started the Hurricanes' opener against Florida but was moved into a reserve role after that game. Alderman has contributed seven tackles in five games.
- Louisville backup halfback Donald Chaney played four seasons for the Hurricanes, rushing for 478 yards on 94 carries last season. Chaney ranks fourth in rushing for the Cards with 110 yards on 33 carries.
- Cards' halfback Isaac Brown is the second Louisville player to post three 100-yard rushing games in his first season. The first? Lamar Jackson in 2015. Jackson finished his freshman year with five 100-yard games.
- The Cards have not allowed a touchdown in the third quarter this season.
- Cards' coach Jeff Brohm is 10-16 over his career against Top 25 opponents, 2-2 at Louisville.
- The winner of the game will be awarded the Howard Schnellenberger Trophy, which was created prior to last season. Schnellenberger coached Miami for five seasons, winning the 1983 national title, and then later directed the U of L program for a decade.
The Quote: Miami coach Mario Cristobal started Shough at quarterback when the two were together at Oregon during the 2020 season:
"Well, Tyler Shough was the quarterback for us at the University of Oregon in '20 and helped lead us to a conference championship.
"So I can speak very personally on behalf of him. Great competitor, great quarterback. He's big, strong, can run, sees the field extremely well, has a live arm and can make every throw, and is a super high level competitor. Alright. Awesome young man from an awesome family, and he's a natural leader."
The Pick: Louisville 31, Miami 28.
Louisville Football Coverage:
- BOZICH | ACC Power Ratings Week 8: Louisville parked behind 4 teams
- BOZICH | Against Miami, Louisville needs Jeff Brohm's trademark: An October Surprise
- BOZICH | Miami gives Louisville football big challenge, bigger opportunity
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