LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It's one thing to fight your way back on the road. Now, Louisville faces the challenge of a ranked opponent coming into its house.
This is probably not the week Louisville figured it would face its first ranked team of the season. But Virginia stunned No. 8 Florida State last week, and jumped into this week's rankings at No. 24 – its first appearance in the AP Top 25 since 2019.
Louisville is fresh off a fourth-quarter comeback win at Pittsburgh and has won seven straight games dating back to last season.
Virginia will pose Louisville's biggest test so far, with a balanced and powerful offense led by graduate transfer quarterback Chandler Morris, who's fresh off back-to-back ACC Quarterback of the Week honors.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Louisville has had Virginia's number lately, winning three straight in the series. But the last two required a fourth-quarter rally — a familiar script for a Brohm-coached team that keeps finding ways to win, even when it isn't pretty. Four of the last six matchups between these teams has been decided by one score.
Saturday brings another challenge, another ranked opponent, and another opportunity to show just how far it has come. It's an important test for Louisville, which has won just nine of its last 30 games against ranked opponents, but has won four of its past seven.
The Time
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, 3:30 p.m. ET, L&N Stadium (59,823), Louisville, Ky.
How to Watch / Listen
TV: ESPN2 (Roy Philpott play-by-play, Sam Acho analyst, Taylor Davis sideline) Streaming: ESPN app
Radio: 93.9 FM The Ville, WGTK 970 AM (Paul Rogers play-by-play, Craig Swabek analyst, Jody Demling sideline. Streaming audio: ESPN Louisville app. Satellite: Sirius XM 145 • Internet 983
The Line
Spread: Louisville is a 7-point favorite (DraftKings). Over/Under: 61.5
Notes: CBS Sports called Louisville to cover one of its best bets of the week. In the ACC era, Louisville is only 3-8 against the spread in this series, and 2-3 ATS at home. The home team has covered the spread in each of UVA's last six games. The Cards have failed to cover in five of their past six home games, and are 0-3 ATS at home this season (some lines may differ).
The Coaches
Louisville: Jeff Brohm (third season at U of L, 23-8; 89-52 overall)
Virginia: Tony Elliott (fourth season at UVA, 21-20)
Series History
Overall: Louisville leads 7-5. At Louisville: Louisville leads 5-1. Last Meeting: Louisville won 24-20 at Virginia in 2024. Last in Louisville: Louisville won 31-25 in 2023. ACC Era: Louisville leads 6-3 (the teams have met every season since Louisville joined the ACC in 2014)
The Records
Louisville: 4-0 (1-0 ACC), coming off a 34-27 road win at Pittsburgh
Virginia: 4-1 (2-0 ACC), coming off a 46-38 overtime win over No. 8 Florida State
Players to Watch
Louisville
- QB Miller Moss: 276 yards, three touchdowns in the comeback at Pitt
- WR Caullin Lacy:Â Eight catches, 95 yards last week; 2 PR touchdowns on the season
- DE Clev Lubin: Leads team in sacks, 2.5 TFL vs. Pitt
- RB Isaac Brown: Hoping to get back up to speed as he deals with a lower leg injury
- WR Chris Bell: Named ACC wide receiver of the week — 10 catches for 135 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown at Pitt last week.
- LB T.J. Quinn: Named ACC linebacker of the week; had two interceptions at Pitt
Virginia
- QB Chandler Morris: Back-to-back ACC QB of the Week honors
- RB J'Mari Taylor: Has an ACC-leading seven rushing touchdowns
- S Devin Neal: A former Cardinal who Leads Virginia in tackles with 26.5
- RB Xavier Brown: Dual threat averaging 5.7 yards per carry
Quick Sideline Storylines
CLOSE CALLS: With last week's win, Louisville improved to 9-5 in one-score games under Jeff Brohm. Of his 31 games as Cardinals' coach, 14 have been decided by one score.
STREAKING: Louisville's seven-game winning streak, which dates back to last season, is tied for the second longest in the Power 4, and seventh longest in FBS. The Cardinals have won five in a row at home.
COMEBACKS, PART 1: Louisville has come from behind to beat Virginia in the fourth quarter each of the past two seasons
COMEBACKS, PART 2: The Cards overcame a 17-point deficit to win at Pitt last week. It matched the sixth-largest comeback in school history. Last season, Louisville trailed Boston College 20-0 and 27-10 before scoring 21 unanÂswered points for a 31-27 victory on the road.Â
CONSISTENT CATCHING: Louisville's Chris Bell has tallied 50-plus receiving yards in eight straight games – tied for the longest streak in FBS.
INJURY REPORT: Top running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson returned to the lineup at Pitt but were not 100 percent. KeJuan Brown, who started the Bowling Green win and took the bulk of the carries, did not play. (This story will be updates as the ACC provides official injury reports Thursday and Friday nights before Saturday games).
ACC MILESTONE: Louisville's win at Pittsburgh was its 50th in ACC play since joining the league (against 41 losses).Â
RUNNING IT UP: Virginia has run for at least 200 yards in four straight games. It ranks No. 12 nationally in rushing offense at 243.4 yards per game, and fifth nationally in total offense at 539.6. On the other hand, UVA gave up 256 yards rushing last week – the most it has allowed since 2023.
FOURTH-QUARTER SUCCESS: Virginia is outscoring its opponents in the fourth quarter 26-9. FSU's game-tying touchdown with 36 seconds remaining last week was UVA's first fourth-quarter score allowed this season.
FLAG COMPARISON: Louisville is averaging 75.5 penalty yards per game, second-most in the ACC. Virginia leads the ACC in fewest penalty yards per game at 37.
PORTAL PALS: UVA safety Devin Neal (2023-24) and offensive tackle Monroe Mills (2024) were teammates at Louisville last season, but neither played in the Virginia game in Charlottesville. Mills will miss the 2025 season due to injury. Neal, Virginia's leading tackler through five games, is coming off a career-best 12-tackle performance against FSU.
HELLO AGAIN, DR. JONES: The last time Louisville played host to Virginia, in 2023, Cavaliers' running back Perris Jones suffered a frightening injury that required spinal surgery at U of L Health. After several weeks there, and in the Frazier Rehab Institute, he was able to return home. At Saturday's game, he'll be introduced, healthy and happy, as a new Ph.D student – at the University of Louisville.
The Quote
"They've already played us extremely tight the last two years and had a lead on us in the fourth quarter both times. So they know how to play football and they know how to coach, and right now they're playing very confident."
— Jeff Brohm, Louisville head coach
The Pick
Louisville 35, Virginia 31
Expect fireworks. It comes down to this – Louisville vs. talented dual-threat quarterbacks who can read defenses is a problem. Has been for a while. Chandler Morris of Virginia is one of those guys. Louisville needs to take a step up, yet again, but home field is an edge, and if it can both build on and clean up from its second-half execution at Pittsburgh, it should get out with a win. A cover? I'm not so sure.
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