LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The ACC unveiled its full 2026 football schedule Monday night, giving Louisville fans their first look at what Year 4 under head coach Jeff Brohm will bring.
And it starts with a bang.
The Cardinals will open the season on Labor Day weekend with a neutral-site matchup in Nashville against an Ole Miss led by a new coach and coming off a loss to Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Cards will follow with a home-heavy September before a rugged seven-week stretch to close the year.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Louisville will play six games at L&N Stadium, five on the road, and one at a neutral site, with just one open week during the season. The schedule features visits from national power Florida State and SMU, as well as the traditional rivalry finale at Kentucky on Nov. 28.
It could feature three Friday night games and includes five teams Louisville did not play a year ago.
The Cardinals are coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons, including a 41-0 win over Kentucky and a 27-22 victory over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Brohm is 28-12 through his first three years at his alma mater and has already added 30 transfers and 20 high school signees to reload the 2026 roster.
LOUISVILLE’S 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(Game times to be announced)
- Sept. 5 (Sat) or 6 (Sun) — vs. Ole Miss (Nashville, TN)
- Second-ever meeting. Rebels won in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
- Series: Ole Miss leads 1-0
- Sept. 11 (Fri) — vs. Villanova
- Friday night home opener. FCS semifinalist in 2025.
- First meeting
- Sept. 19 — vs. SMU
- Mustangs have dominated series (4-0) and won 38-6 last year.
- Series: SMU leads 4-0
- Sept. 26 — vs. Wake Forest
- First meeting since 2022, when Louisville won 48-21.
- Series: Louisville leads 7-3
- Oct. 3 — at NC State
- First matchup since 2023. U of L has won 3 of last 4.
- Series: Louisville leads 9-4
- Oct. 9 (Fri) — vs. Florida State
- Friday night showdown. First regular-season meeting since 2022.
- Series: Florida State leads 19-6
- Oct. 17 — at Syracuse
- First meeting since 2022. U of L has lost last two in the Dome.
- Series: Louisville leads 13-8
- Oct. 24 — Open Date
- Oct. 31 — vs. Stanford
- Rematch of 2024 thriller in Palo Alto (38-35 Stanford win).
- Series: Stanford leads 1-0
- Nov. 6 (Fri) or 7 (Sat) — at Georgia Tech
- “Flex Friday” game. Brohm is 2-0 vs. Jackets.
- Series: Tied 2-2
- Nov. 14 — at North Carolina
- First meeting since 2017. Cards face Bill Belichick, who just hired former U of L coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator.
- Series: Louisville leads 5-3
- Nov. 21 — vs. Pittsburgh
- Final ACC game of the season. Series tied at 11.
- Series: Tied 11-11
- Nov. 28 — at Kentucky
- Rivalry returns to Thanksgiving weekend. Cards have won 2 straight.
- Series: Kentucky leads 20-17
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