LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Louisville running back Isaac Brown is staying put.
Less than a week after plans surfaced for Brown to enter the NCAA transfer portal, the All-ACC standout has decided to remain at Louisville for the 2026 season, according to On3’s Pete Nakos and Hayes Fawcett. The reversal means the Cardinals will return one of the most explosive rushers in the ACC — and one of their most important offensive weapons.
Brown, who will be a third-year sophomore, has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He was named third-team All-ACC in 2025 despite missing the final month of the season with a lower-body injury. In just eight games, Brown ran for 782 yards and five touchdowns, leading the conference in yards per carry (8.8).
His breakout came in 2024, when he became the first freshman in Louisville history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He earned both ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, finishing with 1,173 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Multiple outlets named him a Freshman All-American.
A former three-star prospect from Homestead High School in Florida, Brown was ranked No. 546 overall in the 2024 recruiting class, per the Rivals Industry Composite. Before reversing his decision, he had been ranked the No. 5 overall player and No. 1 running back in the On3 Transfer Portal rankings.
Brown’s return gives Louisville a major boost following a 9-4 season.
More Sports Coverage:
Oregon's Lanning and Indiana's Cignetti hope to outwit each other as teams meet again in CFP
Aden Holloway scores 26 to lead No. 14 Alabama over Kentucky 89-74
Diane Crump, 1st female jockey to ride in Kentucky Derby, dies at 77
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
