LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An outlook that wasn't looking great before the ACC injury update hit Thursday night is a good bit darker a day before Louisville travels to SMU looking to end a two-game losing streak.
Not only will Louisville be without its starting running back Keyjuan Brown — who had emerged as a bright spot in the offense after the injury to leading rusher Isaac Brown — but it could be without quarterback Miller Moss, who is listed as questionable for Saturday's game.
Moss has struggled in the past month. Coming off his best performance of the season in an upset win at Miami, he threw for just 187 yards in a win over Boston College and 136 in a victory at Virginia Tech. The Cardinals didn't need him to put up big numbers in those games but did need more from him in losses to California (20-38, 203 yds, 1 INT) and Clemson (19-27, 212 yards). He has thrown for just one TD in November, and if he can go Saturday, Louisville will need him to be sharper than he has been.
If he can't go, they'll turn to two guys who have barely played this season, Brady Allen or Deuce Adams, or both.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
Whatever the case, Brohm will have to get pretty creative to get the ball into the hands of his best remaining playmakers. Running back Duke Watson hasn't done much this season, but will be asked to step up in a big way. And Caullin Lacy and Chris Brown will need to get the ball, somehow.
Louisville's defense has carried it all year, and will face a tough task in an SMU offense coming off one of its best games, and a quarterback, Kevin Jennings, coming off the first back-to-back 300-yard passing games of his career.
If Louisville coach Jeff Brohm has made a name for himself winning these kinds of back-against-the-wall games, he certainly has another opportunity here.
More about the matchup:
The Time
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, Noon ET, Gerald Ford Stadium (32,000), Dallas
How to Watch / Listen
TV: ESPN2 (Roy Philpott play by play, Sam Acho analyst, Taylor Davis sideline). Streaming: ESPN app.
Radio: Louisville Sports Properties, 93.9 FM, 1450 AM (Paul Rogers play by play, Craig Swabek analyst, Jody Demling sideline). Streaming: ESPN Louisville app.
The Line
Favorite: SMU by 3. Over/under: 51.5 Moneyline: Louisville +130, SMU -155.
Notes: Louisville is playing for the fifth straight week. SMU is coming off a bye week. Louisville is 3-7 against the spread this season, but 7-1 straight up in its last eight road games. The under is 4-2 in Louisville's last six games. SMU is 4-1 ATS in its past five games. The under is 6-2 in SMU's last eight games. SMU is 18-2 straight up in its last 20 home games.
The Coaches
Jeff Brohm is 26-11 in his third season at Louisville and 92-54 in his 12th season overall. He's 0-1 against SMU.
Rhett Lashlee is 36-15 in his fourth season at SMU and overall. He's 1-0 against Louisville.
Series History
Louisville is 0-3 against SMU, including a 34-27 loss last season in Louisville in their first meeting as ACC opponents. The teams played a home-and-home series in 1983 and '84, with Louisville losing 24-6 in Dallas, then 41-7 in Louisville.
The Records
Louisville is 7-3 overall, 4-3 in the ACC, and is coming off a 20-19 loss to Clemson, its second straight.
SMU is 7-3 overall, 5-1 in the ACC, and is coming off a 45-13 win over Boston College two weeks ago.
Players to watch
LOUISVILLE
Uncertainty abounds for Louisville, with quarterback Miller Moss listed as questionable in the most recent ACC injury update and top running backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown out. Those developments mean that Louisville backups Brady Allen and Deuce Adams could play a key role in the QB spot, with Duke Watson expected to carry the load at running back. Stanquan Clark has been impressive since his return from injury at linebacker. The team is led in tackles by linebacker T.J. Quinn. The Cardinals will need big performances from wideout/return man Caullin Lacy and wide receiver Chris Bell.
SMU
Quarterback Kevin Jennings is coming off the first back-to-back 300-yard passing games of his career. Wide receiver Yamir Knight had a career game against Boston College, recording seven catches for a touchdown and 162 receiving yard. Wideout Jordan Hudson earned his third 100-yard receiving game of the season, contributing five receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. Running back TJ Harden had 16 carries for 130 yards, a season high and his second 100-yard game this season. Defensive end Isaiah Smith ranks second in the ACC with 7.5 sacks.
Sideline storylines
QB QUESTIONS: Louisville senior QB Miller Moss is listed as questionable for Saturday's game, and Louisville's backups feature a significant dropoff in experience and production. Brady Allen, has seen action in only one game this season, going 6 of 9 for 69 yards with one touchdown and one interception against Eastern Kentucky. Deuce Adams went 2-for-3 for 21 yards in the EKU win, and threw one pass for minus-3 yards in the win over Bowling Green. As a rusher, Adams has carried five times for 11 net yards and has appeared in four games.
TURNOVER TALK: For a Louisville team that has had turnover problems this season (15 lost, 93rd nationally), SMU presents a problem, leading FBS with 26 turnovers gained. (The Mustangs, it should be noted, have lost the same number as Louisville.) Opponents have scored 70 points off Louisville turnovers this season.
ESTABLISHING THE RUN: Louisville is down to Watson (2.8 yards per carry on the season). Meanwhile, SMU's Harden (613 yards, 6 TDs) is coming off a 130-yard game and leads a consistent and healthier ground attack. The Mustangs rank top-15 nationally in rushing defense (102.1 yards per game allowed), so Watson and the Louisville OL face a steep hill. Louisville is giving up just under 110 rushing yards per game.
DEFENSE TO THE FORE: Louisville's defense has been its calling card all season, and it will have to be in this game, with injuries mounting on the offensive side. The Cardinals rank in the Top 20 nationally in third down conversions, holding opponents to 31.7 percent. The Cardinals rank No. 16 in total defense, holding opponents to just over 297 yards per game.
PROTECTING THE QB: Whether it's Miller Moss or his replacement, Louisville's offensive line has struggled at times this year go give its passer a clean pocket, and that will be especially difficult against an SMU defense whose 32 sacks lead the ACC and rank No. 11 nationally. They're coming off a game in which they collected a season-high seven sacks and forced four turnovers.
NOVEMBER DOMINANCE: Rhett Lashlee is 13-1 in November as SMU coach, the best such mark in school history. Brohm's Cardinals, meanwhile, are on a two-game losing streak and reeling from three one-possession losses in the past four games. In 12 seasons of coaching, Brohm is 30-15 in November, and 7-4 at Louisville.
ACC TITLE TALK: SMU (5-1 ACC) still has a shot at the ACC title game if it wins out and gets help. Louisville (4-3 ACC) is realistically out of the title game picture. Motivational edge goes to SMU.
The Pick
SMU 31, Louisville 20
Louisville's defense will keep it close for a while. But offensive attrition is real. With both top RBs out and Moss uncertain, Louisville's red-zone efficiency and explosive play potential dip considerably.
Meanwhile, SMU is healthy, rested, and at home with a quarterback hitting his stride and a defense that punishes mistakes. Unless Louisville wins the turnover battle decisively or Moss plays and shines, it's hard to see the Cards pulling this out.
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