RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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With Louisville and Kentucky gearing up to take the field over Labor Day weekend, there's plenty to be said about both programs, which are in very different spots.
The Cardinals start the season as one of the top teams in the ACC, ranked No. 24 in the preseason AP poll. They're led by Isaac Brown , one of the top running backs in the country. Jeff Brohm enters his fourth season with a 28-12 record, aiming to win nine or more games for the fourth consecutive year. He'll be looking to make a push for the College Football Playoff after UofL finished 9-4 last year, with all four losses coming in conference play.
The Wildcats are adapting to new leadership. They're led by Will Stein , a first-year head coach who came from Oregon after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kentucky brought in 38 transfer players and a whole new staff. Last season, it went 5-7 under head coach Mark Stoops, who departed with a program-record 82 wins.
What they're saying about Louisville football
ESPN: Why Louisville can and can't make the College Football Playoff
Louisville has continued to push for the CFP, but hasn't quite made it. This year, ESPN's Heather Dinich believes the Cardinals are a team that is capable of it, but also has things it must overcome.
"What the committee will like: No more than one loss in September," Dinch wrote. "If Louisville can at least split with Ole Miss and SMU, its chances of reaching the playoff would look far more realistic. ... What the committee won't like: An 0-2 record against the SEC. Louisville opens against Ole Miss and closes at rival Kentucky. If Louisville loses both of those games, it will almost certainly either have to win the ACC or run the table and finish as a three-loss runner-up and hope for an at-large bid."
USA TODAY: Louisville has two Top 100 players in the country
USA TODAY's Austin Curtright believes Louisville has two of the best players in college football. Two Cardinals, one from each side of the ball, not only cracked the top 100, but made their way into his ranking of the top 60.
Defensive lineman Clev Lubin is at No. 59.
"Lubin broke out in a huge way for Louisville in 2025 after taking the road less traveled to the Power Four level," Curtright wrote. "The fifth-year senior redshirted as a true freshman in 2022 at Army before transferring to Iowa Western at the JUCO level in 2023 and then Coastal Carolina in 2024. Lubin cemented his place as an NFL draft prospect with the Cardinals last season, with PFF College crediting him with 64 quarterback pressures, which ranked sixth nationally. He also had 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, showing development is never linear."
Running back Isaac Brown is listed at No. 32.
CBS Sports: Louisville has one of the best running back rooms in the country
CBS Sports' Blake Brockermeyer also is high on the Cards' running game. He states that Louisville has one of the best units in the country.
"The Cardinals have an electric duo in Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown, who have only been slowed by minor injuries," Brockermeyer wrote. "Isaac Brown is a smaller, slashing back who is electric in the open field. He thrives in outside-zone schemes and has an excellent ability to plant his foot and get north. Brown has the ability to change a game at any moment and averaged 8.8 yards per carry on just 101 attempts. He rushed for more than 700 yards, scored six touchdowns and had 23 explosive runs despite missing three games. Keyjuan Brown is a power back who is a yards-after-contact machine. The duo forms a nice power-and-lightning combination."
Athlon: Lincoln Kienholz in middle of the pack among ACC quarterbacks
Athlon's Steven Lassan thinks new UofL signal-caller Lincoln Kienholz is in the middle of the pack when it comes to ACC quarterbacks, listing him eighth out of 17.
"Coach Jeff Brohm hopes Kienholz jumpstarts a Louisville passing game that ranked 14th in the ACC (220.6 yards per game) and struggled to generate big plays (just four connections of 40-plus yards)," Lassan wrote. "Kienholz — a former four-star prospect — spent the last three years at Ohio State and played in 10 games during that span. In that small sample size, he completed 21 of 36 throws for 250 yards and one touchdown and added 68 yards and two scores on the ground. Kienholz’s lack of playing time adds a layer of uncertainty about what to expect in ‘26. However, it’s also reasonable to trust Brohm’s evaluation of the Ohio State transfer."
The Courier Journal: TE Brody Foley could become Louisville's first Mackey Award Winner
The Courier Journal's Louisville beat reporter, Alexis Cubit, boldly predicted tight end Brody Foley is ready for a breakout year. He recorded 528 yards on 37 receptions and nine touchdowns last season.
"Foley is an NFL-caliber talent, giving the Cardinals’ tight ends room an instant boost," Cubit wrote. "He has struggled with injuries since arriving at Louisville, though, missing spring practices with an injury before being held out of part of fall camp with a concussion . But once the Tulsa transfer hits the field, he'll be another successful tight end under Brohm. He was already named to the Mackey Award watch list and will end up winning the award as the most outstanding tight end in college football."
Where Louisville lands in preseason ACC rankings
Athlon : 3rd
Phil Steele : T-2nd with SMU and Clemson
ACC Media : 3rd (with four first-place votes)
What they're saying about Kentucky football
ESPN: Offense might not have the best targets for Kenny Minchey
ESPN's Bill Connelly thinks Kentucky can exceed expectations under Will Stein in his first season, despite the roster overhaul on both sides of the ball. He feels the defense is in a better spot ...
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