Friday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

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—Spread check: Louisville by 13.5.

—With Louisville-Wake Forest set to go down Saturday afternoon, USA Today’s Craig Meyer remembers the WakeyLeaks “scandal.”

—The latest episode of the CC Podcast is here.

—A year ago, ESPN’s “September Surprise” team featured Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. The year before, it was headlined by Diego Pavia. This year, both Lincoln Kienholz and Kaleb Beasley are on the squad.

QB: Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville

Transferred from: Ohio State

Jeff Brohm has taken a transfer quarterback every year at Louisville and hasn’t missed yet. This time, he and his staff made a big bet on an unproven quarterback who had logged only 36 career pass attempts over three seasons at Ohio State. But it sure seems like they hit the jackpot with Kienholz.

The dual-threat playmaker lit up Ole Miss’ defense in his debut with 307 passing yards, 69 rushing yards and three touchdowns while leading a fourth-quarter comeback and a game-tying drive in the final two minutes of a 41-38 defeat. Kienholz faced another major test to open ACC play against No. 16 SMU and was up to the challenge with 219 total yards and three TDs in a 41-31 win.

Kienholz ranks No. 11 nationally in total offense, he’s averaging an impressive 11.2 yards per attempt and he’s tied for the ACC lead with 15 completions of 20-plus yards. Best of all, he has zero turnovers over his first 177 snaps. Kienholz has the Cardinals all the way up to No. 16 in the AP poll, even with a loss, and looking poised to be a serious threat in the ACC title race.

…

S: Kaleb Beasley, Louisville

Transferred from: Tennessee

Beasley earned Walter Camp Player of the Week honors this week after a big day against SMU that included a team-high 10 tackles and two critical interceptions of SMU’s Kevin Jennings. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior played in every game over his two seasons at Tennessee and was ready for an opportunity to start. He’s leading the Cardinals with 21 tackles on the year and has given up just two catches in coverage, per ESPN Research.

Former Louisville offensive lineman Monroe Mills, now at Virginia, is also on the team.

—The first episode of Jared Stillman’s new Louisville-focused podcast — featuring interviews with Lincoln Kienholz and Pat Kelsey — is now live.

—Tyler Shough certainly appears to be the real deal in New Orleans.

—Eric Crawford serves up an overview of Louisville vs. Wake.

—The Jeff Brohm love is heating up nationally.

—The Louisville men’s soccer team will look to remain unbeaten when it hits the road Friday night to face No. 20 Pitt. Here’s a preview.

—Florida State fans seem to have fixated their coaching interests on Jeff Brohm, and they’re dealing with that by creating the worst AI images you’ve ever seen.

—Matt McGavic previews Louisville vs. Wake Forest for WHAS-11.

– Louisville’s reeling defense to face another prolific quarterback: For as much success that Louisville’s offense has seen, their defense has continued to struggle some – especially with containing the big play.

So far, the Cardinals have allowed 406.7 yards and 28.3 points per game, which ranks 110th and 108th, respectively, in the nation. They’re also tied for 107th nationally in 40+ yard plays allowed (4), tied for 120th nationally in 50+ yard plays allowed (3) and tied for 131st in 60+ yard plays allowed (3).

It does help that they’ve about to face yet another quarterback who ranks in the top-10 nationally in yards per game. After spending last season at UNC, Gio Lopez is thriving early in his first season at Wake Forest. He’s completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 887 yards and seven touchdowns to one interception and has rushed for 89 yards and two scores – giving him the ninth-most yards per game in the FBS at 325.3.

—The 4th-ranked Louisville volleyball team opens ACC play with road matches at Syracuse and Boston College this weekend. Here’s a preview.

—The College Football Playoff committee will now consider a strength-of-conference metric in its selection process, which absolutely, 100 percent will result in an 8-4 team from the SEC getting into the field at some point.

—Jaleel Skinner continues to be this program’s unofficial hype man, which is awesome.

—The 12th-ranked Louisville field hockey team heads West this weekend to face No. 17 Cal and UC Davis.

—The Big Ten came into the season riding high and talking big, but the league is playing second fiddle to the SEC as we head into the final weekend of September.

—The Louisville men’s and women’s swim and dive teams took second place in the inaugural College Swim League match.

—Tyler Shough’s play has folks wanting to un-retire just so they can block for him.

—The Upper Deck Podcast asks if Jeff Brohm is finally getting over the hump.

—A Wake Forest beat writer answers questions about Saturday afternoon’s game.

—Roto Wire has the Louisville men’s basketball team at No. 8 in its preseason top 25 countdown.

—Pretty sure I know which ACC team Lane is referring to here.

Imagine losing to Ole Miss by more than three points. Couldn’t be us.

—Blowouts in college football are getting bigger. Why is that?

—The CJ makes its picks for the biggest area high school football games tonight, including Trinity vs. St. X.

—Jacob Polacheck and Michael McCammon over at Cardinal Authority are both predicting a two-touchdown victory for the Cards on Saturday.

—Woo Spencer seems conflicted.

—Bill Connelly’s week four college football preview for ESPN is here.

—The CJ writes about how Lamar Thomas got Lamar Jackson to sign with U of L.

—Could Louisville and Kentucky both be entering a golden age for their respective football programs?

—The latest episode of the From the Pink Seats podcast is here.

—Evvvverybody’s comin’ around.

—Wake Forest’s SI site has five questions about the Louisville Cardinals.

—Louisville-Wake appears to be the best ACC game of the weekend.

—Cayden Daughtry, the No. 3 ranked hooper in the 2027 recruiting class, will take an official visit to Louisville on Oct. 24.

—Is this Wake Forest’s version of shit-talking?

My question here is: Why the fuck do you care? If Louisville’s conference affiliation isn’t affecting Wake Forest’s national academic standing in any way, shape or form, then what does it matter? It’s not like conference affiliation extends to the academic world. It’s not like when it comes to cancer research you can only collaborate with other ACC schools.

This is simply a coping mechanism for your athletic program being dogshit compared to Louisville’s masked as legitimate intellectual concern.

—Wake Forest star QB Gio Lopez has been listed on the team’s injury report all week, but it feels like the signal caller will be at full strength Saturday afternoon.

—Brett McMurphy is rolling with Wake to cover.

—Wake has revealed its uniforms for Saturday.

—The Louisville Cardinal previews Saturday’s game.

—State of Louisville pays tribute to the three fans who tried to storm the field the last time Louisville played Wake Forest.

—Saturday Blitz thinks Louisville could be on upset alert.

—And finally, beat Wake Forest.

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