Game Day: Louisville vs. SMU

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NO. 23 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (1-1, 0-0) vs. NO. 16 SMU MUSTANGS (2-0, 1-0)

Game Time: 3:30 p.m.

Location: L&N Stadium: Louisville, Ky.

Television: ESPN2

Announcers: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) and Sherree Burruss (sideline)

Favorite: Louisville by 1.5

All-Time Series: SMU leads, 4-0

Last Meeting: SMU won 38-6 on Nov. 22, 2025 in Dallas

Series History:

Statistics:

Depth Chart:

Not released as of post time.

Injury Reports:

Louisville Uniforms:

SMU Uniforms:

Game Day Guide:

Alerts:

Promotions:

Relevant Videos:

About SMU:

via Keith Wynne

OFFENSE

Rhett Lashlee will bring his undefeated SMU Mustangs to Louisville this weekend for a top-25 matchup with major ramifications in the ACC. Lashlee has had no issues dispatching the Cards since SMU joined the conference two years ago, and he will have his team ready on Saturday, as the Mustangs have a clear path to the ACC championship game if they can get past the Cards.

Kevin Jennings is the straw that stirs the drink for the Mustangs, and he has had the Cards’ number for the last two seasons. Jennings is a true dual-threat quarterback who can take over a game from the pocket or with his legs when needed. He has started this season with a bang as he leads the country in total offense per game and is second in yards per play. Jennings has been able to do most of his damage through the air, but a good amount of that success has come from him extending plays.

Louisville will have to have a clear plan to contain Jennings, which is obviously a tall task. Florida State forced him into some mistakes by bringing pressure, and Jennings ended up throwing two interceptions. While he is a veteran quarterback, he still has moments where he doesn’t value the football. Mark Ivey will likely have to make a decision on whether he will pressure Jennings or look to keep him in the pocket and force him to make good throws.

SMU has three running backs that they like to utilize, with Cal transfer Kendrick Raphael manning the starting spot. Dramecko Green is taking on an increased role in the offense as a redshirt freshman, while Derick McFall is also getting more reps as the third option.

Raphael is no stranger to the Cards after playing a big role in the big upset Cal pulled off last season. He is a shifty back who can catch the ball out of the backfield and runs well behind his pads. He and Green do a really solid job of fading off of tackles and getting extra yardage. McFall is the speed guy in the room, but all three of these players can make a big play at any time. Louisville has done well to handle opposing running backs early this season. They will need to continue to do so to slow down this Mustangs offense.

The SMU wide receivers jump off the stat sheet, but Randy Pittman at tight end is the biggest threat in the passing game, in my opinion. Pittman is the pass catcher who they have schemed open more than once. He will line up all over the field, including as a wildcat quarterback. The Cards have a lot of questions to be answered against this group, but Pittman can get lost in the defense because of how they utilize him.

Out at receiver, the Mustangs have a group of guys with great speed, and they have all shown the ability to run after the catch. The stats are eye-popping, but it should be noted that these receivers have been left wide open a few times this year. Jalen Hale, Yannick Smith, and Jalen Cooper all have big plays on busted coverages, but they all have also been outstanding at getting open and making huge plays in the passing game.

Jalen Hale has impressed me most out of this group with his long speed and his nose for the big play. He will be the player most likely to run away from the defense. As the Cards look to contain this offense, they will have to also have a plan for Yamir Knight. The strong possession receiver scored against the Cards last year, and he has been a security blanket for Jennings.

SMU felt really good about their offensive line coming into the season, but they have not lived up to the expectations so far. While they have done pretty well protecting Jennings, they have graded out as one of the worst run-blocking offensive lines in the country, per PFF. PJ Williams is one of the best offensive tackles in the country, so I could see the Mustangs looking to run behind him to get things on track.

DEFENSE

SMU isn’t known for its defense, but Rhett Lashlee has to be happy about how his group has started this season. The Mustangs have been very stingy against the pass, while also making plenty of plays against the run to slow down opposing offenses. This defense had to replace a lot of its top contributors from last year, but they have not fallen off, and they will present some specific challenges for Jeff Brohm and his offense.

Aakil Washington leads the group up front on the defensive line. The defensive end has been around the ball a lot when you watch this defense play, and he has 4 pressures through two games. He and Ira Singleton man the edges of this 4-2-5 scheme, while Malcolm Alcorn-Warner is the main player in the middle with 10 pressures this year.

Louisville has not been good enough on the offensive line so far this year, but this is a solid matchup for them on paper. SMU has decent size with two 300-pound tackles, but they are not as athletic as Ole Miss was up front. If they can hold serve against this front, we could see the running game unlock some things this weekend.

Linebacker is a strong group for SMU, with Alexander Kilgore being a key returner for the defense. The veteran linebacker teams up with Brandon Booker as the leaders of this defense that did not return a lot of players from last season. These two players are so valuable to this defense because they have been in it for a while, and they can make the calls and adjustments. This defense isn’t built for these guys to make a lot of tackles, but it will be interesting to see if they have the linebackers play downhill like we’ve seen so far this year to try to slow down Isaac Brown.

The secondary is the key in this defensive scheme, with the safeties leading the team in tackles last season, and this year’s group doing the same. The Mustangs play an aggressive scheme with their safeties getting downhill to support the run. They also funnel the passing game into the middle of the field with the expectation that they will have people there to make tackles on quick throws.

This defense wants to get their defensive ends in the backfield and their safeties up the field to support the run. UofL will need to avoid negative plays and take advantage of this rebuilt secondary. There is some inexperience in this group as well as a couple of guys who transferred in from G6 schools. The Cards could have an edge here.

Motivational Tweets:

Excitement Level: 9.5

I’ll never use the phrase “must-win game” unless a loss literally ends the season or the pursuit of the sport’s highest prize, but man, this is about as big as a mid-September league game can get. The winner establishes themselves as the clear No. 2 in the ACC and retains the ability to control their own destiny on the path to the league title game. You can make the case that this is as consequential a game as Jeff Brohm has coached in at Louisville.

Game Attire: Red CCBM Toy Tiger t-shirt

I don’t think I’ve actually ever worn this for a game before. Could be too big of a first spot, but this is where I’m leaning at the moment. Subject to change.

Pregame Meal: TBT

More than likely will just be whatever I had for late breakfast. Likely yogurt, granola, protein bar, coffee. Times have changed.

Bold Prediction: Lawayne McCoy completes a pass

We are 0-for-2 but that’s not going to keep me from swinging big.

Jeff Brohm Tick Play Alert Level: Red-Violet (Extremely Strong)

Unless we find ourselves in a position where we don’t need any sort of extra edge, it’s happening.

Predicted Star of the Game: Tayon Holloway

I am hoping that Holloway playing a full game for the first time this season will help alleviate some of the issues we’ve seen from the secondary. Hopefully his ability to play shutdown man on SMU’s speedy wideouts will allow Stanquan Clark, Antonio Watts and company to make sure Kevin Jennings doesn’t kill us with his feet.

Notable:

—Louisville is 3-0 in ACC openers under head coach Jeff Brohm.

—SMU has gone 15-2 in ACC play since joining the conference in 2024, the most wins by an ACC team during that span.

—SMU has posted a 28-5 record against conference opponents since 2022, highlighted by the 20-game winning streak that lasted from 2022-25.

—Louisville is a combined 0-4 in league games against ACC newcomers SMU, Cal and Stanford. The three programs are the only league opponents that the Cardinals have not defeated since joining the ACC in 2014.

—Louisville is one of 20 FBS teams that have not committed a turnover so far this season. The Cards have gone turnover-less in their first two games of a season for the second time under Jeff Brohm.

—SMU has forced at least one turnover in 34 of its last 38 games.

—SMU has recorded 129 sacks since 2023, the most of any team in the FBS over that span.

—Louisville holds a 22-67-1 all-time record versus AP Top 25 teams. SMU enters Saturday’s game ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 poll.

—Louisville is 4-5 against ranked opponents under head coach Jeff Brohm, including an 0-1 mark so far this season.

—Louisville is 89-38 all-time when playing as a team ranked in the AP Top 25. The Cards are 10-10 in such games under head coach Jeff Brohm.

—Since 2024, SMU has forced 53 turnovers. That ranks tied for seventh most in the in country over that span and tied for first in the ACC.

—This is the 169th week in program history that Louisville has been ranked in the AP poll.

—Louisville is 10-17 all-time in games where both teams are ranked in the top 25. The Cardinals have lost three straight such matchups.

—Louisville is 5-2 all-time in ranked versus ranked matchups home, including 2-0 under Jeff Brohm. The Cards defeated No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 20 Duke in home ranked versus ranked games back in 2023.

—Louisville has not gone undefeated in home games over an entire season since 2006.

—SMU is 30-8 in its last 38 games, and 29-5 in its last 34 regular season contests.

—Under head coach Rhett Lashlee, SMU is 33-4 when scoring at least 30 points.

—Louisville doesn’t lose on Ag Day.

—SMU QB Kevin Jennings is the ACC’s active leader in career passing yards (8,476) and career total yards (9,072).

—Louisville has 18 plays of 20 yards or more through two games – nine in each contest.

—After scoring just six points in the first half against Ole Miss, the Cardinals have scored 91 points over the last six quarters.

—SMU is 14-3 over its last 17 regular season road games.

—Under Jeff Brohm, Louisville is 11-2 in games played in the month of September, with both losses (2024 Notre Dame and last week vs. Ole Miss) coming away from L&N Stadium.

—Louisville is 3-6-1 all-time in games played on Sept. 19. Their most recent appearance on the date was a 47-34 home loss to Miami in 2020.

—Louisville is one of just five FBS programs scheduled to play 11 power conference opponents in 2026.

—Louisville is 155-108-6 all-time in games played in the month of September.

—SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee is 2-0 in games against Louisville.

—Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm is 0-2 in games against SMU.

—The state of Texas has produced two Kentucky Derby winners: Middleground (1950) and Assault (1946).

—SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings and Louisville quarterback Linconl Kienholz rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the country in total offense entering Saturday’s game.

—Louisville is one of only seven power conference programs to win at least nine games in each of the last three years.

—Louisville has won 50 consecutive games when shutting out its opponent in the second half.

—Louisville currently ranks 105th in the country and 16th in the ACC in penalties per game. The Cards also rank 16th in the ACC in penalty yards.

—Under Jeff Brohm, Louisville is 15-1 in games in which it rushes for 200 yards or more.

—Louisville is one of eight FBS teams to score in every game it has played for the last 26 years, joining Boise State, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Southern California, Texas Christian, and Virginia Tech.

—Louisville is 14-1 under head coach Jeff Brohm when it doesn’t commit a turnover, with the lone loss coming earlier this season against Ole Miss.

—Since the start of the 2025 season, Louisville is 2-7 against the spread when playing at home.

—SMU has totaled 17 explosive plays (runs of 15+ yards, passes of 20+ yards) through the first two games of the season. Nine different Mustangs have accounted for a reception of 20 or more yards.

—Louisville’s defense has allowed seven explosive plays so far this season.

—SMU ranks first nationally in plays of 50 yards or more. Louisville ranks third.

—SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings leads the nation by averaging 14.8 yards per pass attempt. Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz ranks fourth at 12.8 yards per attempt.

—Louisville’s 38-6 loss to SMU last season was easily the Cardinals’ most lopsided defeat in the Jeff Brohm era. It’s one of just two times the Cards have been beaten by more than 10 points in the regular season under Brohm.

—Louisville is 18-1 under Jeff Brohm when it wins the turnover battle and 11-12 when it doesn’t.

—Louisville had an 18-game winning streak when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent that was snapped in its season-opening loss to Ole Miss. The Cards have not turned the ball over so far this season and have forced three takeaways from their opponents.

—Louisville is 25-3 over the past five seasons when shutting out its opponent in the first quarter. 

—Louisville has won 40 of its last 45 games when holding teams to less than 300 yards of offense.

—Louisville has won 18 straight games when holding its opponent scoreless in the first half.

—Since 2019, Louisville is 37-5 when winning the turnover battle, and just 8-27 when losing it.

—Louisville is 26-3 under Jeff Brohm when allowing fewer than 30 points.

—Louisville is 211-17 all-time when scoring 35 or more points in a game.

—Louisville is 143-4 all-time when scoring 40 or more points in a game, including an 84-3 mark since 2000. The Cards are 6-124 all-time when allowing opponents to score 40 or more points.

—Louisville is currently riding a consecutive game scoring streak that spans 329 games dating back to a 31-0 loss to Florida State during the 2000 season. The streak ranks as the second longest in the ACC behind only Virginia Tech, and the 8th-longest nationally.

Quotable:

—“They’ve had our number.” —Jeff Brohm

—“It’s a big conference game on the road. I think it’s one of two ranked games this week. So it’s a huge game, both in the national landscape and in the ACC. For us, we’re going on the road for the second time to start the season against a team that is really talented. I mean, the last two years we played them we felt like they were as talented as anybody in the ACC. They’re definitely capable of winning the league and making a college football playoff run, and so to have to go into their place and win is a challenge.” —SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee

—“They’re going to go fast. They’re shifting a lot. You have to be on the same page because the thing is happening so fast. Ten guys can do it perfectly, but one guy doesn’t, then the defense is not going to be successful.” —Steve Ellis

—”We expect a great crowd at the game. This is a Top 25 matchup. Again, second one in three games. If I am a fan, you would love to see great competition and we definitely have that coming into our stadium.” —Jeff Brohm

—”We need to pack the joint, y’all. Make it the most hostile environment in the history of Louisville football.” —Pat Kelsey

—“This game won’t define the season for either team, but it could be a launching pad for either one of us. And a lot gets going to get made of the quarterbacks, the offense, all that stuff. At the end of the day, we got two pretty good defenses that maybe aren’t getting the credit they deserved. I know their defense is really good. I like our guys; I think it’s going to come down to who can run the football, who can stop the run the best, and who can take care of the football.” —SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee

Card Chronicle Prediction: Louisville 37, SMU 27

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