Louisville Football 2026: Game-by-Game CC Staff Predictions
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Labor Day Weekend is finally here, which means college football is finally here!
But before everyone hits I-65 en route to the Music City, there’s one last thing we must do to put a bow on the longest offseason in sports: the Card Chronicle staff game-by-game predictions.
I should apologize for not doing this post last year as I was traveling in Europe right up until the season opener against EKU, but I won’t.
As is tradition, we will be listing the predictions in order of who predicted the most games correctly last year (in this case 2024) Here’s how things shook out:
Kevin Wright: 10 games of 12 predicted correctly!
John (Cardinal Strong): 8 of 12
Conor Shea: 8 of 12
Seedy K: 8 of 12
Keith Wynne: 7 of 12
That damn Stanford game still haunts us all. Congrats to the chief meme-ster, Kevin Wright, for going from last in 2023 to first in 2024! And surprisingly even though Keith finished last, it wasn’t entirely due to his general pessimism. He had us beating Notre Dame and Miami that year!
Anyways, and without further ado, here’s how the season is definitely going to go:
#9 Ole Miss Rebels: Sunday, September 6th
Kevin Wright
Mark Ivey’s defense shows potential but cannot overcome the Rebels’ passing attack.
Ole Miss 38 – Louisville 34(0-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
Tough opener, not just because they have two “sphere-worthy” Heisman candidates on the other side, but also because the Cards are building an offense around a guy who has never started a college game. I think this one is tight until the end, but the experience from Chambliss is the difference.
Ole Miss 24 – Louisville 20 (0-1)
Conor Shea
It should be an awesome atmosphere and a good showing from UofL fans, but I worry there’s too much for UofL to break in on offense with Lincoln Kienholtz and the O-Line to be able to keep up with the firepower Ole Miss brings back.
Ole Miss 35 – Lousville 24(0-1)
Seedy K
Decry him if you shall, Johnny Reb fans. Gridiron life ain’t as much fun without Laneypoo around. Cards win.
(1-0)
Keith Wynne
The Cards matchup well with the Rebels and should hold their own in this game. However, an Ole Miss program that looked improved under Pete Golding is too much on the offensive side of the ball.
Ole Miss 42 – Louisville 31 (0-1)
Villanova: Friday, September 11th
Kevin Wright
The running game is too much for the Wildcats to handle as four different Cards run in for TDs.
Louisville 52 – Villanova 14(1-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
Cards get the “opener” in Week 2 that most teams get in Week 1, a tune up game to get some things figured out before what might be their biggest conference game of the season.
Louisville 40 – Villanova 7 (1-1)
Conor Shea
Villanova is a Top-10 ranked FCS team, but I expect UofL to bounce back in a big way and lean on the smaller team. It’s vanilla, but the deep running back stable runs wild.
Louisville 49 – Villanova 13(1-1)
Seedy K
Villanova. Does it matter if that that Wildcat QB gets another court order allowing him to play? No. U of L rolls
(2-0)
Keith Wynne
Louisville gets things lined out on both sides of the ball and rout Nova. The defense gets a handful of sacks and forces multiple turnovers.
Louisville 49 – Villanova 10 (1-1)
#19SMU: Saturday, September 19th
Kevin Wright
Cards win the turnover battle and get a big special teams in play in OT to go 1-0 in ACC play
Louisville 37 – SMU 34 (OT)(2-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
I hate this game Week 3, I hate that maybe the biggest game of the year as it relates to the ACC Championship race happens in September, I hate the fact that Lincoln has basically only had a couple weeks to get right, I hate the fact that SMU has owned the Cards the last few meetings. All that of course means one thing. Big Game Brohm comes out to play.
Louisville 30 – SMU 20 (2-1)
Conor Shea
Kevin Jennings is a great college QB and he’ll definitely be a handful once again. But with only two marquee opponenets on the schedule this year, Brohm doesn’t let this one get by as Louisville finally takes care of SMU.
Louisville 38 – SMU 35(2-1)
Seedy K
The Cardinals are ofer all time against the Mustangs. Still so, after this one. SMU.
(2-1)
Keith Wynne
Rhett Lashlee and his offense have done as it has pleased for two straight years, and that doesn’t change this year. Kevin Jennings continues to cause havoc with his legs and has a big day.
SMU 31 – Louisville 28 (1-2)
Wake Forest: Saturday, September 26th
Kevin Wright
Sloppy first half gets overshadowed by a 21 point 4th quarter explosion by the Cards.
Louisville 44 – Wake Forest 20(3-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
After a big week and a big boost in the ACC standings, the Cards get a Wake Forest team that can threaten, but I believe lacks the “bite” to follow the “bark”. Close early, not too close late.
Louisville 35 – Wake Forest 17 (3-1)
Conor Shea
This isn’t the same pesky Wake Forest that we got used to under Dave Clawson. While they overperformed last year under first-year HC Jake Dickert, they’re starting over this yaer and this game gets ugly.
Louisville 42 – Wake Forest 17(3-1)
Seedy K
Bounce back W over the Demon Deacs. U of L.
(3-1)
Keith Wynne
Jake Dickert has his program well ahead of schedule, but he doesn’t have enough talent to stop UofL’s explosive offense. The Cards get it back together on defense in this game.
Louisville 35 – Wake Forest 14 (2-2)
@N.C. State: Saturday, October 3rd
Kevin Wright
Cards escape an early season Brohm blunder with ball control on the ground and outstanding defensive line pressure on CJ Bailey.
Louisville 28 – N.C. State 24(4-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
Every year NC State is supposed to be decent, threating on the doorstep of ACC superiority, every year they fall flat. I don’t think NC State is as bad as they looked Week 0, but also dont believe they are the ACC power people claim them to be annually. Night game in Raleigh will be tighter than many think.
Louisville 20 – N.C. State 13 (4-1)
Conor Shea
I’m trying so hard not to overreact to how awful this team looked in Week 0. And October 3rd gives them plenty of time to get some things organized for what’s always a hostile environment. This is the trap game everyone’s circled for a reason.
N.C. State 24 – Louisville 20(3-2)
Seedy K
Wolfpack were dark horse ACC contender until exposed in first game. Cards continue to show ‘em what a real one plays like. Cards.
(4-1)
Keith Wynne
The Pack lost too much in the portal and Dave Doeren looks like a lame duck at this point in the season. Cards roll with creative passing plays off of designed runs for Lincoln Kienholz.
Louisville 28 – N.C. State 10 (3-2)
Florida State: Friday, October 9th
Kevin Wright
Offense continues to hum as Lincoln Keinholz plays his best game of the season and Cards D forces multiple TOs.
Louisville 45 – Florida State 28(5-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
Cards take on the Seminoles at home on a Friday night while they are trying to get amped up with a new interim coach (yeah, I think Norvell is gone by this point). The FSU boys come to Louisville looking to spring an upset, and then get run out of the building like it’s 2016.
Louisville 43 – Florida State 14 (5-1)
Conor Shea
Mike Norvell will be days away from being fired at this point of the season after having already played SMU, Bama, and UVA before facing UofL in what should be a great crowd under the lights. We’ll see if he makes it back to the Sunshine State for the Miami game.
Louisville 38 – FSU 17(4-2)
Seedy K
Better odds that the Seminoles have an interim coach than winning at the RR Yard. Louisville.
(5-1)
Keith Wynne
Mike Norvell is coaching for his job with the bye week coming up in two weeks. The Noles have all but quit on him and the Cards have their best game passing the ball so far this year.
Louisville 38 – Florida State 17 (4-2)
@Syracuse: Saturday, October 17th
Kevin Wright
Another seesaw battle where the Cards score a late 4th quarter TD to stay unbeaten in the ACC.
Louisville 30 – Syracuse 26(6-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
Cards are halfway through the year, building momentum, and looking to get back into the CFP race as others start to fall off. A trip to Syracuse on what is sure to be a nooner in the dome is one I would usually get nervous about. The Orange wont be horrible, and I think Angeli can help them surprise some folks this year if he remains healthy. Louisville is not one of them. Cards 27-10 (6-1)
Louisville 27 – Syracuse 10 (6-1)
Conor Shea
It feels like the bottom of the ACC is always full of teams that can play above their level for a game or two and wreck someone’s season. Luckily, I don’t think Louisville falls victim to a plucky Syracuse team in the Carrier Dome.
Louisville 35 – Syracuse 17(5-2)
Seedy K
They’ll need to turn on the AC in the Carrier Dome to cool down the Cards. U of L.
(6-1)
Keith Wynne
Fran Brown has things back on track with a healthy squad, but the Cards are too much for them. Issaac Brown runs wild in the dome.
Louisville 42 – Syracuse 21 (5-2)
Stanford: Saturday, October 31st
Kevin Wright
Revenge game for the Cards going back to the 2024 debacle.
Louisville 44 – Stanford 21(7-1)
John (Cardinal Strong)
This is like “trap game” pornography for college football sickos. A team building momentum, coming off a bye week where they have heard how good they are for two full weeks, CFP murmurs, Halloween night with multiple college distractions via parties and events, etc. Anyone else I’d chalk this up to a loss. Fortunately, Stanford is going to be atrocious this season.
Louisville 34 – Stanford 17 (7-1)
Conor Shea
I can only imagine how relentless Jeff Brohm will be with the locker room material after the humiliating loss in Palo Alto in 2024. No one’s overlooking this game no matter how bad Stanford is.
Louisville 42 – Stanford 10(6-2)
Seedy K
That L season before last in Silicon Valley was baaaaaad. Pay back time. Cardinals.
(7-1)
Keith Wynne
The fighting Andrew Lucks are better this year, but they are a year away from getting the program back to respectability. The Cards have fully recovered from the rough start and are aiming for the playoff.
Louisville 35 – Stanford 10 (6-2)
@Georgia Tech: Saturday, November 7th
Kevin Wright
Yellowjackets’ run game too much for UofL in this day.
Georgia Tech 33 – Louisville 21(7-2)
John (Cardinal Strong)
I think Georgia Tech is going to be a good team. I think Brent Key is a good coach, and I think ‘brother Mendoza’ is going to be a good QB for this Tech squad. Just not sure they have the weapons to get over the hump this year and compete consistently. This might be a 3:30 or 7:30 which could alter the dynamic at Bobby Dodd, but I like the Cards either way.
Louisville 30 – Georgia Tech 20 (8-1)
Seedy K
Cards show grit in Hot ‘Lanta. Louisville.
(8-1)
Conor Shea
I’m not a believer in Alberto Mendoza, but the running game should be decent with Justice Haynes, and their defense is always good. Cards lose in a gutwrencher in a charged Bobby Dodd stadium.
Georgia Tech 24 – Louisville 20(6-3)
Keith Wynne
Isaac and Keyjuan Brown are fully weaponized late in the season, and the offense is humming because of it. Tech still can’t figure out Louisville’s defense and struggle all game long. Cards 31-14.
Louisville 31 – Georgia Tech 14 (7-2)
@North Carolina: Saturday, November 14th
Kevin Wright
Slugfest from start to finish as UNC hits a game winner through the uprights with seconds remaining.
UNC 31 – Louisville 28(7-3)
John (Cardinal Strong)
I dont think North Carolina is going to be very good at all, but they showed enough in Week 0 to make me think they will be competent, and their bowl eligibility will likely still be in question. Playing in Chapel Hill, a back to back road game, with a coach who is likely coaching for his job at this point, and an OC who knows a thing or two about the Cards offense, this is my clunker. A bad North Carolina team shocks Louisville and likely knocks them from CFP conversations.
UNC 30 – Louisville 24 (8-2)
Conor Shea
Who knows who will be coaching UNC at this point in the season. I’m guessing by this point their team will already be in quit mode and Louisville takes out their frustration on the Heels.
Louisville 38 – UNC 20(7-3)
Seedy K
The Belichick Rejuvenation Tour continues. Tar Heels prevail.
(8-2)
Keith Wynne
The fighting Bobby Petrinos are in a free fall after he takes over as the interim coach. However, this game becomes the Jeff Brohm special of the year, but the Cards hold on for a close win. Cards 21-17.
Louisville 21 – UNC 17(8-2)
Pittsburgh: Saturday, November 21st
Kevin Wright
Cards get back on track with multi-TD game from Tre Richardson.
Louisville 40 – Pitt 27(8-3)
John (Cardinal Strong)
It’s Wednesday before the buzz around the disappointment from last week starts to die down in the city and around the football complex. With the ultimate goal now out of the question, the Cards still have something to play for with an outside shot at sneaking into the ACC Championship. This Pitt team is likely coming to Louisville with also one conference loss (Miami) and the victor could be playing for a title in a couple weeks. There is one major problem. For those who know the ‘Call To Duty’ Charlie Strong story, I have an even greater fear. As we sit today, on Thursday November 19th Rockstar Games is scheduled to release ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ the first GTA release in over thirteen years. The college kids are sitting in their dorms for a home game Thursday and Friday and focusing on stealing cars and completing missions instead of getting in their playbooks and watching film. Cards drop back to back games and miss the ACC title game for the third season in a row.
Pitt 37 – Louisville 27 (8-3)
Conor Shea
The three games that scare me the most this year all have a consistent theme: QB play that’s superior to UofL’s. It’s clear that Ole Miss and SMU have this advantage, and I lean towards thining Mason Heintschel has the edge here. Pitt’s always a headache for us, and they probably should have won last year with a worse team.
Pitt 31 – Louisville 30(7-4)
Seedy K
Back on the winning track. A shoot out. Louisville wins.
(9-2)
Keith Wynne
The Pitt defense lost too much from last year, but they keep it close. The Louisville defense gets the job done in a very boring game.
Louisville 14 – Pitt 3 (9-2)
@Kentucky: Saturday, November 28th
Kevin Wright
Cats go ahead early but in-game adjustments allow the offense to pick apart UK’s lack of depth on D and they harass Kenny Minchey the entire second half.
Louisville 37 – Kentucky 28(9-3)
John (Cardinal Strong)
How do you get a fan base that was dreaming of the CFP and ACC Championship games three weeks ago back into the hype? Throw their rival in front them, who has had a better than expected season under Will Stein and are knocking on the door of bowl eligibility. Brohm has lost a few guys to the injury bug and we see some “unexpected” announcements of guys opting out of the Governors Cup to prep for the next level or next season. The Cards are forced to roll with some backups in key spots and a young Marquise Davis and his counterpart Braxton Jennings drop another big game on the ground, and Lincoln takes his first drink from the Governors Cup after knocking off his new rival.
Louisville 33 – Kentucky 21 (9-3)
Conor Shea
I think Will Stein should be able to get the Cats’ offense going this year with what should be a good o-line and some good skill players in a fun scheme. Unfortunately for them, it looks like they didn’t save any NIL for their defense. UofL runs all over them, once again.
Louisville 41 – Kentucky 24(8-4)
Seedy K
Former Card Will Stein shows he’s always bled Big Blue. UK.
(9-3)
Keith Wynne
Will Stein gets his guys to play hard all year long even though they keep piling up losses. The Cards go to Lexington and show the Cats how far they are from their full rebuild.
Louisville 49 – Kentucky 17 (10-2)
FINAL PREDICTIONS:
Kevin Wright: 9-3
John (Cardinal Strong): 9-3
Conor Shea: 8-4
Seedy K: 9-3
Keith Wynne: 10-2
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