BY: KENNY VARNER
Jeff Brohm enters his third year at Louisville looking to take the next big step and potentially make a push for a College Football Playoff appearance. Brohm has guided the Cardinals to a 19-8 record through his first two seasons. Now, with his system fully in place and an impressive transfer portal haul, Louisville looks as formidable as anyone in the ACC not named Clemson. The schedule is manageable, and despite returning only eight starters—four on offense and four on defense—this Cardinals team has the talent to produce a magical season.
The loss of quarterback Tyler Shough will be felt, as he performed well under Brohm’s leadership. However, Louisville brought in Miller Moss from USC, and if anyone can maximize Moss’s potential, it’s Jeff Brohm. Moss, despite inconsistent coaching last season, still threw for 2,555 yards with a 64.4% completion rate and an 18-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. After USC fell to 4-5, he was benched, but a fresh start under Brohm could be exactly what he needs.
The offensive line, a strength last season, must be retooled. Only one dependable starter returns, but having center Pete Nygra back is a major plus. It’s imperative that right tackle Rasheed Miller remains healthy, while transfer Makylan Ponders (Mississippi State) is expected to lock down the left tackle position. Jordan Church (Florida Atlantic) should provide crucial depth. The Cardinals feature a strong 1-2 punch at running back with Duke Watson and Isaac Brown, who combined for just under 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. With another year under Brohm, these two young backs should only get stronger.
Brohm is known for his offensive mind and consistently fields elite passing attacks. Don’t be surprised if he pushes Moss into a 70%+ completion rate this year. Caulin Lacy is a solid receiving target when healthy and burned his redshirt last season. Chris Bell is a legitimate deep threat, though the overall receiving corps lacks great depth. Transfer Bobby Golden (Akron) will look to solidify the group. One thing is certain: with Brohm coaching, the passing game will be efficient and dangerous.
On the defensive side, Louisville’s pass defense has been a liability, ranked 100th nationally last year. That unit has led to several shootouts in recent seasons. The Cardinals bring back solid defensive tackles Jordan Guerad and Rene Konga, and they’ve added strong transfers at defensive end in Clev Lubin (Coastal Carolina) and Wesley Bailey (Rutgers). Veteran linebacker T.J. Quinn, who has tallied 174 tackles over the last two seasons, anchors the middle. In the secondary, the team will lean on several transfers—JoJo Evans (Florida International), Rodney Johnson (Southern), Jabari Mack (Jacksonville State), and Justin Agu (Louisiana). This group must step up for Louisville to contend at the next level.
Jeff Brohm is an excellent coach and should get more out of Miller Moss than USC ever could. The offense will be productive, but the defense still appears a step behind, which may again cost the Cardinals in key games. Last year, Louisville beat Clemson 33-21 on the road but failed to reach the ACC title game. The defense let them down in a 52-45 home loss to Miami and in a head-scratching 38-35 defeat to a 3-9 Stanford team.
Louisville should be favored to start 3-0 at home before ACC play begins. The Cardinals get Clemson at home but must travel to face Miami and SMU. Overall, the schedule is manageable, and a College Football Playoff bid isn’t out of the question—if they avoid slip-ups in games where they’re the better team. Eight wins seem likely, maybe nine, but inconsistency and defensive lapses could keep this team from having a truly special season