Louisville football has a tall task ahead against No. 6 Miami at noon today.
The Cardinals are looking to use a last-second win over Virginia as momentum to take down Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Ward and the undefeated Hurricanes. U of L defeated Miami last year, 38-31.
After two missteps, Louisville made corrections offensively and defensively against Virginia and will look to take another step this week.
Tyler Shough’s 4-yard TD pass to Duke Watson ties the game, completing the Cardinals’ 13-play, 75-yard drive.
Isaiah Horton caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Cam Ward for the Canes to re-take the lead. The drive caused a cascade of boos when U of L’s Ashton Gillotte appeared to be held allowing Ward to complete a 63-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo to set up Miami inside the U of L 5.
Ja’Corey Brooks caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Shough as U of L tied a game it trailed by 14 in less than 90 seconds.
Caullin Lacy returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown as the Cards quickly answered the Canes’ score. It’s the 11th time in school history and the first since Jahwar Jordan did in in the 2021 against the Air Force in the First Responders Bowl.
Miami’s Cam Ward connected with Xavier Restrepo on a 9-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the second half, marking the first time all season the U of L defense has allowed a touchdown in the third quarter.
After sustaining a lower right leg injury near the end of the second quarter, Louisville tight end Jamari Johnson is doubtful to return to the game against Miami, according to Louisville Sports Network. The redshirt freshman had 18 yards on two catches and had just recorded an 11-yard grab when he got hurt and had to be helped off the field.
Brock Travelstead kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The Cards went 65 yards in 54 seconds and teased the goal line with a 26-yard run by Duke Watson down to the Miami 5. But with just three seconds left, U of L chose to kick instead of trying for a touchdown.
Miami linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. recovered an Isaac Brown fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Cards were backed up to their own 3 after a Josh Minkins holding penalty on a punt negated a Caullin Lacy return to the 29.
Tyler Shough completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Redman to cap off a 75-yard drive.
Samuel Brown caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Cam Ward on the second play of the second quarter to give the Canes a two-score lead.
Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward connected with Jacolby George on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cap off a five-play, 70-yard drive.
After Isaac Brown’s touchdown, Louisville honored former Cardinal quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s No. 5 jersey.
Freshman running back Isaac Brown responded to Miami’s score with a 43-yard touchdown run to give the Cards the lead.
Hurricanes kicker Andres Borregales makes a 55-yard field goal to end the team’s first drive of the game.
Scottie Scheffler took a dig at the City of Louisville on Saturday during an appearance as the celebrity guest picker on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
“Not to bring anything personal into this with Louisville,” Scheffler said, “Great city, love the people, but Miami is going to smoke them.”
Louisville vs. Miami will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Joe Tessitore and Jordan Rodgers will call the game from the booth at L&N Stadium, with Stormy Buonantony reporting from the sideline.
Miami 38, Louisville 31. This has the makings of an offensive showdown between two of the ACC’s top-five scoring offenses. Despite U of L showing improvement defending mobile quarterbacks, Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be too much for the Cardinals to handle, resulting in Louisville’s second ACC loss.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of today:
Today’s high is 73 with light and variable winds at 4 miles per hour.
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*ACC game
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Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit atacubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
