Preseason Anticipation
The US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll will be released today at noon on USA TODAY Sports' YouTube channel, adopting a new format that will present the Top 25 rankings in a single live broadcast.
Louisville’s football program, now in its fourth year under head coach Jeff Brohm, is projected to crack the Top 25, a milestone that would mark a turnaround after a season that saw the Cardinals fall from a Week 11 high of 15th to outside the rankings.
A year ago the team earned only 13 votes following a Governor’s Cup win over Kentucky and a Boca Raton Bowl victory against Toledo, but two late losses to California and Clemson erased that late‑season momentum.
This spring the Cardinals are aiming for their first ACC championship game appearance since 2023 and a first‑ever College Football Playoff berth, goals that have become the centerpiece of Brohm’s vision for the program.
Season Opener
The season opens with a matchup against Ole Miss, providing the first test of whether the preseason optimism can be translated into on‑field results.