Louisville Football’s 2026 Schedule Is Set - And It Packs Plenty of Storylines
The calendar’s flipped to 2026, and for Louisville football fans, that means it’s time to start circling some dates. The Cardinals' full schedule is out, and it’s a slate that offers a mix of marquee matchups, revenge opportunities, and home-field stretches that could define the season. Now entering year four under Jeff Brohm, Louisville is looking to build on its recent momentum - and this schedule gives them every chance to do just that.
A Familiar Opening Act in a New Setting
Louisville kicks things off with a high-profile, neutral-site showdown against Mississippi, set for either Sept. 5 or 6 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. It’s a rematch of their 2021 opener, when the Rebels rolled to a 43-24 win in Atlanta.
This time around, the Cardinals will be looking to flip the script in a game that could set the tone for the entire season. With Brohm’s offense expected to be in full stride, this early test could be a showcase - or a wake-up call.
Three Straight at Home: A Crucial Early Stretch
After the Nashville opener, Louisville returns to the friendly confines of L&N Stadium for three straight home games. It starts with a Friday night matchup against Villanova on Sept. 11 - a game that should allow the Cards to settle in before diving into ACC play.
That conference slate begins with SMU on Sept. 19, a team Louisville has yet to solve since the Mustangs joined the ACC in 2024. This one’s more than just a league game - it’s a chance for Brohm’s squad to prove they can handle the new kids on the block.
Then comes Wake Forest on Sept. 26, a team Louisville hasn’t faced since a dominant 48-21 win over a then-No. 10 Demon Deacons squad in 2022.
That kind of performance would go a long way in reasserting the Cardinals’ place in the ACC pecking order.
Hitting the Road - and the Gas
The Cards hit the road for the first time on Oct. 3, traveling to NC State. Their last visit to Raleigh ended in a gritty 13-10 win back in 2023 - the kind of game that tests a team’s toughness. Expect another physical battle in this one.
Then it’s back home for a Friday night clash with Florida State on Oct. 9.
These two last met in the 2023 ACC Championship, and while rosters have changed, the stakes always feel high when these programs collide. The following week, Louisville heads north to face Syracuse for the first time since the 2022 season opener - a game the Orange controlled from start to finish in a 31-7 rout.
That one still stings, and you better believe the Cardinals will be looking to erase that memory.
A Bye, Then a West Coast First
Louisville gets a breather on Oct. 24 before hosting Stanford on Oct. 31.
It’ll be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and it comes at a good time - late enough in the season to regroup, but early enough to still impact the conference race. Stanford’s physical style could be a late-season measuring stick for where the Cardinals stand in the trenches.
November: The Road Gets Rough
November’s always a grind, and this year is no different. Louisville heads to Georgia Tech on either Nov. 6 or 7 - the exact date is still being finalized - before traveling again the following week to face North Carolina on Nov.
- It’s been a while since the Cardinals visited Chapel Hill; their last trip came in 2017, when Lamar Jackson led them to a 47-35 win in a high-scoring opener.
This year’s version might not have a Heisman winner under center, but it’s another big road test in a month full of them.
The home finale comes on Nov. 21 against Pittsburgh, a team that’s always tough and always physical. Then comes the big one: the annual rivalry showdown with Kentucky, set for Nov. 28 at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The last time Louisville made the trip down I-64, they walked away with a 41-14 win to close out the 2024 season. That kind of dominance doesn’t get forgotten - by either side.
The Bottom Line
Louisville’s 2026 schedule is balanced but demanding. There are stretches that offer a chance to build momentum - like the early three-game homestand - and others that will test depth and resolve, especially in November. With high-profile matchups, conference clashes, and the always-heated Kentucky rivalry, this season sets up to be a defining chapter in the Jeff Brohm era.
Here’s the full slate:
2026 Louisville Football Schedule
- Sept. 5 or 6 - vs. Mississippi (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Sept. 11 (Friday) - vs.
Villanova
- Sept. 19 - vs.
SMU
- Sept. 26 - vs.
Wake Forest
- Oct. 3 - at NC State
- Oct. 9 (Friday) - vs.
Florida State
- Oct. 17 - at Syracuse
- Oct. 24 - BYE
- Oct. 31 - vs. Stanford
- Nov. 6 or 7 (Friday or Saturday) - at Georgia Tech
- Nov. 14 - at North Carolina
- Nov. 21 - vs. Pittsburgh
- Nov. 28 - at Kentucky
Plenty of challenges. Plenty of opportunities. And with Brohm at the helm, Louisville fans have every reason to believe the Cardinals will be ready for both.