Louisville’s rise under Jeff Brohm has been impossible to miss, but ESPN’s preseason Football Power Index isn’t buying the Cardinals as a top-25 team heading into 2026.
The latest FPI release slots Louisville at No. 27 nationally with a 9.5 rating, putting the Cardinals outside the top 25 even as plenty of college football observers continue to view them as a team with real upside. In the ACC, Louisville comes in at No. 4, trailing Miami, Clemson and SMU.
That ranking lands a little differently when measured against what Brohm has already done in three seasons. He has put together a 28-12 record, reached the ACC Championship Game, snapped losing streaks against Clemson and Kentucky, and delivered upset wins over Miami and Notre Dame. So even with the national ranking outside the top 25, the buzz around Louisville is still very much alive as year four approaches.
ESPN’s model projects Louisville to finish 7.6-4.6 and gives the Cardinals an 8.1 percent shot to win the ACC. Their College Football Playoff odds sit at 13.8 percent. Both of those numbers rank fourth in the conference.
At the top of the national FPI, Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon and Georgia make up the top five.
A big reason Louisville still has believers is the roster Brohm is bringing back and adding. The Cardinals return running back Isaac Brown, edge rusher Clev Lubin, and linebackers Stanquan Clark and Antonio Watts. They also landed the No. 5 transfer portal class in the sport, highlighted by Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and Vanderbilt wide receiver Tre Richardson.
With kickoff still about two months away, Louisville’s 2026 outlook is already taking shape - and ESPN’s numbers say the Cardinals have work to do before they can force their way back into the top 25.
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Louisville Just Got A Huge Recruiting Twist With Ja'Hyde Brown
Louisvilles 2027 recruiting class has taken a few hits lately, with the Cardinals losing multiple commitments, including four-star cornerback Allen Evans and four-star wide receiver Chucky Alexander Jr. Even so, there is still a major bright spot in the class, and it comes in the form of wide receiver commit JaHyde Brown, whose stock has climbed fast after a strong offseason.
Browns rise has been impossible to ignore, as he has surged from No. 252 to No. 66 in the Rivals 300. Louisville has reason to feel good about landing a player with that kind of momentum, but the bigger question now is whether Jeff Brohm and Vince Marrow can keep him in the fold as other programs continue to circle. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Kelseys Push For Elite Guard Suddenly Feels Much Bigger
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What makes the chase feel bigger now is the way it intersects with Louisvilles longer-range roster planning. The Cardinals already have Jackson Shelstad and London Johnson in the backcourt, with Obinna Ekezie Jr. and Ferlandes Wright part of the broader class picture, so adding a top-tier guard would reshape the depth chart and the timeline for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville WBB Just Sent A Clear Message About This Summers Standard
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There is also fresh competition in the gym, with three incoming transfers joining the mix as Louisville tries to keep its edge while reloading. For a team that has spent the spring and summer trying to preserve the habits that carried it last season, the message is clear enough already: the standard is not being lowered for anyone, and the battle to fit into it has begun well before opening night. [Read more 🡒]