Louisville’s matchup with Wake Forest is drawing plenty of attention, and a big reason why is the Cardinals’ offense. Jeff Brohm keeps finding answers at quarterback, and this time the gamble on Lincoln Kienholz looks like a hit.
Kienholz, who transferred from Ohio State, arrived in Louisville with just 36 career pass attempts over three seasons. That hasn’t stopped him from taking over fast.
In his first start, he torched Ole Miss for 307 passing yards, 69 rushing yards and three touchdowns, then helped engineer a fourth-quarter comeback and a game-tying drive in the final two minutes before Louisville fell 41-38. He followed that up by handling another major test against No.
16 SMU, finishing with 219 total yards and three touchdowns in a 41-31 win to open ACC play.
The numbers back up the eye test. Kienholz ranks No. 11 nationally in total offense, is averaging 11.2 yards per attempt and is tied for the ACC lead with 15 completions of 20-plus yards.
Even more impressive, he hasn’t turned it over once across his first 177 snaps. That kind of start has Louisville sitting at No. 16 in the AP poll despite the loss, with the Cardinals looking very much like a real factor in the ACC race.
The other transfer earning major attention this week is Kaleb Beasley. The safety, who came over from Tennessee, picked up Walter Camp Player of the Week honors after a standout showing against SMU.
He finished with a team-high 10 tackles and two key interceptions of Kevin Jennings. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior played in every game over his two seasons at Tennessee, and now he’s making the most of a starting role in Louisville.
Beasley leads the Cardinals with 21 tackles and has allowed just two catches in coverage, according to ESPN Research.
Louisville’s defense, though, has some work to do. The Cardinals have given up 406.7 yards and 28.3 points per game, numbers that rank 110th and 108th nationally. They’ve also been vulnerable to explosive plays, sitting tied for 107th in 40-plus-yard plays allowed, tied for 120th in 50-plus-yard plays allowed and tied for 131st in 60-plus-yard plays allowed.
That’s not exactly ideal with Wake Forest coming to town, because the Demon Deacons have a quarterback who’s been piling up yards early. Gio Lopez, after spending last season at UNC, has been efficient in his first year at Wake Forest.
He’s completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 887 yards and seven touchdowns against one interception, while adding 89 rushing yards and two scores. That production has him ninth in the FBS in yards per game at 325.3.
Around the program, the buzz keeps building. Louisville’s men’s soccer team is back on the road Friday night to face No.
20 Pitt while trying to stay unbeaten. The No. 4 volleyball team opens ACC play with road matches at Syracuse and Boston College this weekend.
The No. 12 field hockey team heads west to take on No. 17 Cal and UC Davis.
Louisville’s men’s and women’s swim and dive teams finished second in the inaugural College Swim League match.
There’s also no shortage of chatter beyond the field. Tyler Shough’s play in New Orleans is getting noticed, and Jeff Brohm’s national stock continues to rise.
At the same time, Wake Forest’s injury report has listed Gio Lopez all week, though it feels like he’ll be ready to go Saturday afternoon. Wake has also revealed its uniforms for the game.
In Other News...
Louisville Defense Suddenly Has A Major Antonio Watts Problem
Louisvilles defense lost another experienced piece this week, with Antonio Watts sidelined again after working his way back into the lineup for 2026. The linebacker/safety had already dealt with an injury that kept him out at the end of the 2025 season, and this year he had started all three games before the latest setback showed up on the injury report.
The Cardinals now have to sort through a defense that is already carrying a busy availability report, with several players tagged probable, questionable or out ahead of the next round of games. Watts absence leaves a noticeable hole in the middle of the unit and adds another layer of uncertainty to a group that was counting on his return to stabilize things. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville May Catch Wake Forest Without Its Biggest Offensive Threat
Louisvilles next ACC test could get a little more manageable if Wake Forest is forced to adjust at quarterback. The Demon Deacons enter the week leaning on Gio Lopez, who has been one of their most important offensive pieces and sits near the top of the conference in passing yards and touchdowns, making him the kind of player who changes how an opponent has to defend every snap.
Lopez is listed as questionable because of a hip injury, and his status leaves an obvious layer of uncertainty around Wake Forests game plan. He has already pushed through the issue before, so Louisville cant count on a clean break from the challenge, but the Cardinals will be watching closely to see whether the Demon Deacons are operating with their biggest threat at full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Has One CFP Warning Sign Fans Shouldn't Ignore
Louisvilles 2-1 start has kept the Cardinals firmly in the national conversation, with a No. 16 AP ranking and an offense that has been putting up points in bunches. The defense has also done its part by generating six takeaways, giving the season an early edge that can matter in ACC play and beyond, especially after a competitive showing against No. 4 Ole Miss and a win over SMU.
Still, there is one efficiency wrinkle worth watching as the season settles in. Louisville has been creating extra possessions, but it has not yet turned those turnover chances into points, leaving a clear opportunity on the table for a team that otherwise looks capable of making a real CFP push. If the Cardinals start cashing in on those breaks, the ceiling changes quickly. [Read more 🡒]