Louisville has only just opened fall camp, but Jeff Brohm is already handing Cardinals fans a reason to feel better about the quarterback situation.
Lincoln Kienholz, the 4-star transfer from Ohio State, took part in Louisville’s first fall scrimmage and, by Brohm’s account, came away with a solid day. That matters for a team that won’t have much time to ease its new starter into the job. The Cardinals open with Ole Miss in Week 1, follow that with Villanova in Week 2, and then turn around for SMU in Week 3.
For Louisville, the early reps are about more than just getting work in. They’re about building trust, speeding up the learning curve and making sure Kienholz is ready to operate the offense when the pressure starts.
Brohm said after the scrimmage, “I thought Lincoln had a good day, and it was good because he's had a good camp, and I think he's getting a better grasp,” stated Brohm after the Cardinals' first fall scrimmage. “We're going to have to make sure we have enough in there to challenge the defense and enough in there where he feels comfortable with to execute early on, where he can handle not only executing, but calling the play and mastering what everyone's supposed to do.”
That kind of confidence from Brohm has been a theme. He’s talked before about Kienholz having real upside and bringing something different to the position than the quarterbacks Louisville has had during his time there. The appeal is easy to see: Kienholz can beat teams with his arm, but he also has the athleticism to create plays when things break down.
He arrives in Louisville after three seasons at Ohio State, where he threw the ball only 36 times. Now the job is his, and the Cardinals believe he can grow into the kind of quarterback who can lead them to their first ACC Title.
His high school résumé helps explain why there’s so much optimism. Kienholz was ranked as high as No. 172 overall and No. 11 among quarterbacks coming out of high school. In his final high school season, he threw 46 touchdowns and 3,422 yards, and he finished his three years with 9,100 yards and 104 touchdowns.
In Other News...
Louisville Defense Just Got A Late Boost Jeff Brohm Needed
Louisvilles defense received an important late offseason lift, with the program moving to keep two experienced pieces in the fold for 2026. Kalib Perry, who arrived from Tennessee and finished last season with 55 tackles, and Jabari Mack, who added 34 tackles and multiple interceptions, are both positioned to give Jeff Brohms defense a steadier veteran presence as the Cardinals look ahead.
Brohm said the program is working through the conference and administrative approvals tied to the eligibility ruling that opened the door for those returns. For Louisville, the appeal is obvious: keeping production, experience and some back-end playmaking intact can ease the transition into next season, even as the final paperwork still has to line up before anything becomes fully official. [Read more 🡒]
Flory Bidunga Just Raised The Pressure On Louisvilles Rebuild
Flory Bidunga arriving in Louisville already mattered, but the latest national recognition adds another layer to why he is so central to the Cardinals next step. Sports Illustrated tabbed the former Kansas center as the third-best center in college basketball for the 2026-27 season, a nod that fits his resume after winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and reinforces how important he is to Pat Kelseys rebuilt roster.
Louisville has spent the last two seasons climbing back into the NCAA Tournament under Kelsey, and the pressure now shifts from simply getting there to doing more once it arrives. With Bidunga anchoring a group that also features several transfers and a highly regarded recruiting class, the Cardinals have the look of a team trying to move from promising rebuild to real March threat. [Read more 🡒]