The 2026 Louisville football schedule is out, and it’s got a little bit of everything - a pair of SEC opponents, a return to Chapel Hill for the first time in nearly a decade, and a stretch of games that could define Jeff Brohm’s fourth season at the helm. After three straight seasons with nine or more wins, the Cardinals are looking to take the next step, and this schedule will give them every opportunity to prove they belong in the national conversation.
A Labor Day Weekend Showdown in Nashville
Louisville opens the 2026 season with a bang, facing Ole Miss in a neutral-site matchup in Nashville during Labor Day weekend. It’s a marquee opener that pits the Cardinals against a tough SEC opponent right out of the gate - a tone-setter for the rest of the season. These early-season showdowns have become a staple for programs looking to make a statement, and Brohm’s squad will have a national stage to do just that.
Home Cooking in the Early Weeks
The Cardinals will play six home games this season, and three of them come in the first four weeks. After the opener in Nashville, Louisville returns to L&N Stadium for a Friday night matchup against Villanova in Week 2, followed by SMU in Week 3 and Wake Forest in Week 4. That stretch offers a chance for the team to settle in and build momentum before diving into the heart of ACC play.
It’s worth noting that Louisville is 15-6 at home under Brohm, with only two of those losses coming against ranked opponents. That kind of home-field advantage could be crucial, especially during the midseason stretch.
Friday Night Lights and a Lone Bye Week
This year, Louisville is back to having just one bye week - a shift from the past two seasons when the calendar allowed for two. That lone break comes in Week 8 (Oct. 24), right in the middle of a stretch that could determine the trajectory of the season. Before the bye, the Cardinals host Florida State on a Friday night in Week 6, then travel to Syracuse in Week 7.
There’s also another Friday night game on the schedule - a road trip to Georgia Tech in Week 10, which could be played on either Nov. 6 or 7 depending on final broadcast decisions. These midweek games can be tricky, especially on the road, but they also offer a chance to grab national attention with fewer competing matchups.
The Soft Spot: Weeks 6-9
If there’s a part of the schedule where Louisville can make a push, it’s between Weeks 6 and 9. During that stretch, the Cardinals play Florida State, Syracuse, and Stanford - all at home or within manageable travel - and get their bye week in the middle. Those three opponents combined for just six ACC wins last year, and while improvement is expected across the board, Louisville has the depth and returning talent to control this portion of the schedule.
This is where the Cardinals can stack wins and build confidence heading into a tougher November slate. With Brohm’s track record of keeping his teams focused and prepared, this stretch could be a launching pad.
The Gauntlet: Weeks 10-13
The back end of the schedule is where things get real. Starting in Week 10, Louisville hits the road for back-to-back games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina - two teams that, while inconsistent, have the talent to make things difficult, especially at home.
Louisville hasn’t played in Chapel Hill since 2017, and with Bill Belichick now leading the Tar Heels, the environment will be intense regardless of their 2025 record. Add in the fact that the Cards will be coming off a road game at Georgia Tech, and this becomes a pivotal two-week stretch.
The matchup with Georgia Tech is particularly intriguing. Louisville has won the last two meetings - a 39-34 shootout in Atlanta and a 31-19 win at home - but this will be just their second-ever trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets won the first meeting there back in 2020, and while they’ll be without Haynes King (who torched the Cardinals the last two seasons), they’ve added Alberto Mendoza, the younger brother of 2025 Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. If he wins the starting job, it’ll be a storyline to watch.
After those two road tests, Louisville returns home to face Pittsburgh in Week 12 before closing the regular season with a rivalry matchup at Kentucky on Nov. 28. That game always carries weight, but it could have even bigger implications depending on how the ACC race shakes out.
Roster Reloaded
Despite a late-season skid in 2025, Louisville finished strong with a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. That momentum carried into the offseason, where the Cardinals were aggressive on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal. They signed 20 high school players and brought in 30 transfers - good for the No. 33 and No. 17 classes nationally, respectively, per 247Sports.
That kind of roster turnover can be a double-edged sword, but Brohm has shown he can integrate new talent quickly. With key areas reloaded, especially on both lines of scrimmage, Louisville is built to compete right away.
Louisville’s 2026 Football Schedule
- Week 1: vs. Ole Miss in Nashville (Sept. 5 or 6, ESPN)
- Week 2: vs. Villanova (Sept.
11, Friday)
- Week 3: vs.
SMU (Sept. 19)
- Week 4: vs. Wake Forest (Sept.
- Week 5: at N.C.
State (Oct. 3)
- Week 6: vs. Florida State (Oct.
9, Friday)
- Week 7: at Syracuse (Oct.
- Week 8: BYE (Oct.
- Week 9: vs.
Stanford (Oct. 31)
- Week 10: at Georgia Tech (Nov. 6 or 7, Flex Friday)
- Week 11: at North Carolina (Nov.
- Week 12: vs.
Pittsburgh (Nov. 21)
- Week 13: at Kentucky (Nov. 28)
The path is clear: Louisville has a schedule that offers both opportunity and challenge. If they can navigate the early non-conference tests and take care of business during the midseason stretch, the November slate could be where this team defines its legacy. With Brohm entering Year 4 and a reloaded roster in place, the Cardinals are poised to make some noise in 2026.