Louisville Caps Off Wild 2025 Season with Wacky Boca Raton Bowl Win Over Toledo
BOCA RATON, FL - If there was ever a bowl game tailor-made for the unpredictable rollercoaster that was Louisville’s 2025 season, the Boca Raton Bowl delivered - in full-on, bean-fueled, comedy-infused fashion.
With Bush’s Baked Beans as title sponsor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key serving as the bowl’s official hype man, the stage was set for one of the quirkiest postseason matchups of the year. But once the novelty of bean-themed mascots and warm Florida weather wore off, the Cardinals found themselves right back in a familiar place: grinding through inconsistency on offense, leaning on their defense, and somehow finding a way to win.
Louisville’s 27-22 victory over Toledo at Flagler Credit Union Stadium wasn’t exactly a clinic in efficiency, but it was a fitting end to a season that often left fans scratching their heads - and occasionally holding their breath.
Ground Game Gets the Job Done
With the Cardinals’ running back room thinned out by injuries, the return of Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown couldn’t have come at a better time. The duo combined for 214 rushing yards and two touchdowns, providing the spark Louisville desperately needed against a Toledo defense that entered the game ranked No. 2 in the FBS.
Keyjuan Brown wasted no time making an impact, opening the game with a 31-yard dash that set the tone early. That drive ended with quarterback Miller Moss finding TreyShun Hurry for a 17-yard touchdown strike.
But after that opening drive, the offense sputtered. A missed field goal, a costly fumble, and repeated third-down failures kept the Cards off the scoreboard for the rest of the half.
Then came the second-half surge.
Keyjuan strung together a trio of tough runs for 27 yards, setting up Moss’ short touchdown pass to Antonio Meeks. On the next drive, Isaac Brown capped things off with an 11-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 21-3 early in the fourth.
Defense Holds the Line - Mostly
Louisville’s defense came to play, particularly in the first half. Toledo managed just a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and was held to three three-and-outs in the second. The Rockets totaled just 48 yards in the second quarter - a testament to how locked-in the Cardinals’ front seven were.
But Toledo freshman quarterback Kalieb Osborne wasn’t going to go quietly. He connected with Jacob Petersen for a 26-yard touchdown early in the fourth, and a defensive holding penalty gave the Rockets a second chance at a two-point conversion, which Chip Trayanum converted to cut the deficit to 21-11.
Even after losing veteran defensive lineman Clev Lubin to a targeting ejection with under eight minutes to play, Louisville’s defense didn’t fold. Micah Carter stepped up with a timely sack on the very next play, though Toledo still managed to tack on a 50-yard field goal to keep things interesting.
A Wild Finish - Because Of Course
In a game that featured a dog mascot coin flip and bean-themed everything, it only made sense that the ending would be just as chaotic.
Isaac Brown broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run, seemingly sealing the game - but not so fast. On the ensuing extra point attempt, Toledo’s Avery Smith blocked the kick and returned it for a safety, cutting the lead to 27-22. That bizarre sequence kept the Rockets within striking distance, and with over two minutes left, the outcome was anything but certain.
Louisville, though, managed to bleed the clock. The final moments weren’t without drama - a scuffle broke out on the Cardinals’ sideline, leading to offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Cooler heads eventually prevailed, and Moss knelt out the final 87 seconds to secure the win.
The Bottom Line
It wasn’t always pretty - and it certainly wasn’t conventional - but Louisville closed out its season with a win that captured the spirit of its 2025 campaign: unpredictable, gritty, and just a little bit weird.
The Cardinals head into the offseason with plenty to clean up, especially on the offensive side of the ball. But they’ll do so on the heels of a bowl win, powered by a pair of workhorse backs and a defense that, even in the face of adversity, found ways to deliver.
And if nothing else, they’ll always have Boca - and the beans.