Louisville’s Week 4 matchup with Wake Forest comes with a few clear pressure points, and the Cardinals know it. They’re coming off a ranked win over SMU, and Jeff Brohm’s message was blunt about what happens if his team starts assuming anything comes easy.
“If we think we're going to roll through anybody, it's not going to happen," UofL coach Jeff Brohm said. "It's not going to come close to happening.
So we've got to build on this. We've got to get better."
That’s the task Saturday at L&N Stadium, where Louisville will see Wake Forest for the first time since 2022. The Cardinals have already been through a demanding opening stretch, with two ranked opponents in the first three weeks.
They opened with a loss to Ole Miss, then answered with a win over SMU to get ACC play moving in the right direction. Wake Forest arrives after pushing Miami hard in Week 3 before falling 33-20.
One of the biggest questions for Louisville is whether it can keep stacking clean, complete football after the SMU result. The defense took a step forward by holding the Mustangs below their season averages in total offense and passing yards. On offense, the Cardinals showed they can lean on the run game after Lincoln Kienholz put together back-to-back 300-yard passing performances.
Another major issue in this one: penalties. Louisville and Wake Forest have both been among the ACC’s most flag-heavy teams, averaging 94.0 and 95.7 penalty yards per game, respectively.
The Cardinals got away with it against SMU, but Wake Forest paid for its mistakes against Miami. A holding call on a punt return backed the Deacons up to their 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, and Miami turned that into a safety on the third play of the drive.
Later, another holding penalty after a sack helped stall Wake Forest with a three-and-out.
Louisville also wants more from Isaac Brown. The junior has yet to hit the big-play level the Cardinals expect, and he was scoreless in the first two games.
Brohm said Brown has been dealing with a knee injury, which has limited him. He was originally listed as probable in Louisville’s first Week 3 availability report, then became a full participant against SMU.
Brown’s health was a major talking point in the offseason and preseason, and this week gives him a chance to keep working back toward form.
A few players stand out on each side as this ACC game gets closer.
For Louisville, Kaleb Beasley turned in a huge performance against SMU, finishing with 10 tackles, two interceptions and an assist on a tackle for loss. The Tennessee transfer has become a key piece in the secondary and will be leaned on even more as ACC play tightens up.
Jaleel Skinner has also flashed at important moments for the Cardinals. Against the Mustangs, he caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown, though he also had a drop. With Wake Forest likely to focus on Lawayne McCoy and Tre Richardson, Skinner may need to keep making those timely plays.
Demeco Kennedy’s return matters too. The Purdue transfer came back sooner than expected after an undisclosed injury, wore a brace on his left arm in Week 3 and made four tackles against SMU. Louisville will need him as part of the defensive line rotation.
Wake Forest brings its own dangerous pieces. Quarterback Gio Lopez, a North Carolina transfer, is averaging 296.7 passing yards per game and threw his first interceptions of the season against Miami. Even in the loss, he put up 312 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Carlos Hernandez has been productive again for the Deacons, with 322 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 21 catches. Against Miami, he finished with 69 yards and a score on 10 receptions.
Up front, Langston Hardy has been disruptive. He has recorded a sack in each of the last two games, had six tackles against the Hurricanes and shares the team lead with 3½ tackles for loss.
The prediction attached to this matchup points to Louisville 45, Wake Forest 31, with the idea that the Cardinals avoid a letdown after the SMU win and keep the momentum rolling.
Who: Louisville vs. SMU
When: Noon Saturday
Where: L&N Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: Louisville Radio Network (93.9 FM and 970 AM)
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