Louisville is back in the AP preseason top 25, and the Cardinals will open the year at No. 24 when the first poll drops Monday.
It’s the first time since 2017 that Louisville has been ranked going into a season opener. That year, the Cardinals checked in at No. 16 before the start of the season.
The timing matters, too, because Louisville doesn’t get a soft landing. Jeff Brohm’s team opens against No. 9 Ole Miss on Sept. 6 in Nashville.
This is a Louisville team that brings back 55% of its production from last season, a figure that ranks 59th nationally. The backbone of that return comes on defense. Up front, defensive lineman Clev Lubin is back after earning a spot on the All-ACC preseason team, and he’s joined by linebacker Stanquan Clark, linebacker/safety Antonio Watts and cornerback Tayon Holloway as key pieces for the Cardinals.
Offensively, the spotlight falls on running back Isaac Brown. He was named to the ACC preseason team and will be counted on to lead the unit if he can stay healthy. Brown has averaged 7.7 yards per carry over the last two seasons.
Louisville was just outside the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll top 25, but the AP voters put the Cardinals in at No. 24.
In the ACC preseason rankings, Miami leads the league in both polls at No. 7, while SMU is also inside the top 25 at No. 19 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the coaches poll. Clemson appears at No. 23 in the coaches poll.
In Other News...
Louisville Linebackers Could Decide How Good This Defense Really Is
Louisvilles defense already gave the program a respectable baseline last season, finishing inside the top 20 in both yards per game and yards per play even while dealing with injuries. Now the question is less about what the unit can be and more about how high it can climb under new defensive coordinators Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis, with the Cardinals choosing continuity over outside help and leaning on the players already in the building.
Stanquan Clark, TJ Capers and Antonio Watts are all expected to carry significant weight in that effort, and the linebacker room in particular feels like the hinge point for the whole operation. If the returnees and backups can supply the kind of depth Louisville is counting on without any transfer portal additions, this defense could stay sturdy again; if not, the margin for error gets a lot smaller in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Got Real Proof Its ACC Hype Is Legit
Louisville finally has the kind of preseason respect that turns offseason buzz into something more concrete. The Cardinals landed at No. 24 in the 2026 preseason AP Poll, a sign that the national conversation has caught up with what has been building around Jeff Brohms program. Between a strong transfer portal haul and important returning pieces on both sides of the ball, Louisville is being sized up as a real ACC contender instead of just a trendy sleeper.
The ranking also comes with a quick reality check. Louisvilles schedule offers little room to settle in, with early tests against No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 19 SMU waiting right out of the gate. If the Cardinals are going to turn this preseason praise into something bigger, they will have to prove it fast against a slate that can either validate the hype or expose how far there still is to go. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville's Defensive Line Could Carry Jeff Brohm's Defense Again
Louisvilles defensive front enters the offseason with a familiar feel to it, because this has become one of the safest places to look for stability in Jeff Brohms defense. Even with departures and staff changes around the unit, the Cardinals have enough proven pieces back to believe the line can once again be the part of the defense that sets the tone, especially with Clev Lubin and AJ Green headlining the returning group.
The bigger question now is how quickly the next wave fits in around them. Louisville added transfers Tyler Thompson and Jerod Smith II to a room that already has a strong foundation, and the expectation is that the line should still be a strength in 2026 despite the coaching turnover and role changes elsewhere on the staff. If the new faces come along as planned, this could be another season where the Cardinals lean on their front to cover a lot of ground behind it. [Read more 🡒]