Louisville got the kind of preseason recognition it was waiting for.
After being left out of the Coaches Poll, the Cardinals landed at No. 24 in the preseason AP Poll, a spot that gives Jeff Brohm’s team a little more national respect heading into 2026.
The buzz around Louisville has been building for a while, and the AP ranking matches the way people around the program are talking about this roster. Brohm pulled in over 32 transfers from the portal, giving the Cardinals one of the best portal classes in the nation and loading the roster with reinforcements on both sides of the ball.
The biggest attention-grabber is on offense. Louisville added its fourth quarterback from the portal under Brohm, with Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz set to lead the QB room. Around him, the Cardinals have a strong group of outside weapons in three 4-star transfers: Tre Richardson, Lawayne McCoy, and Brody Foley.
The backfield may end up driving everything. Preseason All-American Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown are both back, and each averaged over seven yards per carry last season. That kind of production gives Louisville a dangerous foundation if the rest of the offense settles in quickly.
The defensive front also looks built to cause problems. Louisville returns Clev Lubin and AJ Green up front, and adds Tyler Thompson, who had seven sacks.
At linebacker, TJ Capers, Stanquan Clark, Antonio Watts, and Kalib Perry are back. The secondary brings back Tayon Holloway and Jabari Mack, while the Cardinals also added Kaleb Beasley from Tennessee, TJ Banks from Ole Miss, DJ Waller from Kentucky, and Koen Entringer from Iowa.
There’s plenty of talent here, and the schedule will tell the story fast. Louisville opens with Ole Miss, ranked No. 9, then meets No.
19 SMU in Week 3. Those games will shape how real this ranking turns out to be.
Brohm’s view is simple: the rankings will sort themselves out. Louisville fans won’t have to wait long to find out what this team really is.
If the Cardinals get to 3-0, they’ll have a strong case for the College Football Playoff. If they’re 2-1, they’ll likely have picked up a major win over Ole Miss or SMU.
If they start 1-2, the margin for error gets a lot tighter the rest of the way.
In Other News...
Louisville Defense Just Got A Late Boost Jeff Brohm Needed
Louisvilles defense is getting an unexpected offseason lift as the program works through the latest eligibility ruling that opened the door for outgoing seniors to come back for another year. Jeff Brohm confirmed the Cardinals are sorting out the conference and administrative pieces, but the backdrop is clear enough: a team that can use experienced help on that side of the ball is suddenly in position to keep more proven pieces in place for 2026.
Among the names expected to benefit are linebacker Kalib Perry and defensive back Jabari Mack, both of whom were key contributors last season. Perry, a Tennessee transfer, finished with 55 tackles, while Mack added 34 tackles and several interceptions. For a Louisville defense looking to hold onto continuity and playmaking, getting that kind of production back would be a meaningful late boost, even if the final paperwork still has to line up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Is Giving Louisville Real Hope At Quarterback
Louisvilles first fall scrimmage gave the staff an early look at what Lincoln Kienholz can bring to the offense, and the transfer quarterback from Ohio State appears to be settling in. Jeff Brohm said Kienholz had a good day and is starting to show a better grasp of the system, a positive sign for a player expected to take on a major role after arriving with limited college game experience.
For Louisville, the appeal is obvious. Brohm has pointed to Kienholzs accuracy and mobility as traits that fit what the Cardinals want to do, and the early signs from camp suggest the learning curve is moving in the right direction. The next step is turning that progress into consistent command, because how quickly Kienholz becomes comfortable will go a long way in shaping the offense this season. [Read more 🡒]
Flory Bidunga Just Raised The Pressure On Louisvilles Rebuild
Flory Bidungas arrival gave Louisville an immediate credibility boost, and the latest national buzz only adds to the expectation around Pat Kelseys rebuild. Sports Illustrated slotting the former Kansas center as the third-best center in college basketball for the 2026-27 season underscores why he matters so much to a roster built around transfers and a highly regarded recruiting class.
For a program that has already worked its way back to the NCAA Tournament under Kelsey, the next step is no longer just getting there, but turning that progress into something deeper. Bidungas defensive reputation and high-end pedigree make him a centerpiece of that push, and they also raise the standard for everyone else in a Louisville rotation trying to prove the Cardinals are ready for more than another feel-good return. [Read more 🡒]