Louisville’s biggest football stage of the season is getting an extra jolt this weekend, and it comes with a familiar face from the hardwood.
No. 23 Louisville is set to host No.
16 SMU on Saturday in a top-25 matchup that already had plenty of attention attached to it. The Cardinals are 1-1 after a 59-13 win over Villanova and a 41-38 loss to No.
8 Ole Miss, and they’re trying to beat 2-0 SMU for the first time in program history. Louisville is 0-2 against the Mustangs since joining the ACC and 0-4 against them overall.
The game is expected to draw a sold-out crowd, and Pat Kelsey helped turn up the noise by urging fans to bring the energy. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “We need to pack the joint y’all… Make it the most hostile environment in the history of Louisville Football.
Card Nation…can’t wait to watch you guys do what you do. Illegal procedures, off sides…timeouts.
Wreak havoc on our opponent Saturday from 3:30-7:00.”
That message clearly reached Donovan Mitchell.
The Louisville basketball legend reposted Kelsey’s video and said he’ll be back on campus for the game. “See yall Saturday!! 🫡🐔” Mitchell wrote.
Mitchell has stayed connected to Louisville over the years, showing up at football and basketball events and remaining one of the school’s most popular alumni. This weekend, he’ll also be back to practice with the men’s basketball team.
Now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mitchell has been named to the NBA All-Star Game seven times, which is a Louisville Cardinal record. He also holds the school record for career NBA points with 15,272.
For Louisville fans, Mitchell’s return only adds to what’s already shaping up as a huge Saturday. The Cardinals and Mustangs kick off at 3:30 p.m. local time on ESPN 2, with ACC Championship implications hanging over the matchup.
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