Louisville’s Isaac Brown Could Be Back Just in Time for Boca Raton Bowl Clash with Toledo
Louisville might be getting a major boost in the backfield just in time for Tuesday’s Boca Raton Bowl matchup against Toledo. While there’s been no official confirmation from the program, all signs are pointing toward sophomore running back Isaac Brown suiting up - and that’s big news for a Cardinals offense that’s missed his explosiveness down the stretch.
Brown, who led the team in rushing this season with 782 yards on just 91 carries, was listed at the top of the bowl game depth chart alongside fellow back KeyJuayn Brown. That’s a promising sign, especially considering he’s been sidelined since the Virginia Tech game, where he posted a monster stat line: 16 carries, 130 yards, and a touchdown before leaving with an injury.
In total, Brown missed four games and had just one carry in a fifth - a stretch that coincided with three Louisville losses. His absence was felt.
This is a guy who averaged 8.6 yards per carry. That’s not just efficient - that’s game-breaking.
When Brown’s in the lineup, every handoff has the potential to flip the field.
While the team hasn’t made anything official, the strongest hint came from an unexpected but familiar source: Brown’s mother, Sabrina Jefferson. In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, she wrote, “Don’t FORGET TO SEE Him Play Today @ 2pm.
This Is What We Been Waiting For To See HIM back On The Field. Let’s Go Son.
Let’s Go Cards.”
And while it’s not coming from a trainer or coach, the “mom official” stamp has fans buzzing - and with good reason. Jefferson has made waves before with her social media teases.
Ahead of the rivalry game against Kentucky, she posted that she had a dream both Brown and quarterback Miller Moss would play. She was half right - Moss did take the field.
Now, fans are hoping her latest post is the real deal.
If Brown is indeed back, it changes the equation for Louisville in a big way. His speed, vision, and ability to break tackles in space give the Cardinals a dynamic edge they’ve been missing. And against a solid Toledo defense, that kind of home-run threat could be the difference between finishing the season with a win or heading into the offseason with more questions than answers.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in the Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans. Louisville fans will be watching closely - not just for the outcome, but to see if No. 23 is finally back where he belongs: in the backfield, making defenders miss.