The No. 20 Louisville Cardinals are eager to return to the field and shake off a bitter overtime loss when they host Clemson in a primetime ACC showdown Friday night.
What was once expected to be a key conference game with ramifications stretching to the College Football Playoff instead features the Cardinals (7-2, 4-2), who were upset by Cal 29-26 last Saturday for their second home overtime defeat in a month, holding barely a longshot chance of cracking the final 12-team bracket.
Preseason No. 4 Clemson (4-5, 3-4) has less profound goals in what has been a disappointing season relative to the Tigers’ traditional expectations and talented roster. They chase a second straight win to inch closer to bowl eligibility.
The Tigers suffered a 33-21 home loss to Louisville last season in a defeat Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called his team’s worst performance last year. He was particularly displeased by the Tigers’ defense. Clemson won the previous eight meetings with Louisville before last season’s loss.
This season, a loss to Clemson could derail any narrow shot Louisville maintains at reaching the playoff.
“They look the part,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said of the Tigers’ 2025 defense. “They’re big, they’re fast, they’re athletic, talented.”
Defense is where the Cardinals stand out this season.
The unit is 14th nationally in total defense, allowing just 296.8 yards per game. However, they gave up a season-worst 427 in Saturday’s loss to the Bears. That included 323 in the air to freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
Clemson signal caller Cade Klubnik has thrown for more than 300 yards twice this season. The senior completed 20 of 27 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday’s 24-10 home win over Florida State.
“These last four games, including the last one, will be the four best quarterbacks we play,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “And when you do that, you’ve got to be really sharp, and you have to have a good plan.”
Klubnik, ranked fourth among ACC quarterbacks with a 149.3 rating has been battling leg injuries, but he’s expected to play Friday in Louisville.
The Cardinals could have a quarterback issue brewing.
Senior Miller Moss is coming off his worst game of the season. He completed a season-low 52.6% of his passes (20-of-38) for 203 yards and an interception in the loss to California. His 92.2 passer rating was also the lowest he’s had this season. The transfer from Southern Cal has not thrown for more than 248 yards in any of his last four games.
When asked if he would consider a switch, Brohm said the team still believes in its starting quarterback. While he will “always have a plan ready for all of his quarterbacks,” Brohm added, there are some things Moss needs to work through, such as avoiding passes being batted down at the line of scrimmage.
Louisville running back Isaac Brown is unlikely to be available. The sophomore injured his leg late in the win at Virginia Tech two weeks ago.
Keyjuan Brown, no relation, enjoyed his first 100-yard game Saturday, going for 136 yards on 14 carries. Over his last three games, the back has needed just 36 carries to gain 325 yards.
Whether Louisville plays Moss or backups Deuce Adams or Brady Allen, Swinney does not expect much to change.
“I mean they’re not going to change their offense,” Swinney said. “They’ll do what they do. We’re preparing for them schematically. They’re going to run that ball.”
