Greg McElroy feels Louisville is being overlooked entering 2024

On ESPN’s web show Always College Football, college football expert Greg McElroy takes his time to break down some of the more thought-provoking topics of the game. Recently, the former Alabama quarterback shared his thoughts on the Louisville Cardinals and whether or not they were being overlooked heading into 2024. And according to McElroy they are, despite their success from last season.

“For Louisville, there’s so much turnover,” said McElroy. “We loved them last year, partly because I felt like some of the pieces that were flocking to Louisville by way of the portal were really, really solid, and I believe that much in Jeff Brohm. Now, this year, I don’t think they’re slept on as much as they were last year, but last year, you just got the sense that there was going to be a real ‘us against the world’ mentality— no one’s talking about us; no ones respecting us.”

2023 was a prime year for Louisville as they were one of the top teams in the ACC. They finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and 7-1 in conference play. That earned them a spot in the ACC championship, where they were narrowly defeated by the No. 4 team in the nation, the Florida State Seminoles, 16-6.

This year, McElroy believes that Louisville will have the element of surprise for a second year in a row. As he sees it, not enough attention is being placed on the ACC runner-ups in 2023, and more attention is being placed on the defending conference champs, Florida State, powerhouse Clemson, and the trendy pick in 2024, the Miami Hurricanes.

“Jeff Brohm’s gonna have the element of surprise up his sleeve throughout the course of the season. I think they have a good quarterback in Tyler Shough; [he’s] gotta stay healthy. They’ll be able to run the ball; I feel pretty confident about that. Defensively, you have some massive difference makers along the defensive line, including a guy that should be in All-American contention in Ashton Gillotte in the line of scrimmage.”

“So, I look at their personnel; I think Louisville’s really solid. And no one seems to be really talking about them. All anyone’s talking about in the ACC is Florida State, Miami, and Clemson… they’re just sliding over there; them, alongside NC State [and] some other teams that have really good personnel.”

Louisville’s 2024 schedule starts off favorable for the Cardinals but gets a little dicey at the back end of the season. Louisville will play four of its five final games on the road, with one of those games against Clemson at Memorial Stadium, the Tigers’ home stadium.

The Cardinals have the talent, the head coach, and the drive to be one of the better teams, if not the best team in the ACC in 2024. And with the lack of attention that they are getting despite their prowess, McElroy sees them shocking a handful of college football fans for the second year in a row.