Bio Blast: Louisville Cardinals

A huge offseason is just around the corner for Kentucky football. The transfer portal opens for 45 days on Dec. 4, and the early signing day is Dec. 20. Some staffing changes are also likely coming. Head coach Mark Stoops is likely heading into his biggest offseason in Lexington as this season continues to go down the wrong path.

Kentucky (6-5, 3-5) has only won one game since September. The Wildcats are 0-3 in SEC games within one possession in the fourth quarter and were blitzed by Alabama and Georgia. Offense, defense, and special teams have each contributed to losses. After the 17-14 loss to South Carolina, some social media complaining occurred. This does not appear to be a program in a good space right now, and there is still one game left to be played.

The Kentucky roster will likely look a lot different when the Wildcats make a bowl trip, but this team will get one final ride together this weekend. Stoops and his program will put their four-game winning streak in the Governor’s Cup on the line against a red-hot Louisville (10-1, 7-1) team.

In his first season back at his alma mater, former WKU and Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm has Louisville firmly in the College Football Playoff hunt heading into Week 13. Next weekend, Louisville will face Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. That might be the biggest game in school history. These feel like two football programs heading in opposite directions.

Louisville is a well-balanced football team that thrives in clutch moments.

Surprising top-20 defense

Louisville defensive coordinator Ron English has been around college football for a long time. The 55-year-old is now in his second stint at Louisville previously serving as Steve Kragthorpe’s defensive coordinator in 2008. The former Eastern Michigan head coach reunited with Jeff Brohm in 2021 and became Brohm’s full-time defensive coordinator in 2022. The California native is having the best season of his coaching career.

English was named a Broyles Award semifinalist on Monday. Louisville’s hybrid 4-2-5 scheme has given opposing offenses fits all season.

The Cards enter Week 13 ranked No. 7 in EPA/play, No. 18 in success rate, and No. 21 in points per drive. Louisville has only faced one SP+ top-35 offense, but you have to give them credit. This unit has come up with key stops throughout the season, handled a good Notre Dame offensive line at the point of attack, and forced some big turnovers.

Ashton Gillotte is the most impactful player on this defense. The defensive end leads the team in tackles for loss (13), sacks (10), forced fumbles (three), and pressures (56). Gillotte is having an All-American season and sets the tone for a pressure-heavy defense that wants to crowd the line of scrimmage and make offenses one-dimensional by eliminating the traditional run game.

The defense has been Louisville’s best unit throughout the season.

Balanced offense

Throughout his tenure at Purdue, Jeff Brohm consistently had one of the most pass-heavy offenses in college football. The Boilermakers finished last place in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game multiple times. That has changed at Louisville.

Getting out of the Big Ten has certainly helped Brohm’s offense find more balance. Louisville has a 1,000-yard rusher and will have a 3,000-yard passer before the season ends.

45-YARDS TO THE HOUSE!@JaJo_25 😤

📺: ABC#GoCards pic.twitter.com/PtY3n4t1DQ

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) October 8, 2023

Jawhar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo have combined to pace a rushing attack that has rolled up 180-plus rushing yards against seven power conference opponents this season. Louisville is currently No. 36 in run-play percentage (55.11%) after Brohm’s final Purdue offense ranked No. 120 (42.22%) last season. That has helped make Jack Plummer‘s job easier at quarterback.

The California transfer has only gone north of 30-plus pass attempts three times in the last 10 games. Louisville wants to play complementary football leaning on their ground game and defense to win. However, Plummer has shown some bright moments throwing the football with a 20.3 percent explosive pass rate.

Louisville enters Saturday’s contest ranked No. 15 in yards per play, No. 24 in success rate, and No. 28 in points per drive. The Cardinals have no clear weakness on this side of the football.

Game finishers

In football, you are what your record says you are. Specifically in college football, how you perform in close games will ultimately determine if your season is a success or a failure. Louisville has aced every close game moment on their schedule. That is the No. 1 reason why Brohm’s team is having a banner season.

Clinging to a 29-28 lead over Georgia Tech in Week 1, Louisville’s defense found itself in the red zone with just over four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets had a fresh set of downs, but a sack-fumble won Louisville the game.

Two weeks later, Louisville’s defense forced a goal-to-go turnover on downs to lock up a 21-14 win over Indiana. In Week 5, the defense would get numerous second half stops in a 13-10 road win over NC State.

In Week 11, Louisville would get some more key defensive stops in the fourth quarter and score 17 points to beat Virginia by a touchdown. In Week 12, Louisville outscored Miami 15-3 in the fourth quarter, and the defense again produced a turnover on downs in the red zone to secure a 38-31 victory.

Louisville is 5-0 in one-possession games. In high-leverage moments, this football team has produced on offense and defense. It’s the No. 1 reason why Brohm’s team is having a special season.