5 things Louisville football fans can reasonably expect in 2026 season

Louisville Cardinals running back Isaac Brown (1) scores a big fourth quarter touchdown against James Madison during the Cards' second college football game Friday September 5, 2025 at L&N Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. The Cards beat the Dukes 28-14.

During an injury-riddled sophomore campaign, running back Isaac Brown still averaged 98.2 rushing yards per game and was 116 yards away from reaching 1,000 despite missing four contests. Louisville was cautious about how much the Floridian practiced during the spring to ensure his safety ahead of a critical junior season. He’ll be the most experienced returning offensive player, which will give him more opportunities right away to set the pace for the offense and give the newer players time to acclimate.

UofL will have another nine-win season

For the first time since 2013, neither Clemson nor Miami are on Louisville’s schedule, which bodes well for the Cards. And although SMU is still on the slate as this year’s ACC opener, Louisville reaching nine wins for a fourth straight year is well within reach.

On paper, the Mustangs, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech are the most formidable opponents on Louisville’s schedule. Having to play Georgia Tech on the road makes it an even tougher game, though the Cardinals have won the last two meetings. Keeping the Governor’s Cup is also an achievable feat this year with Will Stein in his first year as a head coach for Kentucky.

Louisville's Jeff Brohm comes out on to the field before the game against Kentucky in the Governor's Cup. November 29, 2025

Louisville will make the ACC championship game

The Cardinals have been yearning to get back to Charlotte after making the ACC championship game for the first time in program history three years ago. Their schedule sets them up favorably to accomplish the goal this year. They’re one of 12 ACC teams to play nine conference games this year, but four of those teams — Florida State, North Carolina, Stanford and Syracuse — had losing ACC records last year and don’t appear to be much of a challenge this fall. As previously mentioned, SMU and Georgia Tech will be the toughest opponents. Louisville has beaten the Yellow Jackets before but is still looking for its first win over the Mustangs.

Per FanDuel, UofL has the third-best odds to win the ACC championship game behind Miami and SMU, respectively.

TreyShun Hurry will be the Cards’ second-leading receiver

Louisville’s TreyShun Hurry catches the ball against Louisville in the Spring Football game April 17, 2026

Wide receivers coach Deion Branch knows that TreyShun Hurry can be a leader for the unit. It’s just a matter of getting more opportunities. And with Chris Bell gone, Louisville is moving Hurry over to the Z spot, where he started building more confidence and began to shine during the spring. A productive summer will help that translate into the fall, where Hurry can have a breakout season after being in the background last year.

While Richardson is expected to be UofL’s leading receiver, Hurry won’t be too far behind if he can properly utilize his growing chances within the Cards’ passing game.

Co-defensive coordinators Mark Ivey, Steve Ellis will lead an elite defense

Mark Ivey came to Louisville in 2019 and immediately made an impact as the team’s defensive line coach by helping make the Cards’ defensive units one of the best in the country three years later. He mentored defensive linemen Yaya Diaby and Ashton Gillotte to become NFL Draft picks and linebacker T.J. Quinn to sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis, too, has had success during his time at Louisville with a cornerback drafted in two of the last three seasons.

Promoting the two to co-defensive coordinators was a good move on Brohm’s part and will pay off for the Cards this season. The cornerbacks room is young but promising, while the defensive line, highlighted by Clev Lubin and North Carolina transfer Tyler Thompson, has both experience and talent. The combination is sure to help UofL — which ranked No. 29 nationally in defensive SP+ in 2025 — have one of the better defensive units in the nation.

Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit atacubit@gannett.comand follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football 2026 schedule, expectations for Jeff Brohm's Cards