coaching
5
Game Preview: No. 24 Louisville vs No. 9 Ole Miss set to meet in Nashville
- Louisville's new co-defensive coordinators Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis replace Ron English in 2026, with Ivey taking defensive play-calling responsibility for the first time in his career.
- Louisville's edge rotation pairs Clev Lubin and AJ Green with North Carolina transfer Tyler Thompson, whose seven sacks last season add proven pass-rush production alongside Lubin's 8.5 sacks and Green's four.
- Louisville's aggressive defense allowed several explosive offensive plays in its first preseason scrimmage but rebounded sufficiently in the second to draw praise from coaches, leaving consistency under the new play-caller an opening-game question.
coachingdefenseschematicsdltransferspersonnelfall_scrimmageconcerns
What Louisville football coach Jeff Brohm had to say before Ole Miss game
- Louisville's inexperienced quarterback played very well in the first fall scrimmage but forced too many vertical throws in the second, making shot selection and ball security Brohm's primary concern against Ole Miss.
- Louisville plans disciplined rush lanes and pressure that keeps Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in the pocket, where the Cardinals can challenge routes without allowing scrambles or extended plays.
- Isaac Brown is healthy and ready after a good camp, and Louisville intends to rotate its deeper running-back room while creating touches for Brown in space.
- Louisville expects to rotate roughly six offensive linemen, with minor injuries affecting the seventh and eighth options, and plans offensive balance to avoid exposing the group to Ole Miss's front through repeated dropbacks.
- Jabari Mack is eligible and will play against Ole Miss, while Kalib Perry has rejoined Louisville but remains ineligible as the staff works through outstanding requirements.
coachingqboffensefall_scrimmageconcernsdefenseschematicsgame_breakdownrbavailabilitydepth_chartexcitementsolinjuriespersonnel
Louisville vs. Ole Miss: Defense seeks early measuring stick in Nashville
- Louisville views Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss as an unusually difficult opening test because he combines high-end talent with proven production.
- Louisville's rebuilt defense must also contain Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy, one of the nation's most productive returning players.
- Co-defensive coordinator Mark Ivey considers the matchup an immediate measuring stick for Louisville's rebuilt defense and believes a strong performance would materially raise the unit's confidence.
- Ivey plans to coach from the sideline while Louisville's defensive staff uses a collaborative game-planning process to put the unit in position against Ole Miss's high-output offense.
defenseqbgame_breakdownconcernsrbcoachingpredictionschematics
CardinalAuthority’s Preseason Predictions: Ceiling, Floor, and Most Likely Outcomes
- CardinalAuthority's two preseason projections both place Louisville at 10-2, with that record expected to keep the Cardinals in the ACC Championship and College Football Playoff races.
- The schedule's decisive opening stretch features top-10 Ole Miss in Week 1 and SMU in Week 3, while Louisville avoids ACC preseason favorite Miami during the regular season.
- Louisville's projected ceiling is 11-1 to 12-0 because of its talent, size and depth, with a 3-0 start viewed as the point at which an undefeated run becomes realistic.
- The projected floor is 7-5 to 8-4 if the rebuilt offensive line struggles and the passing game around Lincoln Kienholz develops slowly, especially if Louisville drops the early Ole Miss and SMU games.
- Louisville is 11-8 in one-score games under Jeff Brohm and remains a narrow favorite in several 2026 matchups, adding volatility to a roster viewed as strong on both sides of the ball.
predictionmarketscheduleoverallgame_breakdownrosterexcitementsolqboffenseconcernscoaching