Louisville football fans, it’s finally here.
We made it through the longest part of the year and arrived once again.
As I do every season, I encourage you, fellow Cards fans, to not take this day for granted.
Soak it all in. Enjoy everything that this day is about.
We only get 12 games. 6 home games. 6 Joker and the Thief(s). Approximately 150 “Cards First Downs”.
Enjoy this moment. It’s game day.
First Down: What to know
Who: Louisville vs. Ole Miss
Where: Nissan Stadium | Nashville, TN
When: Sunday, Sept. 6th, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
How to Watch: ABC
Over-the-Air (Antenna): Channel 11.1
Charter Spectrum: Channel 4 (Standard Definition) or Channel 911 / 11 (High Definition)
DirecTV: Channel 11
DISH Network: Channel 11
How to Listen: 93.9 FM in Louisville
Series History: Miss leads 1-0
Last Matchup: Ole Miss won 43-24 in Atlanta, GA on Sept. 6, 2021
Spread Check: Miss -6.5
Thread Check:
Weather:
94 degrees at kickoff (104 index)
Chance of pop-up thunderstorms.
Second Down: Projected Depth Charts
Note: We will not get pre-game injury reports from the Ole Miss or Louisville staffs since this is not a conference game.
However, our Keith Arutoff caught a ton of spring and fall camps, and the following is an educated prediction of the 2026 two-deep.
Quarterback
3. Lincoln Kienholz | 6-2, 215, R-Jr.
Ohio State transfer is a dual-threat weapon and freak athlete.
11. Davin Wydner | 6-5, 225, R-Sr.
West Georgia QB started his career at Ole Miss.
Running Back
1. Isaac Brown | 5-9, 190, Jr.
Louisville’s superstar RB is healthy, and he may be the best player on the field.
5. Keyjuan Brown | 5-10, 210, R-Jr.
Consider Keyjuan Brown running back 1A.
Receiver
7. Lawayne McCoy | 6-1, 175, Jr.
Florida State transfer is primed for a massive season.
18. T.J. McWilliams | 6-0, 190, R-Jr.
Former Minnesota receiver impressed in his second fall camp.
_______
2. TreyShun Hurry | 6-2, 200, R-Sr.
Hurry did more than enough to earn the WR3 role in the offseason.
86. Elizjah Lewis | 6-2, 200, R-Sr.
D2 WR transfer had a slew of high major offers and can be a significant contributor.
—
0. Tre Richardson | 5-10, 175, Sr.
Burner who was an elite-level weapon while playing injured at Vanderbilt. Now fully healthy, should lead Cards in targets.
14. Jackson Voth | 5-11, 190, Jr.
Drake transfer has all the tools to become an offensive staple.
Tight End
80. Brody Foley | 6-6, 260, R-Sr.
Do-it-all weapon who should play all over the field. First-team All-AAC last season for Tulsa.
88. Jaleel Skinner | 6-5, 230, R-Sr.
Glue guy who is continuing to make strides. Excellent athlete who should be heavily featured in 2026.
OR 85. Justyn Reid | 6’5″, 260, Sr.
Tulane transfer is a sure-handed bowling ball of a man.
Left Tackle
53. Lance Robinson | 6-4, 290, R-Sr.
Louisville’s most experienced big fella up front, Robinson could step in at center once LT Anwar O’Neil returns.
74. Jarvis Strickland | 6-6, 295, Fr.
The top-ranked player in Louisville’s 2026 class, Strickland is a future star.
Left Guard
56. Eryx Daugherty | 6-4, 310, R-Jr.
Massive offseason acquisition from Boston College.
72. Sam Secrest | 6-5, 300, R-Sr.***
Veteran piece in the middle could move to center in a pinch.
Note: Secrest is banged up and is unlikely to see action on Sunday.
Center
58. Evan Wibberley | 6-5, 305, R-Sr.
Big-time opportunity for the Kentucky transfer, via WKU.
Right Guard
66. Johnnie Brown III | 6-3, 310, R-Sr.
Georgia Southern transfer is the real deal.
57. Naeer Jackson | 6-6, 310, R-Sr.
Depth piece in 2025 who will need to be ready when name is called.
Right Tackle
71. Cason Henry | 6-6, 310, R-Sr.
The most impressive guy on the Louisville offensive line was a staple for South Carolina.
75. Cameron Gorin | 6-5, 270, R-Fr.
The best player that most Louisville fans don’t know about yet.
Defensive End
17. A.J. Green | 6-6, 250, R-Jr.
Genetic freak who saw marked improvement in 2025. Expecting another leap forward in ’26.
99. Jerod Smith II | 6-4, 270, Jr.
Kentucky transfer who is uber talented. Could ultimately earn a starting role.
OR 19. Micah Carter | 6’6, 265, Jr.
Staff made it a priority to retain Carter in the offseason. Can play all over the line.
Nose Tackle
2. Demeco Kennedy | 6-3, 305, Jr.
Lexington native will be crucial as an A-gap block eater. Saw 450 snaps for Purdue in 2025.
95. Joshua Donald | 6-2, 320, R-Sr.
Sat out last season at Houston after a productive ’24 at App State. Lots of potential here.
Defensive Tackle
90. Daylen Russell | 6-3, 300, Fr.
Miami transfer oozes potential and will be heavily relied upon from the jump.
96. Tommy Ziesmer | 6-2, 300, R-Jr.
Played 3 seasons at Kentucky and EKU and should vie for serious PT.
Leo (DE/LB)
50. Clev Lubin | 6-3, 260, R-Sr.
All-ACC stud with unlimited motor. If you’re a Louisville fan, enjoy every snap we get to watch Clev.
3. Tyler Thompson | 6-4, 245, R-Jr.
North Carolina transfer probably starts for 90% of ACC teams. Explosive, disruptive playmaker who should become household name for ACC fans.
Mike LB
6. Stanquan Clark | 6-3, 235, R-Jr.
Injuries slowed a promising season for Clark in 2025. He’s back as a defensive leader in ’26 with high expectations.
36. Jacob Smith | 6-4, 235, R-So.
Kentucky transfer was highly coveted out of high school, and gets a year to learn and grow in the system.
OR 52. Kalib Perry | 6-3, 230, R-Sr.
Perry is a 5 for 5 guy who the staff is hoping to get eligible for game one. Solid piece who was very consistent in ’25.
Will LB
11. T.J. Capers | 6-2, 225, R-Jr.
Capers is a sensational talent, but has big shoes to fill in his first season as a full-time starter.
23. Benjamin Perry | 6-3, 215, R-Sr.
After a season where he transferred to UCLA but was injured in game one. He’s back in Louisville for one last ride with a lot more muscle on his frame. Should be valiable at WLB, especially on passing downs.
OR 43. Trent Carter | 6-3, 225, R-So.
Feels like a player tailor-made for an aggressive Mark Ivey-led defense. Look for Carter to see snaps in relief of Capers and Clark.
STAR LB
9. Antonio Watts | 6-2, 225, R-Sr.
The defensive heartbeat, Watts’ return is massive for this defense. Recorded 42 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 picks in injury-shortened ’25 season.
29. Blake Ruffin | 6-3, 205, R-Sr.
Hasn’t seen a ton of time in red and black but impressed in spring and fall camps.
Free Safety
10. Kaleb Beasley | 6-2, 200, Jr.
The Tennessee transfer saw over 300 snaps at safety after transitioning from corner a season ago. UofL will lean into his versatility, especially on passing downs.
OR 4. T.J. Banks 6-3, 200, Jr.
Banks, an Ole Miss transfer, has been battling with Beasley for the FS1 job. While Beasley may get the starting nod, Banks should see a lot of time.
Strong Safety
5. Koen Entringer | 6-3, 215, R-Sr.
Perhaps the most valuable pickup for the Cards in the portal. Entringer is an aggressive run-stopping safety who loves playing in the box. You’ll see No. 5 all over the field.
31. Micah Rice | 6-2, 200, R-Fr.
Took a major leap in the offseason and can provide valuable depth.
OR 26. Jordan Vann | 6-1, 200, Fr.
A true freshman who is well ahead of the curve.
Corner
12. DJ Waller Jr. | 6-3, 210, Sr.
A Kentucky transfer via Michigan. Was a heavy contributor on Michigan’s national title team, but has battled injuries since. When healthy, he is hard to keep off the field.
OR 1. Jabari Mack | 6-1, 185, Sr.
Jeff Brohm confirmed that Mack will play Sunday. It’s just a matter of how game-ready the 5-for-5 beneficiary is.
Corner
13. Tayon Holloway | 6-1, 190, Sr.
We watched Holloway transform from a good college corner to an all-conference player in ’25. Will play a major role in 2026.
25. Brycen Scott | 5-11, 195, Jr.
Was an absolute problem at Elon a season ago. Should have 3 years of eligibility remaining.
OR 27. Myles Norwood | 6-2, 190, Sr.
South Carolina transfer who was a quality depth piece a season ago. Well-traveled veteran.
Third Down: What to Watch for
Can Louisville slow the duo of Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy?
Even casual football fans are at least aware of Mississippi’s outstanding quarterback-running back duo.
If you weren’t after last season’s magical postseason run, you are sure to be after this game. Simply put, Chambliss and Lacy are special, and the entire offense figures to revolve around them once again.
They were responsible for 82.1 percent of the Ole Miss offense a season ago. Chambliss accounted for 3,937 passing yards and 527 yards on the ground. Lacy ran for 1,567 yards himself.
Chambliss had 22 TD passes, another 8 on the ground, and Lacy had 24 rushing TDs- that’s an insane 83.1 percent of Ole Miss’ total touchdowns.
The pieces around the dynamic duo are lesser known. Ole Miss returns the middle of its offensive line, but features two new tackles. Chambliss’ top three pass catchers from a season ago are gone. They accounted for nearly 2,400 yards through the air. However, they do bring back wideout Deuce Alexander, who will slide into a starting spot, and two capable tight ends.
If you’re the Louisville defense, containing the opponent’s stars is priority No. 1.
The Rebels did a great job of shoring up any deficiencies in the transfer portal, and there are sure to be plenty of emerging co-stars. But you cut this snake off at the head; In this case, the head will be wearing No. 5 and No. 6.
Do the Cards hold up in the trenches?
Since Louisville and Kentucky moved their annual rivalry game to the end of the season, season openers against high-level opponents have almost become the norm.
The issue is that while Louisville football might have a quality squad on paper, more often than not, they’ve gotten punched in the mouth in these season openers.
Louisville recently began the season with Alabama (blowout loss), Mississippi (blowout loss), and Auburn (tight loss where UofL trailed the whole way). The Cards found success in 2014 against Miami, but that was an insane home game environment. They opened the Jeff Brohm era in Atlanta against Georgia Tech and pulled off a thrilling victory.
The program has made no bones about it – We are not afraid to play the biggest names right out the gate. But when play begins on the field, the Cards have often fallen flat on their faces. They trailed 28-0 at halftime against Bama, 26-0 vs. Ole Miss the first time around, and 24-0 vs Auburn.
If that is to change, one area where Louisville will have to look like they belong is along the offensive and defensive lines.
The Cards have some quality size and experience on the O-line, but not a ton of experienced depth. Projected starting left tackle Anwar O’Neal is likely out, which means veteran Lance Robinson will likely have to fill O’Neal’s shoes.
Across the ball, Mississippi presents a real challenge, and it starts with All-American tackle Will Echoles. This may be the best individual defensive player Louisville faces all season, and he presents a serious challenge as a guy who can rotate around on the line. I’m not sure the interior line goes up against anyone who can compare to Echoles on a day-to-day basis.
On the outside, the Rebs return junior defensive end Kam Franklin and junior defensive tackle Will Echoles, who logged five sacks a piece a season ago.
Louisville seems to be in a good position with two veteran tackles – Eryx Daugherty (Boston College) and Johnnie Brown III (Georgia Southern) – and South Carolina transfer Casen Henry at right tackle. However, they’ll face a stout challenge with this Mississippi defensive front.
On the other side of the ball, the Cards have a sensational group of their own on the edge.
All-ACC defensive end Clev Lubin is one of the more fun players in the country to watch. While a bit undersized, Lubin is fundamentally lethal and his motor seems to run even more efficiently as the game progresses. A season ago, he flipped multiple games on their heads with game-changing efforts. Louisville football fans should expect more of the same this year.
Alongside Lubin, returning defensive end and genetic freak AJ Green has a complete skill set. Green is joined by UNC transfer Tyler Thompson, who was quietly one of the best players at his position to enter the portal this offseason.
Together, Louisville’s triumvirate of pass rushers is a nightmare to prepare for. However, the Cards are much greener in the middle of the D-Line, and that is where the Rebels figure to do most of their damage.
While Ole Miss returns its center and two guards, Louisville is starting over from scratch with the additions of Demeco Kennedy, Daylen Russell, and Joshua Donald – Three transfers who will anchor the middle.
Eye discipline will be key for Louisville linebackers looking to fill the gaps and close in on Mississippi’s talented ball carriers.
Can Louisville slow this Ole Miss offense? It’s certainly possible. But it has to start with competency and consistency in the trenches.
Can Lincoln Kienholz and Isaac Brown be stars?
To the latter, I’d say Louisville football already has a blossoming superstar in Isaac Brown. However, the key for Louisville’s tailback is consistency. We know Brown can read defenses and hit holes with the best of them. We know about his electric home-run-hitting speed. And we know he can turn any play into a touchdown at any time.
What we’ve yet to see from Brown is the consistency needed to sustain a championship run… Or to be an every-down back against a top 10 SEC opponent.
Against ranked teams, Brown is averaging just over 102 yards per game.
Louisville fans know, however, that Brown is capable of much more, especially with a potentially increased workload.
Last season, Brown got the rock 11.2 times per game. This year, Cards want to see that number increase with him back at full health.
Joining Brown in the backfield this season is Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz.
An excellent athlete with a propensity to run, Kienholz feels like a well-kept secret nationally.
Kienholz pushed one of the best QB’s in the country – Julian Sayin – for the starting job a season ago and played a good amount of snaps for a backup over the last two seasons.
Lincoln’s ability to weaponize his legs is one of his most important strengths from the jump this season. With an elite backfield that should heavily feature Brown and (unrelated) Keyjuan Brown, having a QB who is competent in the run game will keep defenses honest.
The most significant snaps of Kienholz’s career came in relief action during the 2023 Cotton Bowl. As a true freshman, third-string quarterback, Kienholz looked competent, but things moved at a rapid pace for the rookie. A game Missouri front seven completely dominated the OSU line, leaving Kienholz scrambling and backpeddling for the majority of the game.
Since that outing, Linc has continued to improve and now looks to cement his legacy with a coach and program known for turning little-known QBs into stars.
In order to do so, it feels like Jeff and Brian Brohm will need to trust Kienholz’s abilities and cut him loose fully.
He and Brown will have to shine in this game in order for the Cards to pull out the W.
Brohm vs. Golding: How Much Does Experience Matter?
Perhaps the most important storyline of the game is the matchup between two coaches in very different situations.
Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm enters his 10th season as a Power Four head coach, and 13th overall. He has a well-documented reputation for pulling big upsets in moments just like this.
Entering his fourth season at Louisville, Brohm just inked a fat new deal on the heels of a season in which his squad upset national runner-up Miami and won 9 games for the third straight season.
The expectations this time around are real, though. This is Brohm’s first squad that enters the season ranked, and his Cardinals were selected 3rd in the ACC preseason poll.
On the opposite sideline, new head coach Pete Golding will be coaching his first game in a non-interim capacity.
The Rebs defensive coordinator since 2023, Golding put on the headphones when Lane Kiffin abruptly departed before the 2026 playoffs.
All Golding and Ole Miss did was blow out Tulane, defeat a 6-point favorite in Georgia, and take Miami to the wire in the national semifinal.
It’s a true reset, however, for Golding. He no longer has the luxury of mainstay offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., co-DC Joe Cox, and six other position coaches.
Kiffin’s fingerprints were still all over the playoff run. Which will not be the case when toe meets leather on Sunday.
So, how much does the coaching experience matter? Perhaps more than one might think.
Given Brohm’s veteran-level experience, proven ability to upset big-name title-contending teams, and the fact that he had the entire offseason to prepare, the coaching advantage weighs heavily in Louisville’s favor.
The question now becomes how much Mississippi’s talent can offset that advantage.
Fourth Down: Predictions
Pres
I’ve fallen victim to the offseason hype machine too many times as a Louisville football fan, but these games just feel especially important for a program with few chances to prove itself on a national stage. I genuinely don’t think it’s hyperbole to call this the most important game for the Cards in the last decade.
Hear me out.
This may be the first time that Louisville is part of the only ranked-versus-ranked matchup of the weekend. It is also a standalone game on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Fans are hungry for football, and they are getting a heavy dose of Heisman-contending talent on ABC with no work the next morning. It will be a highly anticipated, heavily watched broadcast.
The pressure feels immense because the Cards seldom get this kind of national spotlight, but coaches genuinely never know what they have until the pads start popping. Ultimately, I keep coming back to the duo of Chambliss and Lacy. I firmly believe that Chambliss is the best quarterback in the country entering the season and that Lacy is a top-three running back. Regardless of the opponent, it is extremely difficult to defend that kind of backfield right out of the gate.
There will be 20,000 to 30,000 Cards fans in attendance, but I expect Ole Miss fans to significantly outnumber them. I believe that crowd split, combined with the forecasted heat—featuring a 104-degree heat index at kickoff—will play a factor.
However, if Louisville wins the turnover battle, I think the Cards can pull this off. I do not feel like the Rebels have a realistic answer for the Louisville running game, and I expect the tight end room to be heavily utilized and difficult for the Mississippi linebacking corps to slow.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether the defense can get enough stops.
There is a quiet confidence around the program that the defensive unit can take a step forward from last year, and I trust Clev Lubin and the secondary to create some havoc. New defensive coordinators Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis are going to bring a much more aggressive mindset, which means the Cards will likely get burned for a few chunk plays. What I love about Ivey and the defensive mindset as a whole, though, is that getting beat a couple of times won’t alter their approach. I think Louisville forcing turnovers on defense will be the deciding difference.
Isaac Brown breaks off a couple of long ones.
Give me Louisville by 4.
Louisville 38, Mississippi 34
Matt McGavic, WHAS11: Lou 28, Miss 31
Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama: Lou 23, Miss 30
Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida: Lou 28, Miss 34
Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State: Lou 23, Miss 31
Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Oklahoma: Lou 17, Miss 31
Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame: Lou 27, Miss 24
Trent Knoop, The Big Lead: Lou 21, Miss 31
David, Ole Miss 365: Lou 17, Miss 42
Sam Hutchens, Clarion Ledger: Lou 23, Miss 28
Bleacher Nation: Miss ML
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Lou +7
Iain McMillan, Sports Illustrated: Lou ML
Noah Dunlap, Yahoo Sports: Lou 20, Miss 31
Matt Baker, The Athletic: Lou +6.5
Mark Cooper, The Athletic: Miss -6.5
Seth Emerson, The Athletic: Miss -6.5
Sam Khan Jr., The Athletic: Miss -6.5
Austin Mock, The Athletic: Lou +6.5
Dan Santaromita, The Athletic: Miss -6.5
Daniel Shirley, The Athletic: Lou +6.5
David Ubben, The Athletic: Lou +6.5
Chris Vannini, The Athletic: Lou +6.5
Alexis Cubit, Courier-Journal: Lou 31, Miss 28
C.L. Brown, Courier-Journal: Lou 30, Miss 27
Payton Titus, Courier-Journal: Lou 21, Miss 24
Brooks Holton, Courier-Journal: Lou 21, Miss 28
Mike Rutherford, Card Chronicle: Lou 24, Miss 34
Keith Arutoff, From the Pink Seats: Lou 27, Miss 24
