Louisville football looks to right the ship in a crucial Senior Day matchup vs Pitt.
One week ago, around 3:30 PM ET, Louisville football was very much in the conversation as the second team to make the ACC Championship Game, and potentially the playoffs.
Louisville, needing Pitt to hold on to a lead vs. Clemson and then one more Miami loss, kicked off at Stanford as the Panthers took a 3-point lead with under 2 minutes remaining.
3 hours later, this entire narrative was crushed.
Clemson sealed the game with a long TD in the closing seconds and Louisville football had one of the worst collapses in program history in Palo Alto.
Now, the two formidable foes square off head-to-head in L&N Stadium.
For both teams, there’s still a lot to play for.
Specifically for Louisville, though, there’s a lot of pride on the line.
Senior day. Against the team that derailed your season a year ago. On the heels of a crushing upset loss.
If Jeff Brohm and company can’t get the guys fired up for one final home game, I’m not sure anything will strike that chord the right way.
Can Louisville football correct course and finish strong, or is the writing already on the wall against a quality Panthers team? Let’s dive in.
Who: Pitt Panthers (7-3, 3-3) at Louisville Cardinals (6-4, 4-3)
When: Saturday, November 23rd at 4:00 PM ET
Where: L&N Stadium | Louisville, KY
How to Watch: ESPN2
How to Listen: 93.9 FM in Louisville
Series History: Pitt leads 11-9
Last Meeting: Pitt won 35-21 in Pittsburgh, PA in 2023
Spread Check: Louisville -7.5
Thread Check:
All red for senior day.
Players to Watch
Nate Yarnell, Pitt QB
True Freshman QB Eli Holstein is one of the better players in the conference.
However, after multiple head-related injuries over the last month, Holsteins status is still up in the air.
Enter junior QB Nate Yarnell- About as good of a “second-string” QB as one will find in this great nation.
Yarnell tossed it around the yard 54 times last week against Clemson, completing 34 attempts for 350 yards. That’s good for 10.3 yards per completion.
While he doesn’t have the sneaky athletic game of Pitt’s normal starter, Yarnell has the chops to get things going against this Louisville football defense.
Against Clemson, he was great unless pressured. He ran the ball 10 times for -20 yards.
Louisville football has faced a number of excellent running QBs this season, but that should not be a major concern if Yarnell is under center.
Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville WR
While he still has a year remaining, this is likely the last time we see Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks in front of a home Cardinals crowd. But man has he delivered for Louisville football this season.
The Cards may need Brooks now more than ever.
This Pitt defense is legit. It has an elite linebacking unit, a fantastic defensive line, and they are very boom or bust in the secondary.
Pitt blitzes more than any other team in power four football, and will look to do so often against a thin Louisville offensive line.
What that means for the Cards is a lot of potential targets to Brooks.
The steady presence in the UofL wide receiving room, expect Brooks to see 10+ targets.
I’d like to see Louisville football give Brooks a lot of looks downfield, one on one. If Pitt is going to send the house and leave its corners on an island, Brooks is going to have an opportunity to feast one last time in L&N Stadium.
Predictions
Jacob Lane: Pitt +8
Matt McGavic: Pitt +8
Vincent Lococo: Louisville -8
Producer Keith: Pitt +8
Pres’ Picks
I can’t remember a moment of more widespread panic and negativity than in the aftermath of Louisville’s loss at Stanford.
However, I understand it.
Coming off a massive win at Clemson, Louisville football held a 14-point lead in Palo Alto with a chance to put the Cardinal away and continue moving up in the CFB Playoff rankings.
Then… Well, let’s just say the last 6-7 minutes and, especially the final two posessions of the game, were as maddening as it gets.
However, Louisville football has a chance to wash the stench off a bit with a victory over the Panthers.
This Pitt football team doesn’t do much of anything poorly. They are solid in the trenches, they are great on special teams, and have benefitted from quality play at the skill positions.
Louisville is also unlikely to benefit from a solid homefield advantage on Saturday. With colder temps rolling in, a holiday week ahead, and some of the fairer weather fans opting to stay home, I’d expect this to be just the old reliable 40-45k who show up and show out every game.
What that means for Louisville is the Cards are going to have to, once again, bring their own juice. Play for one another. Play with a sense of pride and resolve.
Last week was decided by some pretty bad decision-making and awful boneheaded penalties.
If Louisville can clean up the penalties, win the turnover battle, and play with the resolve that it showed at Clemson, this should be a victory.
However, that has been a lot to ask of the Cards throughout this season.
I am looking for individual playmakers to decide this game.
Ashton Gillotte, Ja’Corey Brooks, MJ Griffin, Quincy Riley, Thor Griffith, and a host of seniors will play their final home games today.
I’d love to see those boys show out one final time and seize momentum heading to Lexington.
Louisville 35, Pitt 27
Ja’Corey Brooks Anytime TD (-155)
Duke Watson first TD scorer (+425)
Gavin Bartholomew Anytime TD (+270)
