Louisville Cardinals stats, records, schedule, and standings

Cardinals

Louisville Cardinals

NCAAF – ACC

Louisville Cardinals

2022-2023 TEAM LEADERS

Louisville Cardinals Football Team

Louisville Football Team News

In head coach Scott Satterfield’s second year with the Cardinals the team appeared to take a step back, but their 4 – 7 record wasn’t really indicative of the talent of the team but more due to their -12 turnover ratio which was 119th in the FBS. The challenge for 2021, before which Satterfield also took over the offensive coordinator duties, will be to replace top performers at every offensive skill position except for quarterback and to deal with the loss of seven starters on the defensive side of the ball.

The defense will face an early test as they open the season against the high-powered offense of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

Louisville Cardinals Standings

The Louisville Cardinals have a strong record this season, with an impressive record of wins and losses. Their stats show that they have a talented roster that consistently performs well on the field. Currently, they stand at the top of their conference, reflecting their hard work and dedication to the sport. Their position in the standings proves that they are a top contender in the NCAAF.

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2020 Summary

The Cardinals went 8-5 in 2019 and it appeared the team was headed in the right direction following Satterfield’s initial season after a successful run at Appalachian State. After a win over Western Kentucky, they dropped their first four conference games before putting all together in a 48-16 victory against Florida State.

They went on to eventually win two of their final three games to finish 3 – 7 in the conference and 4 – 7 overall, but those ACC victories came against teams with a combined league record of 6 – 19. The Cardinals were ranked fifth in total offense but only ninth in scoring in the ACC, while leading the conference in pass defense.

Key Players

Quarterback Malik Cunningham is a very talented dual threat as he threw for 2,617 yards and 20 touchdowns and used his feet to gain another 609 yards for seven more scores. He needs to cut down on the 12 interceptions he tossed and three lost fumbles in 2020 if Louisville is going to climb back up the ACC Atlantic standings.

Linebacker Monty Montgomery led the team with four sacks in ten games and added 7.5 tackles for loss and an interception. With losses at the back end of the defense, the Cardinals will need Montgomery’s contribution if they want to lead the league in pass defense again in 2021.

Montgomery’s partner on the inside of the defense is CJ Avery, the leading tackler on the team from his linebacker spot. He also had five tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception.

Key Additions

The Cardinals lost a lot of experience at the back end of the defense, so they will welcome Georgia Southern transfer Kendrick Duncan at free safety. The junior had two interceptions for the Eagles in each of the past two seasons and contributed 3.5 tackles for loss in 2019.

The offensive line needs some depth and Virginia Tech transfer Bryan Hudson will add a reliable backup option at the guard position.

Benjamin Perry, a top recruit from Chicago will battle for a starting spot at safety to help fill one of the holes in the secondary. He could be one of a pair of freshmen in the defensive backfield, joining Lovie Jenkins at the other safety spot.

Key Subtractions

Leading rusher Javian Hawkins ran for 822 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards a carry in just eight games in 2020. He was a big reason the team averaged 200 yards a game on the ground, which was 29th in the nation.

The top two receivers in 2020 combined for 89 catches, 1,458 yards, and 10 touchdowns, with the departure of Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick leaving a big void at the skill positions. The pair will be difficult to replace, especially Fitzpatrick’s 19.4 yards per reception.

Division Outlook

The ACC abandoned the division structure for one season to accommodate the inclusion of Notre Dame, but the conference returns to their traditional model for 2021. Clemson won the ACC Atlantic and the league titles from 2015 to 2019 and added a sixth conference championship in a row in 2020.

There is little question that the Tigers are again an overwhelming favorite with the other six teams most likely playing for second place in the division. As difficult as it is to believe, Clemson might actually be more dangerous at the quarterback position despite losing three-year starter Trevor Lawrence to the NFL.

Even though they had trouble defeating winning teams in 2020, N.C. State appears to be the squad most likely to end up in the runner-up position, but they’ll be challenged by almost everyone else in the division, most notably Boston College and Florida State. Wake Forest surprised a lot of people in 2020 and could again play more of a role in the ACC Atlantic standings.

Louisville Offense

Big changes could be in store with Satterfield taking over the reins after an inconsistent season with the turnover-prone Cunningham. He’ll need to find some reliable targets for Cunningham on the outside as well as a running back that can fill the shoes of Javian Hawkins.

The offensive line is experienced and it gained some depth in the offseason, but everyone will have to pitch in and take a step up if Louisville is going to show that 2020 was a brief setback in Satterfield’s rebuilding process. They will need to solve the turnover problem so whatever production they have can be turned into points.

Louisville Defense

If the secondary can live up to its potential, it’s possible that the defense can keep Louisville in a lot of games while the offense incorporates new players at key positions. The linebackers are the strength of the unit and can wreak havoc on opposing passing games, but they need to play better against the run.

The front line returns talent and any improvement in the rushing game gives the Cardinals’ defense a chance to make the difference between a decent season and a special one. That opening game against Ole Miss will be an immediate indication of what they’ll see for the rest of their schedule.

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