Louisville got knocked down Friday night. And for a while, it looked like Florida State might keep them there.
But the Cardinals climbed off the mat and started throwing haymakers.
Momentum is an amazing thing in college football, and it’s hard to imagine a bigger swing than what we witnessed Friday night.
Florida State was up 14, with first-and-goal and an opportunity to put Louisville in a hole that felt almost impossible to escape. At that point, we needed something close to a miracle.
And somehow, we got one.
What followed was a completely different football game.
The Good
The offensive line deserves a ton of credit. Florida State entered the game allowing just 3.45 yards per carry. Louisville averaged an incredible 9.2. That’s not just a good night running the football. That’s domination up front.
Credit to both Brohm brothers. Jeff deserves recognition for being willing to hand over the offensive play-calling reins, and Brian deserves just as much for being ready to take them. Sticking with the running game after that first quarter was a bold strategy, but one that paid off in a big way.
And who would’ve thought Louisville could win a game like this with Lincoln Kienholz throwing just 15 passes?
One of my favorite play calls was the toss on third-and-long. That’s a situation where most teams are content to play it safe, but Louisville trusted its blocking and its playmakers. Loved the call (because it worked).
A play that won’t get nearly enough attention: Lincoln avoiding a sack backed up near our own goal line in the third quarter. It goes down as an incompletion, but taking a sack there could have completely changed the game. Sometimes the most important plays are the ones that don’t show up in the box score.
The defense finding its swagger was incredibly encouraging. After a rough start, the unit settled in and started playing with confidence. We’ve seen glimpses of what this defense is capable of, and Friday was another reminder of this team’s potential when things start clicking.
Marquise Davis is a dude. I really hope he’s still wearing a Louisville uniform next year. He’s a load to bring down, runs hard, and brings a physicality that I love watching.
And the fans deserve some credit. When the team gave them a reason to get loud, they showed up and showed out. The atmosphere completely changed as Louisville started gaining momentum.
The Bad
That long field goal attempt still feels like a terrible decision. I didn’t like it in the moment, and the outcome of the game hasn’t changed my mind.
I’m also not crazy about giving Isaac Brown the ball in that third-and-short situation. He’s obviously electric with the ball in his hands, but that doesn’t automatically make him the right option in every short-yardage situation.
The nearly uncovered Florida State receiver at the goal line was atrocious. Thankfully, Louisville recognized it and corrected the alignment in time, but how does that happen in such a critical situation?
Florida State also helped us out. That huge third-down drop was a gift and helped keep Louisville’s momentum alive. It’s worth acknowledging that not every positive swing was entirely of our own making.
Tre Richardson needs the football more. I still believe he should get at least five opportunities per game. He’s too dynamic to go stretches without touching the ball. Even when the running game is rolling, there have to be ways to get him involved.
And that almost-oversnap to the punter? Absolutely terrifying for about half a second. Thankfully, it was just a scare.
One More Thing: The ACC Replay Situation
How in the world was that left-toe video seemingly the ONLY angle we had to work with?
Of all the cameras at a major college football game, that was the best we could get?
Hearing the ineptitude of the ACC officials discussing the call was like watching a group presentation when nobody read the book.
Final Thoughts
What stood out to me most was Louisville’s response.
This team looked like it was in serious trouble early. Instead of folding, the defense found its footing, the offensive line took over, and the coaching staff committed to what was working.
There’s still plenty to clean up, but the ability to respond when things aren’t going your way says something about a team.
Louisville got knocked down Friday night.
But it sure didn’t stay down.