LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jacksonville State (0-1) at No. 22 Louisville (1-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET ACC Network
BetMGM College Football Odds: Louisville by 30 1/2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Newly-ranked Louisville seeks another dominant performance after drubbing FCS Austin Peay 62-0 in its opener. Jacksonville State looks to bounce back from a 55-27 loss to Coastal Carolina on Aug. 29 and beat its first ACC foe since upsetting Florida State in 2021.
KEY MATCHUP
Texas Tech transfer Tyler Shough debuted at quarterback for Louisville and completed 18 of 24 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against Austin Peay. Backups Harrison Bailey and Pierce Clarkson combined to complete 9 of 10 for 46 yards and all three teamed up to hit 15 receivers with at least one pass. Jacksonville State allowed Coastal Carolina to throw for 258 yards and three scores last week, including TD passes of 36 and 37 yards. The Gamecocks also failed to record a sack, adding to their challenge of slowing a Cardinals offense with depth at receiver and a seasoned QB.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jacksonville State defensive end J-Rock Swain has 140 career tackles in 45 games over five seasons. That includes three stops last week against Coastal Carolina. He has 72 solo tackles and 68 assists and last season earned honorable mention on the All-Conference USA team. Swain also earned selections on Atlantic Sun and Ohio Valley all-conference teams.
Louisville running back Isaac Brown rushed for a 77-yard TD and 123 overall on five carries, the best freshman debut in school history. He’s also the first Cardinals true freshman to rush for a score since Keyjuan Brown against Murray State early last season. Brohm praised the freshman saying you can't coach speed. The coach added, "I think you will continue to see him on the field and obviously as the season progresses and you know as we play more and more teams each week he's going to have to make plays and be a playmaker for us."
The Cardinals rushed for 293 yards against the Governors — 204 after halftime — and averaged 10.5 yards per carry.
FACTS & FIGURES
Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez was 2-1 against Louisville while coaching West Virginia. Coach Jeff Brohm said he knows Rodriguez well and knows the Cards will need to be prepared. Brohm said, "If the game's close and they are able to do what they want which is utilize the quarterback in the run game, then they are very dangerous. So it's important to try to find a way to get a lead and make them probably throw the ball more than they want."
Junior defensive back Pat Taylor, a Georgia transfer, debuted with 12 tackles against CCU.
Safety Zechariah Poyser recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass last week.
Louisville’s 571 yards of offense against APSU was its fifth highest for an opener.
DB Devin Neal and LB Dan Foster Jr. each blocked punts, the first time Louisville has done so since 2004 against Cincinnati.
HOW TO WATCH
The game is being broadcast on the ACC Network with Jorge Sedano and Charles Arbuckle calling the game. To find out which Spectrum channel the ACC Network is on in your area, you can go to our channel line up page.
The “Voice of the Cardinals,” Paul Rogers, will call the action on the radio. He’s joined by Craig Swabek and Jody Demling on 93.9 FM.
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