LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's grind-it-out pattern has yielded mixed outcomes the past two games, a habit coach Jeff Brohm clearly wants to break ahead of the season’s toughest stretch.
The No. 22 Cardinals must pick up their pace against a high-scoring SMU squad that has gained attention with consecutive lopsided victories as an ACC rookie.
The visiting Mustangs (4-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference ) enter Saturday’s showdown having outscored TCU and preseason conference favorite Florida State by a 108-58 combined margin. Louisville (3-1, 1-0) was its own worst enemy in last week’s 31-24 loss at Notre Dame, committing three first-half turnovers leading to 17 points. The Cardinals clawed back with a chance to at least tie the game in the final minute but turned the ball over on downs after a costly delay of game penalty.
Louisville has to get out of its own way quickly or end up left behind in the conference race with ACC newcomer SMU leading off a six-game gauntlet featuring No. 8 Miami (5-0, 1-0) and contests at No. 15 and first-place Clemson (3-1, 2-0) and Stanford, another first-year member along with Cal.
“We just have to find a way to be sharper with the turnover battle, try to limit big plays, execute in critical time situations, have a good plan for that and be better,” Brohm said. “It’s a lot of small things that add up when you’re facing good teams that you can’t have.”
Louisville has upsides to build on, such as a 17th-ranked defense (271.5 yards per game) that helped the Cardinals stay close by limiting Notre Dame to 130 yards and a touchdown after halftime. They also outgained the Fighting Irish 395-280 but were done in by their first turnovers this season, six penalties for 50 yards and three sacks allowed.
SMU’s ACC debut was a smashing success as it blew out preseason league favorite Florida State 42-16 in Dallas. Quarterback Kevin Jennings did much of the damage with career bests of 254 yards passing and three touchdowns in his second consecutive start.
That rout followed a 66-42 defeat of rival TCU, a game in which the Mustangs scored three non-offensive TDs. SMU comes in ranked 13th in FBS scoring at 44 points per game, a clip that coach Rhett Lashlee hopes his team can sustain over a three-game road stretch that includes Stanford and Duke after a bye.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” added Lashlee, whose team has won six straight road games. “Louisville does have one of the better road environments in our conference and obviously they’re a Top 25 team. We’ve got to be able to handle that, do what we’ve done the last two weeks, not play emotional, be intense, be passionate and be focused. We’re excited for the challenge.”
Streak ends, but still solid
Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough finally threw an interception at Notre Dame after 86 attempts and fumbled the ball after a 42-yard gain, which led to a score. The Texas Tech transfer still broke the school record for most passes without a pick to start a career and has thrown for multiple scores in all four games. Shough ranks fifth among ACC passers with 278.5 yards per contest and is sixth with 11 TDs.
Brashard the bruiser
SMU running back Brashard Smith has rushed for 509 yards (third in the ACC) and seven TDs on 70 carries and ranks top-15 in several FBS categories. The Miami senior transfer's eight total TDs rank seventh with his 7.3-yard average per carry and 151.2 all-purpose yards per contest each ranking ninth.
Opportunistic defenses
SMU is tied for ninth nationally in turnover margin at plus-7 after intercepting three passes last week and is plus-7 in turnover margin. Linebacker Kobe Wilson returned an interception 82 yards for a game-sealing TD against FSU to tie a school record. Louisville is among nine teams tied for 31st at plus-3 after committing its first three turnovers of the season at Notre Dame.
Immediate impact
Defensive lineman Tramel Logan hasn't slowed down since joining Louisville at the start of fall camp. The USF transfer leads the Cardinals with five tackles for loss and three sacks, totals that rank in the top 11 in the ACC. That includes two stops for loss against the Irish.
Polling data
The Cardinals dropped seven spots in the AP Top 25 poll with last week's loss and stand in the same position they entered five weeks ago. The Mustangs are receiving votes in the poll.