For their first game in October, the Wahoos travel to Louisville for their second straight road game. The Cardinals are going into their third season under coach Scott Satterfield. Big things were expected in 2020 after a nice eight-win start to his tenure in 2019, but turnovers derailed a promising season. Still, despite winning only four games, Louisville was close on a number of other occasions, losing four games by a touchdown or less, including a 12-7 setback against No. 10 Notre Dame.
Series record: Louisville leads, 5-4
Last meeting: Nov. 14, 2020; UVa won, 31-17 Streak: One for UVa
Last year's record: 4-7, 3-7 ACC
Best win: vs. Wake Forest, 45-21
Best win: vs. Wake Forest, 45-21
Worst loss: at Georgia Tech, 46-27
Coach: Scott Satterfield (third year, 12-12, 63-36 career)
Starters returning: 15 (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist)
Offensive player to watch: QB Malik Cunningham. This year, Cunningham is a redshirt junior. In 2020, Cunningham completed 64.1% of his passes for 2,617 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 609 yards and seven scores. He lost three fumbles. In 2019, he had only five picks and three fumbles. Getting his INTs back under control will do a lot to help Louisville rebound from a subpar 2020 campaign.
Defensive player to watch: LB Monty Montgomery. In 2020, Montgomery recorded 46 tackles, 7.5 for losses, four sacks (led team), one QB hurry, one pick, and one breakup. He's a redshirt junior this season.
Special teams player to watch: K James Turner. Turner, still listed as a sophomore despite going into his third year in the program, made 13 of his 15 field goal attempts last season and was named honorable mention all-ACC.
Fun fact: Louisville has outgained its opponent in six of its past nine losses. In their last three losses, the Cardinals averaged 506.3 yards per game on offense.
Season prediction: Louisville was picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Early game thoughts: A sixth-place prediction feels a little low for this program. Satterfield was ACC coach of the year in 2019 after quickly turning Louisville around, improving its record to 8-5 after the Cardinals finished 2-10 in 2018. A bounce-back campaign this year seems likely. Basically, the Cardinals' offense was in the upper half to upper third of the ACC, but turnovers killed it. Louisville had 24 turnovers and at least two in eight of its 11 contests. As long as Cunningham can get that part of his game under control, Louisville should be back on track. If Virginia doesn't win in Miami, this could feel like a game Virginia can use to right the ship, given how the 'Hoos handled the Cards in 2020, but I don't think it'll be that easy this time around. Cunningham has steadily improved each season, and the defense has made strides, too. I think last year will end up proving to be more of a blip for Satterfield and the Cardinals. It would be excellent for the 'Hoos to steal this win on the road, but that's not something I'm going to necessarily expect.
Special teams player to watch: K James Turner. Turner, still listed as a sophomore despite going into his third year in the program, made 13 of his 15 field goal attempts last season and was named honorable mention all-ACC.
Fun fact: Louisville has outgained its opponent in six of its past nine losses. In their last three losses, the Cardinals averaged 506.3 yards per game on offense.
Season prediction: Louisville was picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Early game thoughts: A sixth-place prediction feels a little low for this program. Satterfield was ACC coach of the year in 2019 after quickly turning Louisville around, improving its record to 8-5 after the Cardinals finished 2-10 in 2018. A bounce-back campaign this year seems likely. Basically, the Cardinals' offense was in the upper half to upper third of the ACC, but turnovers killed it. Louisville had 24 turnovers and at least two in eight of its 11 contests. As long as Cunningham can get that part of his game under control, Louisville should be back on track. If Virginia doesn't win in Miami, this could feel like a game Virginia can use to right the ship, given how the 'Hoos handled the Cards in 2020, but I don't think it'll be that easy this time around. Cunningham has steadily improved each season, and the defense has made strides, too. I think last year will end up proving to be more of a blip for Satterfield and the Cardinals. It would be excellent for the 'Hoos to steal this win on the road, but that's not something I'm going to necessarily expect.
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