Louisville 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Louisville Cardinals 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Louisville Cardinals roster and what to expect in the ACC this season. Can Jeff Brohm finally break through after three straight nine-win seasons and a 9-4 finish in 2025? Is Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz the mobile quarterback upgrade that unlocks an offense that ranked just 71st in total yards? And can a top-16 total defense keep the Cards in the ACC race even under new coordinators?
Will Isaac Brown build on his breakout and carry the ground game again? Can TreyShun Hurry and tight end Jaleel Skinner give Kienholz enough to throw to? What does a gameday at L&N Stadium look like with the Card March rolling and the Cardinal faithful packing the house? Which tough ACC spots, from the road trip to NC State to swings through Georgia Tech and North Carolina, could trip Louisville up? Does the Governor’s Cup finale at Kentucky decide the whole season? And where’s the betting value on the Louisville Cardinals win total, ACC odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Jeff Brohm Keeps The Cardinals Flying
Jeff Brohm is 28-12 at his alma mater. Because of that, his hot seat sits at a cool 1 out of 10. He reached the ACC title game in year one. Then he followed it with back-to-back nine-win seasons, including a 9-4 mark in 2025. However, the Cards were a heartbreak team last fall. In fact, they went just 3-3 in games decided by seven points or less, with overtime losses to Virginia and Cal plus a one-point Clemson defeat. So the margin between good and great is razor thin.
Lincoln Kienholz Takes Over At Quarterback
The biggest change comes under center. Lincoln Kienholz arrives as a redshirt junior transfer from Ohio State, where he was the 15th-ranked quarterback in the 2023 class. Unlike Miller Moss last year, Kienholz brings real mobility and a track background. Therefore the offense could finally add a dual-threat wrinkle. Still, it is a projection, because he has barely played. Meanwhile OC Brian Brohm, the head coach’s brother and a former Louisville quarterback, calls the plays for a unit that ranked 47th in scoring and 71st in total offense.
A Retooled Offense And A Loaded Portal Class
Louisville returns about 52 percent of its offensive production. Running back Isaac Brown headlines that group as one of the best backs in the country. In addition, receiver TreyShun Hurry, tight end Jaleel Skinner and lineman Lance Robinson come back. Then the portal did the rest. The Cards brought in 55 total commits, 34 of them transfers, including receiver Tre Richardson, tight end Brody Foley and center Evan Wibberley. As a result, the offense has the pieces to climb out of the bottom third nationally.
The Defense Reloads Under New Coordinators
The defense was the real strength in 2025. It finished 16th in total defense, 23rd against the run and 24th against the pass. However, there is turnover on staff. Coordinator Ron English is taking a leave of absence, so Steve Ellis and Mark Ivey run the unit as co-coordinators. Linebacker Clev Lubin anchors a returning core that also features T.J. Capers plus defensive backs Tayon Holloway and Antonio Watts. Meanwhile the portal restocked the back end with safeties Koen Entringer from Iowa and TJ Banks from Ole Miss.
The Schedule And The Betting Value
The path is winnable. First, Louisville opens against Ole Miss in Nashville, which projects as its biggest underdog spot of the year. Then the ACC slate brings home dates with SMU, Florida State and Pitt plus road tests at NC State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Finally, the season closes at Kentucky for the Governor’s Cup. As for the number, the win total sits at 8.5, with Louisville priced at plus-800 to win the ACC and plus-450 to make the College Football Playoff. So the ACC ticket is the value the guys like best.
College Football Previews
SEC
Arkansas Razorbacks
Auburn Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Missouri Tigers
Oklahoma Sooners
South Carolina Gamecocks
Tennessee Volunteers
Big Ten
Illinois Fighting Illini
Iowa Hawkeyes
Michigan State Spartans
Northwestern Wildcats
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Big 12
Baylor Bears
Iowa State Cyclones
Kansas State Wildcats
Oklahoma State Cowboys
TCU Horned Frogs
Texas Tech Red Raiders
UCF Knights
West Virginia Mountaineers
ACC
Boston College Eagles
Clemson Tigers
Miami Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Panthers
Syracuse Orangemen
Virginia Cavaliers
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Pac-12
Boise State Broncos
Fresno State Bulldogs
San Diego State Aztecs
Washington State Cougars
American
Army Black Knights
Navy Midshipmen
Temple Owls
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Mountain West
Air Force Falcons
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
New Mexico Lobos
San Jose State Spartans
Sun Belt
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia State Panthers
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
Marshall Thundering Herd
South Alabama Jaguars
MAC
Bowling Green Falcons
Buffalo Bulls
Miami OH Redhawks
Ohio Bobcats
Toledo Rockets
Umass Minutemen
Western Michigan Broncos
Conference USA
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Liberty Flames
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Independents
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UConn Huskies
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
01:12 Welcome To The Ville & Road To 138
05:53 Jeff Brohm’s Model Of Consistency
08:24 Brohm’s Record Against The League
11:18 Brohm Vs The ACC & Expansion Teams
16:44 The Offense, Brian Brohm & Kienholz
19:07 Offensive Transfer Portal Haul
25:39 The Defense & Co-DCs Ellis And Ivy
27:11 Defensive Returners & Portal Adds
31:57 L&N Stadium Gameday
36:07 Program Rating: An Eight
38:11 Schedule: Ole Miss In Nashville
43:31 Stanford, Georgia Tech & UNC Road Trip
47:34 Win Total & ACC Betting Value
50:18 Who Should Be On The Schedule
