By the Numbers: Louisville vs. Virginia

After a 45-10 loss to Clemson last week, Louisville football hosts Virginia at Cardinal Stadium Oct. 26. Virginia (5-2) comes to Louisville with the eighth-ranked defense nationally.

“They’re very competitive, their kids play extremely hard,” Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said. “Defensively, one of the best defenses in the country.”

Virginia averages four sacks per game, which is tied for fourth nationally. Clemson sacked Louisville six times last week. With a 3-4 defense, the Cavalier linebackers have 19.5 sacks this season.

Satterfield wants Louisville’s offense to stay in manageable situations, so avoiding sacks is necessary if the Cardinals want to keep their offense on the field. Opponents have converted 20.3 percent when facing third-and-5 or longer against the Cavalier defense.

“You have to stay on the sticks,” Satterfield said.

751

Javian Hawkins has rushed for 751 yards in Louisville’s first seven games, ranking 13 nationally and the second-best total for freshmen running backs. He was included on the FWAA Freshman All-American Midseason Watch List Oct. 23.

Hawkins, who has four games with 100 or more yards rushing, is one pace to become the third freshman in program history to surpass 1,000 yards on the ground. Hawkins had a season-high 172 yards against Boston College while snapping Clemson’s 27-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard runner with 129 yards last week.

4.85

Virginia’s defense is forcing 4.85 three-and-outs per game and 41 percent of their opponents’ drives have ended in a three-and-out. The Cavaliers can get off the field on third down, ranking ninth nationally in third down defense as opponents are converting just 29.6 percent.

Malik Cunningham and Evan Conley combined to complete just eight passes against Clemson last week. The Cardinals will continue to run a two-quarterback system until one player can separate himself from the other.

Cunningham has started five consecutive games, but the sophomore has rotated possessions with Conley in the past three games. Satterfield decides when the quarterbacks alternate series.

“It’s kind of a feeling thing,” Sattterfield said. “They’ve both played well.”

39.4

Joe Reed is averaging 39.4 yards per kick return this season for the Cavaliers. Reed is the only player in FBS history to have over 2,700 kick return yards and have a career average of 28 yards or more. The senior ranks second nationally in kick return average this season.

“There is something about his speed and power,” Satterfield said. “His speed, power, vision, all those things, he has a great knack for it (returning kicks).”

3:30

The Cardinals and Cavaliers kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. The game is televised on ACC Network.