Louisville Using Kentucky Loss as Motivation Ahead of ACC Championship vs. FSU
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2023 college football regular season might be in the rear view mirror, but for the Louisville football program, they still have one more game left on their schedule before they play in their bowl game.
This weekend, the No. 15 Cardinals (10-2, 7-1 ACC) will be traveling down to Charlotte, N.C., where a matchup with No. 4 Florida State (12-0, 8-0 ACC) in the ACC Championship Game awaits them. It's Louisville's first appearance in the ACC's title game since joining the conference in 2014, and their first appearance in the conference championship game, period, in program history.
"Without question, we're excited about this great opportunity to go down to Charlotte to play in the ACC Championship Game against a tremendous undefeated Florida State team that's been just really fantastic all year long," head coach Jeff Brohm said. "They've got a ton of talent, they're well coached, they've been able to win every game. Close games, blowouts, you name it, but they find a way to win."
While Louisville has a chance to make program history this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST at Bank of America Stadium, they're not heading into the matchup with as much momentum as they could be. In their regular season and home finale this past Saturday, the Cardinals were unable to capture a victory against their in-state rivals, falling 38-31 to Kentucky.
Not only did it snap a four-game win streak overall, it marked Louisville's fifth consecutive defeat in the annual Battle for the Governor's Cup. Considering the both them and the Wildcats were trending in complete opposite direction, and the Cardinals had a very real chance to get back on the winning side of the rivalry, the loss was a massive emotional letdown to the team.
But with as much of a gut punch as the loss was, Brohm wants the result to serve as a motivational tool for his players and coaches as they look to rebound and regroup ahead of their matchup with Florida State.
"Well, they're not happy," Brohm said. "I'm probably as unhappy as any of us. I think that's why it's no fun. It's healthy to be angry and unhappy for at least 24 hours. We still want to let that sink in us a little bit, and sting us, and really digest the plays we ran and what we could have done better, and how and why. That is the focus throughout the rest of today. We're going to go through every detail, and nook and cranny of it."
Being able to lock back in following the emotional loss to Kentucky will be of utmost importance for Louisville, because their challenge is not an easy one. Florida State is one of just four Power Five teams to go undefeated in the regular season, their scoring offense and defense both rank in the top-15, and they are very much in position to make a return to the College Football Playoff.
Even with Seminoles starting quarterback - and former Cardinal - Jordan Travis suffering a season ending injury, FSU has shown they can win without him. With Tate Rodemaker under center, they were able to pull out a road win against arch rival Florida, securing a 24-15 win in The Swamp. The 'Noles have a tremendous amount of talent on both sides of the football, which will make them that much more difficult to knock off.
But, Louisville is very aware of what it would mean for the program if they were able to pull off the upset. On top of that, Brohm believes that, in part because of the "one season mentality" he has instilled since he arrived, his players have operated with a chip on their shoulder all season long regardless of the circumstances surrounding the program.
Brohm says that the ACC Championship Game will be the latest, and biggest, opportunity for Louisville to "prove their value" to the college football world.
"Without question, it's a huge football game for us," he said. "We're now in the national spotlight against an undefeated opponent, that has a great chance of making the playoff.
"For us, we've got to prove our value. We've got to go out there and you'll make us a competitive game, give it our best shot, come ready to play, prove that we're a capable team, and do it for four quarters. Anything can happen if you come prepared, and you play your best for four quarters. That's what we want to try to do."
(Photo of Jack Plummer: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)
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