Cards Close ACC Campaign With Home Game Against Wake Forest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a pair of road wins, the University of Louisville football team carries a lot momentum into Saturday's ACC finale versus Wake Forest at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN2 with Jason Bennetti, Kelly Stouffer and Paul Carcatera calling the action. It's the first ACC Saturday night game in school history.

In running their record to 8-1 overall last weekend, the Cardinals remain in contention for a College Football Playoff berth with victories over Virginia and Boston College.

"We're looking forward to the game this week against Wake," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "They're playing very well. They've got a very, very good defense, a very active defensive front. They're rushing the passer well. They're one of the leading teams in sacks and they create some turnovers, so it's going to be important for us to take care of the ball."

The Cards, winners of eight in a row at home, are back at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for the first time since a 54-13 win over NC State on Oct. 22. It marked the third time in four games where the Cards scored 50 or more points at home this season.

"We love being at home," senior Tobijah Hughley said. "We look forward to being in front of our fans. They provide so much energy for our team. Our stadium is loud and is a tough play for opponents to play."

Since falling to the No. 2 Tigers, the Cards have excelled on both sides of the football, especially on defense, where the Cards are in the top 10 against the run and total defense.

Bringing the No. 8 defense into the last ACC game this weekend, the Cards have shut down the run, limiting the opposition to an average of 66.1 yards per game in the last four contest – holding Boston College to just 57 yards last Saturday.

"We did a good job at the line of scrimmage," Petrino said. "We totally dominated the line of scrimmage. We were very sound with our gap control. Some of the plays that they utilize, where they handed the ball to the motion guy, the jet motion guy, our guys were really tuned into. They turned into a lot of negative plays for them so that helped us a lot."

Wake Forest is coming off a 27-20 win over Virginia last week to improve to a 6-3 record to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2011. Flanked by an aggressive defense, the Demon Deacons are allowing just 369.7 yards of total offense and 18.4 points per game.

"Yeah, they have a really good defense," Petrino said. "Their defensive front will be as active as anybody we have played this year. What I mean is that they really rush the passer, they play great technique on the run, their linebackers are fast and sprint to the football, and they have a very experienced secondary. Like I said you put the video on from this year, watching them from last year's game, and with the exception of the one player they are the exact same team."

With three games remaining, the Cards have a lot to play for, but they know they have to take it one game at a time to secure an 11-win season for the sixth time in school history, and remain in contention for one of the four playoff spots.

It will start this weekend when the Cards conclude their third season in the ACC against Wake Forest – one of the most improved teams in the country.

"Yeah, all I told them was we can only control how we play, how we go out and perform, and how we win games," Petrino said. "That is the only thing we can control. I thought our guys did a great job with preparation. I really thought our assistant coaches did a great job getting them ready to practice, and I think that is the key. It's how you practice and how you prepare."

Cards Close ACC Campaign With Home Game Against Wake Forest

Players Mentioned

Tobijah Hughley

Stacy Thomas

University of Louisville Athletics