Football Countdown to Kickoff
October 04, 2017 | Football
The Cardinals and Wolfpack play on ESPN at 8 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No. 17 Louisville football returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play this week, when it takes on No. 24 NC State on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
The teams have met each year since Louisville joined the conference in 2014, with the Cardinals posting a 54-13 decision last year in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Louisville holds a 6-1 all-time series advantage, including a 2-0 mark in road games.
ESPN (Dave Flemming, Matt Hasselbeck, Tim Hasselbeck, and Laura Rutledge) is broadcasting the game nationally, while Louisville Sports Properties radio coverage on WHAS 840 AM begins at 6:30 p.m., featuring Paul Rogers, Alex Kupper, and Jody Demling.
Now that you have the details, it's time to start the Countdown to Kickoff:
10 – Louisville, which is averaging 364.0 yards through the air, ranks TENTH nationally in passing offense.
9 – When Louisville takes the field against No. 24 NC State, it will be the Cardinals' NINTH Associated Press ranked opponent in an ESPN Thursday night contest.
8 – Blanton Creque, who connected on a pair of field goals in the victory in over Murray State, moved into sole possession of EIGHTH on the school's career list with 23.
7 – Quarterback Lamar Jackson needs 13 yards shy to become the SEVENTH player in ACC history to reach 10,000 career yards of total offense.
6 – Wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick ranks SIXTH nationally with six touchdown receptions through five games, the most among all freshmen in the country.
5 – Jonathan Greenard tallied a pair of tackles for loss against Murray State, extending his streak with at least one to FIVE-consecutive games. He leads the team with 9.5 on the year.
4 – Freshman wide receiver Corey Reed, who did not have a catch in the first four games of the season, made FOUR catches for 94 yards against Murray State.
3 – Head coach Bobby Petrino is an impressive 19-7 in October, while the Cardinals to THREE-consecutive victories in the month.
2 – Quarterback Lamar Jackson is 32 rushing yards shy of becoming the SECOND player in school history to rush for 3,000 yards.
1 – Louisville is FIRST in the nation with 116 plays from scrimmage that went at least 10 yards. The Cardinals, the only ACC team in the top 10, also rank first in plays that went at least 20 yards from scrimmage with 33.
Enjoy the game and return to GoCards.com afterward for complete postgame coverage.
