Countdown to Kickoff
September 01, 2017 | Football
The Cardinals and Boilermakers kick off on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville football starts the 99th season in program history in primetime on Saturday, when it squares off against Purdue in an ACC-Big Ten matchup in Lucas Oil Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
It's been 30 years since the teams last played – the only meeting – and the Cardinals and Boilermakers finished in a 22-22 tie on Sept. 19, 1987, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.
This marks the Cardinals' first season opener against a Big Ten team in 25 years, when Louisville dropped a 20-19 decision at Ohio State. Louisville quarterback – currently Purdue first-year coach – Jeff Brohm went 22 for 30 with 230 yards and one touchdown. Ralph Dawkins led the Cardinals' ground game, with 125 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
FOX (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman, and Holly Sonders) will televise the game nationally, while Louisville Sports Properties radio coverage begins at 6 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 – Head coach Bobby Petrino is TENTH on the NCAA's list of active coaches by career winning percentage, with a minimum of five years as an FBS coach. Petrino is 109-43 in 12 collegiate seasons for a 71.7 percent clip.
9 – Louisville's defense returns NINE starters from last year's team that ranked 14th nationally in total defense, 15th in first downs allowed, and 22nd in interceptions made.
8 – Louisville is starting the season at No. 16 in the Associated Press poll, the school's EIGHTH appearance in the preseason poll.
7 – In a team vote in early August, SEVEN players were selected as team captains for the 2017 campaign: Lamar Jackson, Reggie Bonnafon, Geron Christian, Jaire Alexander, Chucky Williams, Devante Peete, and Mason King.
6 – Lamar Jackson has 32 touchdowns in his career and ranks SIXTH in school history. He needs two more to move into the third on the school's career list.
5 – The Cardinals are coming off their FIFTH season under coach Bobby Petrino of finishing in the top 10 in total offense. Louisville averaged 532.7 yards last season, good enough for third in the country, and 42.5 points for sixth.
4 – Louisville wasted little time on offense last year, scoring 17 or more points in the first quarter on FOUR occasions. The Cardinals put up 28 points against Charlotte in the 2016 season opener.
3 – Under the direction of head coach Bobby Petrino, Louisville has scored at least 40 points THREE times in a season opener. The Cardinals are 6-1 and averaging 40.4 points in lidlifters under Petrino.
2 – It is the SECOND time in Purdue's program history facing a Heisman Trophy winner. The Boilermakers took on Archie Griffin and No. 1 Ohio State in 1975, and the Buckeyes won 35-6.
1 – Lamar Jackson, the school's first Heisman Trophy winner, ranked FIRST in the country in 2016 with 65 rushes of at least 10 yards.
Enjoy the game and return to GoCards.com afterward for complete postgame coverage.
