Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Louisville Looks to Recapture Winning Ways Versus SMU on Saturday
October 04, 2024 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville looks to snap its losing streak at one game but faces a stern test when SMUÂ visits L&N Stadium on Saturdy for a noon kickoff on ESPN.
The Cardinals are looking to snap back after giving away a 31-24 decision at Notre Dame last Saturday. UofLÂ turned the football over five times and were stopped on fourth down four occasions in the loss to the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium.
"We're always concerned that we need to get better," head coach Jeff Brohm said. "When you face good football teams you aren't going to win every play. There's definitely some things that we've done better - we handled the crowd noise better until the end of the game when it got loud and messed some things up for us. We've had some penalties, but we've been pretty good at keeping the penalties down and we have to try to continue to have as few as we possibly can. There are all kinds of things to clean up, but you're going to have that when you're facing really good football teams every week. We just have to find a way to be sharper with the turnover battle, try to limit big plays, execute in critical time situations, have a good plan for that, and be better. It's a lot of small things that add up when you're facing good teams that you can't have."
The Cards are set for their fourth home games in five contests, and are looking for their first win against the Mustangs. SMU has outscored the opposition 108-58 over the last two games, winning itd first ever ACC game last week 42-16 over Florida State at home.
"We have a really good opponent coming in," Brohm said. "SMU's been playing as good as anyone in the country. They have a really good offense and have settled on a really good quarterback who can run and throw. They have speed at the skill positions and scored a lot of points lately. Their defense plays aggressively, leading the nation in turnovers. We'll have our hands full. We'll have to play really good football and be prepared to come out and execute better, but that's why you play the game. It'll be a good test for us. I'm looking forward to having a good week in practice and putting it all together and having a good plan of going out there and trying to execute."
Louisville, who has been careful with the football until last week, must be extra careful this week as SMU is one of the best at creating turnovers. SMU leads the nation in turnovers and is one of the best ar creating turnovers.
"I think they're very sound on first and second down; they don't give up a lot of big plays throughout that.," Brohm said.On third down, they get very exotic, and they come after the quarterback. They affect the quarterback, so they made him get turnovers in those situations. They do some things that other teams aren't as aggressive doing, so I give them credit. They're well coached. Right now, they're believing in what they're doing. When your offense is having success, it gives you the flexibility to play more aggressive, which they have done and it's definitely showing on video."
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The Mustangs already beat rival TCU to reclaim the Iron Skillet. They also downed last year's conference champion in their first-ever ACC game. Now they hit the road in the ACC for the first time.
"Excited for another game week," SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We get a chance to go on our first true road game in the ACC, second road game of the year. It's a great environment there and it's a Top 25 team."
The Cards and Mustangs both need big wins this week to stay in contention for an appearance in the ACC title game.
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The Cardinals are looking to snap back after giving away a 31-24 decision at Notre Dame last Saturday. UofLÂ turned the football over five times and were stopped on fourth down four occasions in the loss to the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium.
"We're always concerned that we need to get better," head coach Jeff Brohm said. "When you face good football teams you aren't going to win every play. There's definitely some things that we've done better - we handled the crowd noise better until the end of the game when it got loud and messed some things up for us. We've had some penalties, but we've been pretty good at keeping the penalties down and we have to try to continue to have as few as we possibly can. There are all kinds of things to clean up, but you're going to have that when you're facing really good football teams every week. We just have to find a way to be sharper with the turnover battle, try to limit big plays, execute in critical time situations, have a good plan for that, and be better. It's a lot of small things that add up when you're facing good teams that you can't have."
The Cards are set for their fourth home games in five contests, and are looking for their first win against the Mustangs. SMU has outscored the opposition 108-58 over the last two games, winning itd first ever ACC game last week 42-16 over Florida State at home.
"We have a really good opponent coming in," Brohm said. "SMU's been playing as good as anyone in the country. They have a really good offense and have settled on a really good quarterback who can run and throw. They have speed at the skill positions and scored a lot of points lately. Their defense plays aggressively, leading the nation in turnovers. We'll have our hands full. We'll have to play really good football and be prepared to come out and execute better, but that's why you play the game. It'll be a good test for us. I'm looking forward to having a good week in practice and putting it all together and having a good plan of going out there and trying to execute."
Louisville, who has been careful with the football until last week, must be extra careful this week as SMU is one of the best at creating turnovers. SMU leads the nation in turnovers and is one of the best ar creating turnovers.
"I think they're very sound on first and second down; they don't give up a lot of big plays throughout that.," Brohm said.On third down, they get very exotic, and they come after the quarterback. They affect the quarterback, so they made him get turnovers in those situations. They do some things that other teams aren't as aggressive doing, so I give them credit. They're well coached. Right now, they're believing in what they're doing. When your offense is having success, it gives you the flexibility to play more aggressive, which they have done and it's definitely showing on video."
Â
The Mustangs already beat rival TCU to reclaim the Iron Skillet. They also downed last year's conference champion in their first-ever ACC game. Now they hit the road in the ACC for the first time.
"Excited for another game week," SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We get a chance to go on our first true road game in the ACC, second road game of the year. It's a great environment there and it's a Top 25 team."
The Cards and Mustangs both need big wins this week to stay in contention for an appearance in the ACC title game.
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