Cards Come Up Short Against NC State, 31-28

Saturday, October 3

Raleigh, NC

3:30 p.m.

University of Louisville

2-3 , 1-2

NC State

3-2 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Louisville	0	7	14	7	28
NC State	3	10	15	3	31

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

October 03, 2026 | Football

Box Score PDF Box Score Postgame Notes Jeff Brohm Postgame Press Conference Clev Lubin Postgame Press Conference Lincoln Kienholz Postgame Press Conference

By: Zach Zsido

RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville football team's comeback efforts fell short, 31-28, against NC State on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.

Lincoln Kienholz finished the contest with 21 completions on 30 attempts, throwing for 254 yards and adding a pair of touchdowns. Tre Richardson led the Cards through the air, hauling in eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, his most receiving yards in a game as a Cardinal.

Isaac Brown led Louisville on the ground with 125 yards on nine carries to average 13.9 yards per carry, including a 70-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Keyjuan Brown added 88 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries, averaging 11 yards per carry.

T.J. Capers led the Cards' defensive efforts, recording 12 total tackles while Kaleb Beasley added nine tackles and caught an interception for the Cards' lone takeaway of the game. Clev Lubin posted eight total tackles with three solo tackles and a sack.

Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm said:

"Yeah, well, every loss is disappointing. This one is definitely disappointing again. I do think we fought hard to come back to give ourselves a chance and today was a turnover fest with the ball on the ground too much. I know it's raining in the first half, it's wet and all that, but we've worked that all week. Turnovers were costly to us on offense. We weren't able to sustain drives, get the ball in the end zone, and we started slow. Our defense, it's not up to par for sure, way too many big plays and not aggressive enough in our approach. A lot of things to fix."

How It Happened

First Quarter
07:34 – NCS – Kanoah Vinesett knocks in a 46-yard field goal. 12 plays, 52 yards, 04:52. Louisville 0, NC State 3.

Second Quarter
14:20 – NCS – CJ Bailey connects with Keenan Jackson for a 19-yard touchdown. 14 plays, 79 yards, 06:10. Louisville 0, NC State 10.
05:51 – LOU – Lincoln Kienholz finds Lawayne McCoy for a 33-yard touchdown. 3 plays, 49 yards, 01:21. Louisville 7, NC State 10.
01:42 – NCS – Kanoah Vinesett kicks a 29-yard field goal. 9 plays, 63 yards, 04:09. Louisville 7, NC State 13.

Third Quarter
11:03 – NCS – Tyran Warren catches a 34-yard touchdown pass from CJ Bailey. 9 plays, 75 yards, 03:57. Louisville 7, NC State 20.
08:05 – LOU – Tre Richardson hauls in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln Kienholz. 6 plays, 80 yards, 02:51. Louisville 14, NC State 20.
03:50 – NCS – Will Wilson rushes up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. Two-point conversion successful. 5 plays, 41 yards, 02:11. Louisville 14, NC State 28.
00:20 – LOU – Keyjuan Brown punches it in for a 1-yard touchdown. 9 plays, 77 yards, 03:24. Louisville 21, NC State 28.

Fourth Quarter
12:27 – LOU – Isaac Brown breaks away for a 70-yard touchdown. 2 plays, 80 yards, 00:34. Louisville 28, NC State 28.
05:30 – NCS – Kanoah Vinesett knocks in a 28-yard field goal. 10 plays, 76 yards, 04:09. Louisville 28, NC State 31.

Up Next

The Cards return home to host Florida State at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.