Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Picked Third in ACC Preseason Poll
July 28, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football program was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference this fall as the league released the preseason poll on Tuesday.
Louisville received four first-place votes and 2,569 overall points in the preseason poll voted on by members of the media.
Miami (165 first-place votes) will enter the 2026 season as the favorite in the ACC. SMU is second, ahead of the Cardinals, Clemson and Georgia Tech.
The third-place predicted finish is the highest the Cards have been in the preseason poll since the 2017 season when they were also picked third behind reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
Louisville opens the 2026 season on Sunday, Sept. 6 against Ole Miss in Nashville, Tenn. The Cardinals will begin ACC play two weeks later at home against SMU in a battle of teams picked to finish in the top three.
2026 ACC Football Predicted Order of Finish (Media Vote)
First-place votes in parentheses
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Louisville received four first-place votes and 2,569 overall points in the preseason poll voted on by members of the media.
Miami (165 first-place votes) will enter the 2026 season as the favorite in the ACC. SMU is second, ahead of the Cardinals, Clemson and Georgia Tech.
The third-place predicted finish is the highest the Cards have been in the preseason poll since the 2017 season when they were also picked third behind reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
Louisville opens the 2026 season on Sunday, Sept. 6 against Ole Miss in Nashville, Tenn. The Cardinals will begin ACC play two weeks later at home against SMU in a battle of teams picked to finish in the top three.
2026 ACC Football Predicted Order of Finish (Media Vote)
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1. | Miami (165) | 3159 |
| 2. | SMU (6) | 2794 |
| 3. | Louisville (4) | 2569 |
| 4. | Clemson (7) | 2520 |
| 5. | Georgia Tech (2) | 2006 |
| 6. | Virginia | 1981 |
| 7. | NC State | 1964 |
| 8. | Virginia Tech | 1962 |
| 9. | Pitt | 1740 |
| 10. | Duke | 1452 |
| 11. | Florida State (3) | 1439 |
| 12. | California | 1392 |
| 13. | Wake Forest | 1103 |
| 14. | Syracuse | 878 |
| 15. | North Carolina | 831 |
| 16. | Boston College | 491 |
| 17. | Stanford (1) | 483 |
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
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