Friday, September 11
LOUISVILLE, KY
7:00 p.m.
University of Louisville
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics
No. 24 Louisville Hosts Villanova in Friday Night Contest
September 10, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football team will open the home portion of its 2026 schedule on Friday night against Villanova at L&N Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ACC Network. Radio coverage will be available on 93.9 The Ville and 970 WGTK.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ACC Network (Cooper Boardman, Charles Arbuckle, Ashley Stroehlein)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
The Cardinals began the 2026 campaign with a tough 41-38 loss against No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, losing on a game-winning field goal as time expired. UofL had rallied back from down 14 points with five minutes to play to tie the game before the field goal won it for the Rebels.
Louisville is 71-33-3 all-time in home openers, including 3-0 under Jeff Brohm. The Cards are 20-8 in home openers inside of L&N Stadium.
The Cardinals are 6-5 following a loss during Jeff Brohm's tenure.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
9 – The Cardinals recorded nine plays of 20 yards or more against Ole Miss – seven passing, two rushing.
0 – Louisville did not commit a turnover in the season opener, something it accomplished just once last season.
376 – Lincoln Kienholz amassed 376 yards of total offense (307 passing, 69 rushing) in his first collegiate start.
7 – Kienholz had seven passes of 20+ yards, tied for the most nationally among QBs who have only played one game in 2026.
32 – The Cardinals scored 32 points in the second half against Ole Miss, the highest-scoring second half during Brohm's tenure.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and Villanova meet for the first time when they square off on Friday night.
LOUISVILLE AGAINST THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League was formed as the Colonial League in 1986. Since that time, the Cardinals have never squared off against a member of the conference.
Louisville has previously played two current Patriot League members prior to the conference being formed. The Cardinals split two contests against William & Mary in 1977 and 1978, and defeated Richmond in 1982.
KIENHOLZ SHINES IN FIRST COLLEGIATE START
Senior quarterback Lincoln Kienholz waited three years to make the first start of his collegiate career. He got off to a slow start in the opening two quarters against Ole Miss. However, he settled in during the second half and put on a show.
Kienholz finished the night 18-of-29 for 307 yards and two touchdowns through the air while leading the Cards with 69 yards and a score on the ground.
Kienholz became the first Louisville quarterback to throw for 300 yards in his first game in a Louisville uniform. He also was the first UofL player to throw for 300+ and rush for 50+ against a ranked opponent since Lamar Jackson did so in 2017 versus NC State.
NEW WEAPONS AT RECEIVER ANNOUNCE PRESENCE
Louisville had high hopes for transfer wide receivers Tre Richardson (Vanderbilt) and Lawayne McCoy (Florida State) entering 2026. Those hopes became realities on Sunday night in Nashville, as the duo found the end zone three times, all on plays of 30 yards or longer.
Richardson scored the first Louisville touchdown of the season early in the third quarter, taking a handoff around the left side, breaking a tackle and racing 30 yards for his first career rushing touchdown. Then, right before the quarter ended, Richardson hauled in a pass wide open and scampered in for a 62-yard score.
McCoy did not have a reception through three quarters in the opener, but his impact came in the final quarter. With the Cards trailing by 14, McCoy made an acrobatic catch down the sideline, juked a defender and found the end zone from 54 yards out to cut the deficit in half.
HILBERT STEPS IN AND STEPS UP AT KICKER
There were plenty of question marks regarding the kicking game for the Cardinals enter the 2026 season with nearly a brand new group of specialists across the board.
Carson Hilbert looked like a veteran though. The sophomore drilled field goals from 25, 45 and 46 yards as part of a perfect 3-for-3 showing in the first field goal attempts of his collegiate career.
Kicking runs in the Hilbert family as Carson's dad, John, kicked for the Cardinals from 1996-99 and is still sixth on Louisville's career PATs made list.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ACC Network (Cooper Boardman, Charles Arbuckle, Ashley Stroehlein)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
The Cardinals began the 2026 campaign with a tough 41-38 loss against No. 9 Ole Miss in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, losing on a game-winning field goal as time expired. UofL had rallied back from down 14 points with five minutes to play to tie the game before the field goal won it for the Rebels.
Louisville is 71-33-3 all-time in home openers, including 3-0 under Jeff Brohm. The Cards are 20-8 in home openers inside of L&N Stadium.
The Cardinals are 6-5 following a loss during Jeff Brohm's tenure.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
9 – The Cardinals recorded nine plays of 20 yards or more against Ole Miss – seven passing, two rushing.
0 – Louisville did not commit a turnover in the season opener, something it accomplished just once last season.
376 – Lincoln Kienholz amassed 376 yards of total offense (307 passing, 69 rushing) in his first collegiate start.
7 – Kienholz had seven passes of 20+ yards, tied for the most nationally among QBs who have only played one game in 2026.
32 – The Cardinals scored 32 points in the second half against Ole Miss, the highest-scoring second half during Brohm's tenure.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and Villanova meet for the first time when they square off on Friday night.
LOUISVILLE AGAINST THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League was formed as the Colonial League in 1986. Since that time, the Cardinals have never squared off against a member of the conference.
Louisville has previously played two current Patriot League members prior to the conference being formed. The Cardinals split two contests against William & Mary in 1977 and 1978, and defeated Richmond in 1982.
KIENHOLZ SHINES IN FIRST COLLEGIATE START
Senior quarterback Lincoln Kienholz waited three years to make the first start of his collegiate career. He got off to a slow start in the opening two quarters against Ole Miss. However, he settled in during the second half and put on a show.
Kienholz finished the night 18-of-29 for 307 yards and two touchdowns through the air while leading the Cards with 69 yards and a score on the ground.
Kienholz became the first Louisville quarterback to throw for 300 yards in his first game in a Louisville uniform. He also was the first UofL player to throw for 300+ and rush for 50+ against a ranked opponent since Lamar Jackson did so in 2017 versus NC State.
NEW WEAPONS AT RECEIVER ANNOUNCE PRESENCE
Louisville had high hopes for transfer wide receivers Tre Richardson (Vanderbilt) and Lawayne McCoy (Florida State) entering 2026. Those hopes became realities on Sunday night in Nashville, as the duo found the end zone three times, all on plays of 30 yards or longer.
Richardson scored the first Louisville touchdown of the season early in the third quarter, taking a handoff around the left side, breaking a tackle and racing 30 yards for his first career rushing touchdown. Then, right before the quarter ended, Richardson hauled in a pass wide open and scampered in for a 62-yard score.
McCoy did not have a reception through three quarters in the opener, but his impact came in the final quarter. With the Cards trailing by 14, McCoy made an acrobatic catch down the sideline, juked a defender and found the end zone from 54 yards out to cut the deficit in half.
HILBERT STEPS IN AND STEPS UP AT KICKER
There were plenty of question marks regarding the kicking game for the Cardinals enter the 2026 season with nearly a brand new group of specialists across the board.
Carson Hilbert looked like a veteran though. The sophomore drilled field goals from 25, 45 and 46 yards as part of a perfect 3-for-3 showing in the first field goal attempts of his collegiate career.
Kicking runs in the Hilbert family as Carson's dad, John, kicked for the Cardinals from 1996-99 and is still sixth on Louisville's career PATs made list.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
Players Mentioned
PK
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballSaturday, September 12
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07
