Saturday, September 19
LOUISVILLE, KY
3:30 p.m.
University of Louisville
vs
SMU
Photo by: David Sutherland | Louisville Athletics
No. 23 Cardinals Host No. 16 SMU in ACC Ranked Matchup
September 18, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football team begins Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a ranked showdown against No. 16 SMU at L&N Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2 with radio coverage available on 93.9 The Ville and 970 WGTK.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ESPN2 (Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler, Sherree Burruss)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
National Radio – ESPN Radio (Mike Couzens, Freddie Coleman, Mike Peasley)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
The Cardinals racked up 635 yards of total offense and 59 points in a blowout victory over Villanova in the 2026 home opener.
Louisville is playing its second ranked-on-ranked matchup in three games to start the season. The Cardinals are 10-17 all-time in ranked contests, having lost three straight.
Louisville is 5-2 all-time in ranked-versus-ranked games at home, including 2-0 under Jeff Brohm with wins over No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 20 Duke during the 2023 season.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
18 – The Cardinals already have 18 plays of 20 yards or more through two games – nine in each contest.
0 – Louisville has not committed a turnover through its first two games, the second time doing so under Jeff Brohm (2024).
300 – Lincoln Kienholz has thrown for 300 yards in both games this season, the first player to do so in his first two games as a Card.
50 – Lincoln Kienholz has four touchdown passes this season, all of which have been 50 yards or more.
91 – After scoring just six points in the first half against Ole Miss, the Cardinals have scored 91 points over the last six quarters.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and SMU have met four times previously, all of which have been won by the Mustangs.
Louisville and SMU were both members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2013 season but did not match up that year.
The Cardinals are 0-2 against SMU as members of the ACC.
The last time the two squared off at L&N Stadium, SMU scored a touchdown with less than seven minutes to play to break a 27-all tie that proved to be the game-winner.
KIENHOLZ STELLAR ONCE AGAIN
After a strong second half performance against Ole Miss, Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz kept the good times rolling in the blowout victory over Villanova. The senior accounted for 374 total yards and four touchdowns, eclipsing the 300-yard mark through the air for the second straight week.
Kienholz is one of six FBS quarterbacks to throw for at least 300 yards in each of the first two games this season, and the first player in program history to do so in his first two games as a Cardinal.
The South Dakota native ranks second nationally in total offense, third in yards per attempt, fourth in yards per completion and QBR, ninth in passing efficiency and 10th in passing yards per game. Kienholz is also tied for 11th in the country in rushing touchdowns with three.
LOUISVILLE PUTS ON OFFENSIVE SHOW IN WEEK TWO
The Louisville offense racked up 469 yards and 38 points in the season opener against No. 9 Ole Miss. However, the Cardinals blew past both numbers in a runaway victory over Villanova in week two.
Louisville raced out to a 17-3 lead after one quarter of play on Friday night and never looked back. When the final whistle sounded, the Cards had 59 points on the scoreboard and 635 yards of offense.
The 635 yards were the most by the Cardinals since rolling up 690 nearly three years ago to the day in a shutout win over Murray State. Louisville finished with more than 350 yards through the air and 250 on the ground for the first time since the 2017 season.
CARDINALS PROVING TO BE EXPLOSIVE ON OFFENSE
Two games into the season, the Louisville offense has been one of the most explosive units in the entire country. The Cardinals already have 18 plays of 20 yards or more, nine in each game. Only Memphis has more plays of 20 yards this season than the Cards, but the Tigers have played three games to Louisville's two.
The Cardinals have already scored four touchdowns of 50 yards or more as well, doing so twice in both contests. Colorado State and South Carolina are the only other FBS schools with four scores of 50+ yards this season.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ESPN2 (Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler, Sherree Burruss)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
National Radio – ESPN Radio (Mike Couzens, Freddie Coleman, Mike Peasley)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
The Cardinals racked up 635 yards of total offense and 59 points in a blowout victory over Villanova in the 2026 home opener.
Louisville is playing its second ranked-on-ranked matchup in three games to start the season. The Cardinals are 10-17 all-time in ranked contests, having lost three straight.
Louisville is 5-2 all-time in ranked-versus-ranked games at home, including 2-0 under Jeff Brohm with wins over No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 20 Duke during the 2023 season.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
18 – The Cardinals already have 18 plays of 20 yards or more through two games – nine in each contest.
0 – Louisville has not committed a turnover through its first two games, the second time doing so under Jeff Brohm (2024).
300 – Lincoln Kienholz has thrown for 300 yards in both games this season, the first player to do so in his first two games as a Card.
50 – Lincoln Kienholz has four touchdown passes this season, all of which have been 50 yards or more.
91 – After scoring just six points in the first half against Ole Miss, the Cardinals have scored 91 points over the last six quarters.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and SMU have met four times previously, all of which have been won by the Mustangs.
Louisville and SMU were both members of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2013 season but did not match up that year.
The Cardinals are 0-2 against SMU as members of the ACC.
The last time the two squared off at L&N Stadium, SMU scored a touchdown with less than seven minutes to play to break a 27-all tie that proved to be the game-winner.
KIENHOLZ STELLAR ONCE AGAIN
After a strong second half performance against Ole Miss, Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz kept the good times rolling in the blowout victory over Villanova. The senior accounted for 374 total yards and four touchdowns, eclipsing the 300-yard mark through the air for the second straight week.
Kienholz is one of six FBS quarterbacks to throw for at least 300 yards in each of the first two games this season, and the first player in program history to do so in his first two games as a Cardinal.
The South Dakota native ranks second nationally in total offense, third in yards per attempt, fourth in yards per completion and QBR, ninth in passing efficiency and 10th in passing yards per game. Kienholz is also tied for 11th in the country in rushing touchdowns with three.
LOUISVILLE PUTS ON OFFENSIVE SHOW IN WEEK TWO
The Louisville offense racked up 469 yards and 38 points in the season opener against No. 9 Ole Miss. However, the Cardinals blew past both numbers in a runaway victory over Villanova in week two.
Louisville raced out to a 17-3 lead after one quarter of play on Friday night and never looked back. When the final whistle sounded, the Cards had 59 points on the scoreboard and 635 yards of offense.
The 635 yards were the most by the Cardinals since rolling up 690 nearly three years ago to the day in a shutout win over Murray State. Louisville finished with more than 350 yards through the air and 250 on the ground for the first time since the 2017 season.
CARDINALS PROVING TO BE EXPLOSIVE ON OFFENSE
Two games into the season, the Louisville offense has been one of the most explosive units in the entire country. The Cardinals already have 18 plays of 20 yards or more, nine in each game. Only Memphis has more plays of 20 yards this season than the Cards, but the Tigers have played three games to Louisville's two.
The Cardinals have already scored four touchdowns of 50 yards or more as well, doing so twice in both contests. Colorado State and South Carolina are the only other FBS schools with four scores of 50+ yards this season.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
Players Mentioned
QB
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