Sunday, September 6
Nashville, Tenn.
7:30 p.m.
University of Louisville
vs
Ole Miss
Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Cardinals Open Season Sunday in Nationally-Ranked Matchup
September 05, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football team begins its 2026 campaign on Sunday night in the Music City Kickoff against No. 9/10 Ole Miss at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC. Radio coverage will be available on 93.9 The Ville and 970 WGTK.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ABC (Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Katie George)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
National Radio – ESPN Radio (Mike Couzens, Max Stark, Marilyn Payne)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
Jeff Brohm leads the 24th-ranked Cardinals in his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater with a 28-12 record through three seasons.
Sunday night's game marks the only ranked versus ranked matchup of Week 1. The Cardinals are 10-16 all-time in ranked matchups, most-recently dropping a 31-24 contest at Notre Dame in September of 2024.
Louisville is 9-29-1 all-time against Top 10 opponents, but 2-2 under Jeff Brohm including a 24-21 win at No. 2 Miami last year.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
24 – The Cardinals open the season ranked 24th in the AP Poll, their first preseason AP ranking since 2017.
9 – UofL is just one of seven programs to win at least nine games in a Power Four/Five conference each of the last three years.
8.8 – Isaac Brown averaged 8.8 yards per carry last season, the top mark in the country by more than a yard.
2 – Louisville brought in 34 transfers during the offseason, ranking second in the On3 Transfer Portal Index.
8-4 – Jeff Brohm is 8-4 all-time in season-opening games, including a perfect 3-0 during his Louisville tenure.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and Ole Miss are meeting for just the second time when they square off in Nashville.
The only previous meeting between the two programs came opening the 2021 campaign in Atlanta.
Ole Miss jumped out to a 26-0 lead at halftime on its way to a 43-24 victory.
Malik Cunningham threw for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 79 yards and two more scores.
THE BEST GAME OF WEEK ONE
When Louisville and Ole Miss square off the night before Labor Day, they'll do so as the only ranked matchup of the opening weekend.
The Cardinals are 10-16 all-time in ranked matchups, including a 5-5 mark on a neutral field. The Music City Kickoff will be the fifth ranked versus ranked contest during Jeff Brohm's tenure at Louisville. The Cardinals have split the previous four, most-recently losing a 31-24 contest at Notre Dame in September of 2024.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV – ABC (Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Katie George)
Radio – 93.9 The Ville / 970 WGTK (Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, Jody Demling)
National Radio – ESPN Radio (Mike Couzens, Max Stark, Marilyn Payne)
Live Stats – GoCards.com
Social – @LouisvilleFB
TEAM NOTES
Jeff Brohm leads the 24th-ranked Cardinals in his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater with a 28-12 record through three seasons.
Sunday night's game marks the only ranked versus ranked matchup of Week 1. The Cardinals are 10-16 all-time in ranked matchups, most-recently dropping a 31-24 contest at Notre Dame in September of 2024.
Louisville is 9-29-1 all-time against Top 10 opponents, but 2-2 under Jeff Brohm including a 24-21 win at No. 2 Miami last year.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
24 – The Cardinals open the season ranked 24th in the AP Poll, their first preseason AP ranking since 2017.
9 – UofL is just one of seven programs to win at least nine games in a Power Four/Five conference each of the last three years.
8.8 – Isaac Brown averaged 8.8 yards per carry last season, the top mark in the country by more than a yard.
2 – Louisville brought in 34 transfers during the offseason, ranking second in the On3 Transfer Portal Index.
8-4 – Jeff Brohm is 8-4 all-time in season-opening games, including a perfect 3-0 during his Louisville tenure.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Louisville and Ole Miss are meeting for just the second time when they square off in Nashville.
The only previous meeting between the two programs came opening the 2021 campaign in Atlanta.
Ole Miss jumped out to a 26-0 lead at halftime on its way to a 43-24 victory.
Malik Cunningham threw for 191 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 79 yards and two more scores.
THE BEST GAME OF WEEK ONE
When Louisville and Ole Miss square off the night before Labor Day, they'll do so as the only ranked matchup of the opening weekend.
The Cardinals are 10-16 all-time in ranked matchups, including a 5-5 mark on a neutral field. The Music City Kickoff will be the fifth ranked versus ranked contest during Jeff Brohm's tenure at Louisville. The Cardinals have split the previous four, most-recently losing a 31-24 contest at Notre Dame in September of 2024.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville football on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleFB.
Players Mentioned
RB
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