Where to begin? WHERE TO BEGIN?!

After having to sit in the smelly stew of the UVA OT loss for nearly two weeks, the Cards finally got the chance to put that agonizing loss behind them and fans got the chance to move on. Only problem was that the palate cleanser was a vaunted and daunting #2 Miami team on the road.

The odds were obviously stacked against Louisville. Miami’s defensive line looks to be all-pro, with former UofL prospect Reuben Bain leading the charge, their o-line had been snuffing out defenses all season, and the thought of Louisville needing to play out of their minds to even matchup in the trenches, let alone give them a chance to win, was nearly unfathomable.

Many fans, myself included, foolishly doubted the man they call Big Game Brohm. It was one of the biggest driving forces behind hiring the guy. And despite him being a well known giant slayer, and even with him having already done it at Louisville twice (against Notre Dame in ‘23 and Clemson in ‘24), many of us still doubted him in this game. I mean how could you not when Miami had virtually no weaknesses on their team and were being tabbed as the “most complete team in college football”?

But the first two drives should, and for many of us *did*, shut us up.

You could tell instantly this was a different game. The kitchen sink had been launched from the sideline into the Atlantic. We were seeing insane sets like Deuce Adams getting a dedicated package, wildcat formations, fake field goals, and even 3 QBs on the field at once with the WR taking the snap…

Brohm was deep into his mystery bag of tricks, and we should have seen it coming from a mile away. Because it’s who he is and it’s what he does.

But even with all of that, it was next to impossible to predict that Louisville’s o-line, which has been blown to pieces by the likes of James Madison and even Bowling Green at times, would handle the best defensive front in the entire sport. That unit only had one sack on the entire night, and projected #3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft Rueben Bain had 1 (ONE!) tackle. Not only that, but Louisville had 119 rushing yards, which is only the second time a team has crossed the century mark against this team all season. Louisville was also the first team to score a touchdown in the first quarter against Miami all season and did so on the first two drives.

The game felt different from the very start, and with the running game getting going with Isaac Brown finally operating at full speed again, we saw what the offense could be as Moss sliced and diced Miami’s secondary with easy throws that ultimately turned into big ones with bonafide future pro-Chris Bell taking 4-5yd drag routes to the house on multiple occasions.

It wasn’t perfect, and the Isaac Brown fumble was stroke-inducing when it looked like Louisville had siezed control of the game, but all-in-all the offense did enough to protect the ball and take the points when they had the chance.

I’m not going to even harp on the lack of points off of turnovers. Two of Beck’s interceptions were effectively arm punts that gave Louisville the ball in the 30s of their own side of the field. Always going to be difficult to capitalize from there, especailly against a defense like Miami. But they did a great job managing the clock and keeping Miami’s offense off the field.

Now….for what I can’t wait to discuss. When their offense was ON the field.

I mean holy shit, Ron English. Go ahead and build the statue.

Not really. But at least give the man his flowers and the apology letters he so very deserves.

The defense was RELENTLESS. Even with zero sacks on the night, Beck had pressure on him all night and was still getting hit. In the 4th quarter he legitimately looked like he could cry each time he trotted out onto the field. And honestly, the Miami o-line did a pretty stellar job all night. Beck had some of the cleanest pockets you’ll ever see and all day to throw, but the Louisville secondary was just smothering and stifling. I really can’t recall a better performance I’ve seen from a Louisville defense in coverage.

I mean you even had linebackers making interceptions 50-yards down field…

The secondary and linebackers were all over the field tonight and were making plays you don’t even see receivers make on Sundays. But no catch was as insane as T.J. Capers’ game-sealing INT:

How on earth did he keep the tip of that ball from touching the ground?

Just an incredible effort on an incredible night that will go down in Louisville lore for all eternity. And for him to do it in his hometown of all places is so freaking cool.

I could moan on and on about the ridiculous calls the refs made tonight, from the not-a-blindside blindside block call on Bell, to the roughing the passer call on Beck. Actually let’s look at how fucking stupid that was:

BUT TONIGHT’S NOT THE NIGHT TO DWELL ON TOMFOOLERY LIKE THAT!

Tonight should be an epic celebration for all fans involved. As I write this I am sipping on my favorite brown water in my UofL rocks glass. I hope everyone else is celebrating accordingly, as well.

There is still so much to unpack from a night like tonight, and I can’t wait to watch this game at least three more times this weekend, and countless times for the rest of my life.

These are the best of times. Savor it.

Also, rank us, you cowards!