LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (0-0) vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS (0-0)
Game Time: 3 p.m.
Location: L&N Stadium: Louisville, Ky.
Television: ACC Network Extra
Announcers: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst) and Victoria Arlen (sideline)
Favorite: Louisville by 38.5
All-Time Series: Louisville leads, 20-8-1
Last Meeting: Louisville won 30-3 on Sept. 11, 2021
Series History:
Statistics:
Depth Chart:
Not released as of post time.
Louisville Uniforms:
Relevant Videos:
About Eastern
Kentucky:
OFFENSE
Louisville football kicks off its 2025 season against Walt Wells and his EKU Colonels, who are coming off a strong 8-5 season that included a trip to the FCS playoffs. Wells has built a solid program at EKU, where he has two trips to the playoffs and only two losing seasons. Last year, two of their losses came to FBS teams, and two other losses came to ranked teams. Wells has been able to bring in solid talent via transfers, but it’s worth noting that he has also done well mining the high school ranks to add guys who have stayed fairly loyal to him and his program as well.
EKU will be breaking in a new quarterback this year as Matt Morrissey exhausted his eligibility. Myles Burkett will take over as the starter after transferring in from New Albany. Burkett spent some time at Wisconsin in the past, which will likely help him handle some aspects of the environment, as he has been in the stadium for big games in the past. Burkett is a dropback passer with limited running ability, but he should have some opportunities to run in the EKU offense. Burkett threw for just over 1,800 yards last year, but his best game was against West Virginia when he threw for 306 yards.
The Colonels lost their best player to graduation in running back Joshua Carter. Carter ran for over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, and I don’t know that many teams can replace that easily, but EKU does have a solid option in Bradyn Latham. Latham ran for over 600 yards last year, and he runs with a similar style to Carter. He can break tackles in the hole while also being able to run away from defenders once he gets into the open field. Latham also had a few plays last year where he showed that he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Telly McCallister and Jalen Montgomery are other backs that I expect to see on Saturday.
The one area of the offense where Wells can rely on experienced players is outside at the wide receiver and tight end spots. All but one player from the depth chart last year returns to the lineup, with their leading receiver being the key player. Marcus Calwise will wear a different number this year, but I expect his targets to go up as he brings a level of experience and playmaking ability that stands out from the rest of the group.
Outside of Calwise, I expect Ronn Vann and Dequan Stanley to be top targets at the wide receiver position. Vann had a nice touchdown catch against Mississippi State last year, while Stanley had a run where he caught three touchdowns in two games. The starter at tight end is Caeleb Schlachter, who is one of the most impressive players I saw when I watched EKU’s games last year. For such a big guy, I thought he ran really well in the open field, and he seems like a guy who just needs to see the ball more often.
The offensive line for the Colonels returns only one starter, but they do have the luxury of having a starting group that could be made up of returners. The veteran players on the line last year have left, but the guys listed as backups on the depth chart should be ready to take the step into starting roles. EKU also added a handful of transfers, including two players from Pitt who should at least provide options for the staff if needed.
DEFENSE
Walt Wells may be known as an offensive coach, but his teams have shown that they take defense seriously, and his 2025 unit returns some key players who could help his program get over the hump. The defense struggled against FBS teams last year, but once they got into their conference schedule, they held most teams in check and did a great job of containing opposing offenses. The staff will have a tall task on their hands this weekend with the balanced attack of the Cardinals on the opposing sideline.
Jeremiah Bailey returns to lead the three-man front for the Colonels after a strong sophomore season. Bailey led the defensive line in tackles last year while also being among the team leaders in tackles for loss, sacks, and QB hurries. Gabe Fletcher also returns after a productive season as a reserve last year. They should combine to make up a solid defensive end combo to push the Cards’ rebuilt offensive line in game one.
EKU runs a true 3-4 defense with two outside linebackers, and they will have two of their best players returning there. Gabe Stevens led the team in sacks and forced fumbles last year and those sacks came off of some pretty impressive pass rushes where he beat offensive tackles around the edge. Cam Junior is a team leader on the opposite side of the field, which the team needs, as they will be breaking in two new starters in the middle.
Kaden Smith and Brody Wells are two young players who saw the field as reserves last year, but I’d be surprised if former UofL commit Khatavian Franks didn’t push them for a starting spot. Franks played the last two years at Duquesne, and his experience may help him get the nod. Smith finished the year with 14 tackles, so I would expect him to get the start with Franks.
The secondary is where the Colonels have the most talent. Former UK defensive back Vito Tisdale will line up at one cornerback spot for the second year. Tisdale had a solid season in 2024 with 35 tackles and 8 PBUs. He was susceptible to a penalty flag here and there, but I think the staff takes the good with the bad with him. Tisdale doesn’t have great size, but he is aggressive and should give it a go with UofL’s outside receivers. I doubt that he will shy away from the challenge.
Aden Tagaloa-Nelson is the likely starter on the other side after transferring in from West Virginia. I think that he will line up on the boundary as he is a bigger player with some experience at the P4 level. ATN (I’m going with it) should see more snaps against Chris Bell, and at 6-1/202, I think it will be interesting to see if he can hold up to Bell’s physicality.
Safety is another strong spot for EKU with Jaheim Ward returning as a preseason All-American pick. Ward had 66 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 8 PBUs last year to go along with an absurd amount of penalties from what I saw on film. Ward plays fast, and he looks for opportunities to make big hits and impact plays. I think he will be a guy that Jeff Brohm keys on for play-action passes and other deep throws down the field, as he can make errors looking for the big play.
Motivational Tweets:
No tweets, but we did get this from EKU linebacker Braden Sullivan on TikTok.
Not sure we’re gonna have 60K in the house for this one, but appreciate the compliment.
Excitement Level: 9.0
Once again, if the season-opener is less than a nine, something is wrong with the program. A lot of people dislike having the buy game as the season-opener, but I enjoy it. College football is the only major American sport where you don’t get a preseason or an exhibition or a spring training or a whatever.
I’m fine with easing into things a little bit.
Game Attire: Red Rage tee
Wore this last year for week one and we rolled by 62. Ain’t broke.
Pregame Meal: Bagel, Trader Joe’s protein bar, coffee
Haven’t busted out the Cardinal coffee mug since the College World Series. Gonna feel immaculate.
Bold Prediction: We return a kick or a punt for a touchdown
Last year in week one we hit on our “defense scores a touchdown” bold prediction thanks to T.J. Capers. Let’s start hot again.
Jeff Brohm Tick Play Alert Level: Violet (very low)
If we do run something wild, I’ll be pissed. Even if it works. Especially if it works.
Predicted Star of the Game: Duke Watson
Lots of yards and multiple touchdowns despite a minimal number of touches.
Notable:
—Louisville is 58-42-6 all-time in season openers. The Cards are looking to win three consecutive openers for the first time since a four-game streak from 2011-14.
—Louisville is 37-7 all-time against FCS opponents.
—U of L has won 25 consecutive games against FCS opponents, with their last loss against an FCS foe coming against Marshall in 1987. Their last loss against a current FCS opponent was a 45-21 loss to Eastern Kentucky in 1985.
—Louisville has won five consecutive games against Eastern Kentucky, the last three (2013, 2019 and 2021) coming by a combined score of 116-10. The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 20-8-1.
—For the first time in program history, Louisville will be playing its third straight season opener on Saturday with a quarterback making his first Louisville start.
—Louisville is 4-0 all-time in games against EKU at L&N Stadium.
—Despite getting votes in both major polls, Louisville is beginning a season unranked for the eighth consecutive year.
—Eastern Kentucky’s last win over an FBS opponent came in 2022, when they defeated Bowling Green, 59-57, in seven overtimes.
—This will be Louisville’s earliest season-opener since a 73-10 win over Murray State on Aug. 30, 2007.
—Louisville is 6-2 all-time in games played in the month of August.
—Louisville is 70-33-3 overall in home openers and looking to win its third consecutive home opener.
—This will be Jeff Brohm’s first game against Eastern Kentucky. EKU head coach Walt Wells is 0-1 against the Cards.
—Louisville will play eight home games this season for the first time since the 2008 season.
—Each of Louisville’s last seven games against non-conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
—Louisville has lost 10 consecutive games when forcing no turnovers and recording no sacks. The most recent of those games came last season against SMU.
—Louisville is 8-0 under head coach Jeff Brohm when it doesn’t commit a turnover.
—Louisville is 12-0 under Brohm when it wins the turnover battle and 7-8 when it doesn’t.
—Louisville has a 13-game winning streak when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, last losing 31-16 at Clemson on Nov. 12, 2022.
—Louisville is 23-2 over the past five seasons when shutting out its opponent in the first quarter.
—Louisville has won 35 of its last 39 games when holding teams to less than 300 yards of offense.
—Louisville has won 17 straight games when holding its opponent scoreless in the first half.
—Since 2019, Louisville is 32-4 when winning the turnover battle, and just 6-24 when losing it.
—Louisville is currently riding a consecutive game scoring streak that spans 314 games dating back to a 31-0 loss to Florida State during the 2000 season. The streak ranks as the second longest in the ACC behind only Virginia Tech, and the 10th-longest nationally.
—Louisville is 206-16 all-time when scoring 35 or more points in a game. The Cards are also 6-123 all-time when allowing opponents to score 40 or more points.
Quotable:
—”The first week sometimes has a lot of turnovers, a lot of fumbles, a lot of miscues, penalties. We have to try to be as clean as we possibly can and not allow that to happen.” —Jeff Brohm
—“We make this game so difficult in terms of the smoke and mirrors. We talk about the size of the crowd, the magnitude of the game. You’re going to have adversity in games like this. But how do you handle that? And how do you have that infectious energy with your teammates in terms of keeping your teammates together? I think that’s one thing that, as an offense specifically, in this camp and in the offseason and since I’ve been here, we’ve done a really good job of. … We might struggle a little bit, but guess what, we’re going to stick together and we’re going to figure out a way.” —EKU QB Myles Burkett
—”Coach Wells has done a great job. I know him personally. He loves football, he loves the game, really works hard to put his team in the best position to succeed. Of course, growing up Coach [Roy] Kidd was a tremendous coach there for years and they always played a good brand of football.” —Jeff Brohm
—”Come game day, it’s time to take the test. You’ve got to show up and you’ve got to ace the test.” —Jeff Brohm
Card Chronicle Prediction: Louisville 52, Eastern Kentucky 9
