Welcome back everyone to the longest, darkest, most depressing stretch of the calendar year. Thank God for college basketball … and positive transfer portal news in college football.
—NET Rankings Update
(men’s): No. 14
—NET Rankings Update (women’s): No. 12
—The Louisville men’s basketball team is down four spots to No. 20 in this week’s AP top 25 poll.
—What ultimately led Isaac Brown to return to Louisville for his junior season? Loyalty … and a run at the Heisman Trophy.
“I really came back because my family and I love the team and the fan base,” Brown said. “It’s about loyalty — loyalty to my brothers and the coaching staff. That’s my loyalty.”
He repeated the word several times: Loyalty. Of course, money is always involved. A source close to Brown didn’t offer a number on his package but said it was comparable to the SEC schools showing the most interest in him.
Still, Brown’s message of loyalty is likely to resonate, not only because he came back but because of what he still plans to do.
“Heisman, for sure,” he said. “Because I know I can do it. I really feel like I would’ve did it last year if I didn’t get hurt.”
—Louisville Report’s Matt McGavic is predicting a 1-point win for the Cards over Duke Tuesday night.
—They’re talking Louisville over on the Duke Basketball Report podcast.
—Speaking of Duke, former Cardinal tight end Nate Kurisky will suit up for the Blue Devils in 2026.
—This week in Cardinal sports:
Tuesday, January 6
- Men’s Basketball vs. Duke – 7:00 p.m. ET (KFC Yum! Center)
Thursday, January 8
- Women’s Basketball at Miami – 3:00 p.m. ET (Coral Gables, FL)
Friday, January 9
- Swim & Dive vs. Missouri – 3:00 p.m. ET (Ralph Wright Natatorium)
- Track & Field at Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational – (Norton Healthcare Sport and Learning Center)
Saturday, January 10
- Men’s Basketball vs. Boston College – 12:00 p.m. ET (KFC Yum! Center)
- Track & Field at Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational – (Norton Healthcare Sport and Learning Center)
Sunday, January 11
- Women’s Basketball vs. Pittsburgh – 2 p.m. ET (KFC Yum! Center)
—Obviously there’s been a lot of attention in New Orleans paid to Tyler Shough, but Saints fans also think fellow former Card Quincy Riley could be the next big thing for the organization at cornerback.
—Congratulations to Chris Redman on being named the first head coach of the Louisville Kings.
—The latest women’s college hoops rankings from On3 have Louisville all the way up at No. 6.
—I don’t have any significant issue with these rankings.
The fact that, according to Goodman, every single coach who was polled picked Boston College dead last is pretty wild.
—Brooks Holton’s latest Louisville basketball mailbag is here.
—Kameron Mercer, the No. 16 overall hoops prospect in the class of 2028 according to 247 Sports, will be taking an unofficial visit to U of L this week.
—Does the SEC stink at football now?
The most mind-blowing outcome of the College Football Playoff inside the coaching world wasn’t Miami bullying Ohio State; it was the way Indiana dominated Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Several coaches The Athletic spoke to this weekend weren’t shocked that Indiana handled Alabama. After all, the Hoosiers were almost a double-digit favorite. It was how the game unfolded. They mauled the Tide 38-3, outrushing them, 215-23.
“That ain’t an Alabama defense,” said a Power 4 offensive coordinator, who used one of the most damning words a coach can evoke about another football team: soft.
“Ultimately,” the coach continued, “and this is y’all’s job, not my job, but there needs to be an evaluation of this narrative of the SEC is these big, bad m————, because they’re getting their asses whipped in these games.”
—How the hell is Indiana football doing this? Here’s a nice deep dive from Extra Points’ Matt Brown.
—State of Louisville says that this year’s Louisville basketball season so far has been a tale of two teams.
—Louisville LB TJ Quinn has officially accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 American Bowl.
—How did the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy become an actual toaster? The way all great things come about: In Louisville.
—Need to get these numbers up a bit in 2026. Hopefully the season-opener will help.
—Louisville is among the best college basketball teams in the country when it comes to producing kill shots (in-game runs of 10-0 or more).
—Jeff Brohm is very high on the future of incoming freshman QB Briggs Cherry.
—Per the 2026 Patriot League football schedule release, Louisville will host Villanova on Friday, Sept. 11 this coming season. The game was previously scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5 before U of L’s newly scheduled game against Ole Miss took over that date.
—I am a huge Sabrina Jefferson fan.
“After I hit the portal, me and my family had long talks about us staying at Louisville,” he said. “So that’s why I really came back, because my family and I love the team and the fan base.”
Brown’s mother, Sabrina Jefferson, said she hasn’t stopped crying tears of joy since Brown decided to come back because of her love for the Cardinals and the way the Louisville community has embraced her and her son. Her dream was for him to spend his college career in the Derby City. She told him that she “couldn’t wear those colors” when asked about the Rebels and Longhorns.
“I had an idea he was coming back,” Jefferson, who has been staying at Brown’s house in Louisville, told The Courier Journal on Monday. “I was excited. I’m happy. I’m still happy.”
I am happy as well.
—Texas site Burnt Orange Nation reacts to the news of Isaac Brown staying at Louisville.
—A total of 10 former Louisville players are set to participate in this year’s NFL Playoffs.
—None of you holidayed as well as Terrance did.
—The Ringer counts down its 52 favorite sports memories of 2025.
—CBS Sports previews Louisville vs. Duke.
—And finally, the Mike Rutherford Show returns this afternoon from 2:30-5:30 to break down all the madness from the weekend that was. Listen live on 1450AM or 96.1 FM, stream on YouTube (and everywhere else), or watch live on WBNA-Channel 21.
