Friday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

· Yahoo Sports

—The Louisville volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the ACC, behind conference rivals Stanford and Pitt.

Visit rocore.sbs for more information.

—The CJ’s Brooks Holton has four takeaways from Louisville’s performance in the Bahamas.

—ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf have Louisville as a top 10 national title contender for 2026-27.

—Cardinal Authority’s Jacob Polacheck and Michael McCammon are making some bold predictions for the upcoming Louisville football season.

Perfect at L&N Stadium 

Louisville must not duplicate last season’s home results if it hopes to reach its season-long goals in 2026. The Cardinals dropped three games at L&N Stadium last season by a combined seven points, including two overtime losses. 2026 will be much different as the Cardinals win the close ones at home this season to finish 6-0 at L&N Stadium. UofL hasn’t completed a home schedule without a loss since 2006.

-Michael McCammon

Clev Lubin Wins ACC Defensive Player of the Year

This one might be my boldest yet, but I had to include Clev Lubin in here somewhere. After recording 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss in 2025, I’m predicting Lubin takes another step this season. I was going to predict that Lubin breaks the Louisville single-season sack record, but then I remembered that Elvis Dumervil‘s 20.5 sack season exists, and I haven’t totally lost my mind just yet. Instead, I decided to compromise. Yes, Lubin is on the All-ACC Preseason team, but I’m predicting he takes that even further and is the best defensive player in the conference, officially cementing himself as a program great. 

-Jacob Polacheck

—Racing Louisville is back at home this Saturday for a 4 p.m. match against Chicago Stars. It’s Youth Sports Day at Lynn Family Stadium, and kids wearing a jersey or team T-shirt can claim a free ticket by walking up to Gate 5. Card Chronicle readers can get discounted tickets to the match by going here.

—Lou City’s Saturday night (8 p.m.) matchup at Tampa Bay will be carried nationally on ESPN2.

—In a STUNNING development, it does not appear as though the Senate is going to save college sports.

—Get ready to learn “fight,” Razorback fans.

This might have to be a Friday night hate watch.

—Some of the most famous thoroughbred racehorses are no longer living. Here’s where you can find their headstones.

—C.L. Brown writes that Louisville and Kentucky football are both poised to be disruptors this season.

—There’s a new bourbon lounge at the KFC Yum Center.

—Potentially large news for Louisville’s week two opponent:

—Pitt’s 247 site serves up a Louisville football preview.

—European nations have agreed to boycott future World Cups over FIFA’s private investment plans.

—WAVE-3 covers the ALS fight of our guy John Ramsey, who continues to battle the disease with bravery and grace.

—Louisville Kings WR Kaden Prather has signed a deal with the Green Bay Packers.

—Let’s go ahead and get ourselves off this list in about four months.

—Two Louisville volleyball players are on the AVCA preseason Player of the Year watch list.

—Bill Self discusses playing exhibition games against Louisville and Duke this preseason.

—The CJ looks at the top Louisville area linebackers for the upcoming high school football season.

—Louisville is looking to turn Nashville red on Labor Day Weekend.

Labor Day weekend is nearly here, and with it, a massive opportunity for Louisville fans to witness a unique University of Louisville sports doubleheader in Music City. The Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party, an elite women’s college volleyball doubleheader at Bridgestone Arena, hosted by the Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events, will serve as the ultimate “kickoff” to the Cardinals’ big day in Nashville. The day will be rounded out with the football season opener later that evening against Ole Miss.

The first-of-its-kind volleyball event debuted last year to a crowd of over 11,000 fans. This year’s showdown features a premier stage for the Cardinals:

·       Match 1: Louisville Cardinals vs. Texas Longhorns at 11 a.m. CT on ABC

·       Match 2: Tennessee Lady Vols vs. Indiana Hoosiers at 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2

This doubleheader anchors a festive weekend lineup by the Nashville Sports Council. The celebrations begin Saturday, Sept. 5, with the Music City Kickoff Concert at Ascend Amphitheater, followed by Sunday’s volleyball matches. Then, Cards fans can head straight across the river to watch Louisville face Ole Miss in the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff, a neutral-site college football opener at Nissan Stadium at 6:30 p.m. CT (ABC).

—On3 has a photo gallery from Louisville’s Bahamas victory.

—And finally, the Mike Rutherford Show is putting a bow on the month of July from 2:30-5:30 this afternoon on 1450/96.1 The Big X. You can watch live on the Thorntons YouTube Stream here.

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