2018 Louisville Cardinals football team

2018 Louisville Cardinals football
2018 Louisville Cardinals football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
	Atlantic Division
Record	2–10 (0–8 ACC)
Head coach	Bobby Petrino (9th season; first 10 games); Lorenzo Ward (interim; remainder of season);
Co-offensive coordinators	Lonnie Galloway (3rd season); Mike Summers (2nd season);
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Brian VanGorder (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Cardinal Stadium
Uniform
	Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

Last updated June 23, 2025

2018 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson x$#^	8	–	0	15	–	0
No. 15 Syracuse	6	–	2	10	–	3
NC State	5	–	3	9	–	4
Boston College	4	–	4	7	–	5
Wake Forest	3	–	5	7	–	6
Florida State	3	–	5	5	–	7
Louisville	0	–	8	2	–	10
Coastal Division
Pittsburgh x	6	–	2	7	–	7
Georgia Tech	5	–	3	7	–	6
Miami (FL)	4	–	4	7	–	6
Virginia	4	–	4	8	–	5
Virginia Tech	4	–	4	6	–	7
Duke	3	–	5	8	–	5
North Carolina	1	–	7	2	–	9
Championship: Clemson 42, Pittsburgh 10
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They played their home games at Cardinal Stadium (previously Papa John's Cardinal Stadium) in Louisville, Kentucky. They were led by head coach Bobby Petrino until he was fired on November 11 after starting the season 2–8.^[1] Lorenzo Ward was the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. They finished the season 2–10, 0–8 in ACC play to finish in last place in the Atlantic Division.

Offseason

Coaching changes

On January 13, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Ryan Beard as new safeties coach.^[3] On January 29, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Brian VanGorder as new defensive coordinator, replacing former DC Peter Sirmon.^[4] On February 2, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Grady Brown as defensive assistant and recruiting coordinator.^[5]

On November 11 Louisville fired Bobby Petrino.

Departures

Notable departures from the 2017 squad included:

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Lamar Jackson	8	Quarterback	6'3"	211	Junior	Pompano Beach, Florida	Declared for 2018 NFL Draft

2019 NFL Draft

Cardinals who were picked in the 2019 NFL Draft:

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Team

Recruits

The Cardinals signed a total of 23 recruits.

College recruiting information (2018)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Marcus Riley WR	Tallahassee, Florida	James S. Rickards High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Jul 7, 2016
Marcus Riley WR	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Trenell Troutman S	Miami, Florida	St. Thomas Aquinas High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	Jul 9, 2016
Trenell Troutman S	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Michael Boykin DE	Carrollton, Georgia	Gulf Coast State College	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	May 19, 2017
Michael Boykin DE	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Yasir Abdullah LB	Miami, Florida	Carol City High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	May 28, 2017
Yasir Abdullah LB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jordan Travis QB	West Palm Beach, Florida	The Benjamin School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Jun 10, 2017
Jordan Travis QB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jared Goldwire DT	Tacoma, Washington	Fort Scott Community College	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	Jun 11, 2017
Jared Goldwire DT	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Dejmi Dumervil-Jean DT	Lauderdale Lakes, Florida	St. Thomas Aquinas High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	350 lb (160 kg)	Jun 11, 2017
Dejmi Dumervil-Jean DT	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Robert Hicks LB	Miami, Florida	Central High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	237 lb (108 kg)	Jul 4, 2017
Robert Hicks LB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Thurman Geathers DE	Acworth, Georgia	North Cobb High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	218 lb (99 kg)	Jul 4, 2017
Thurman Geathers DE	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Chandler Jones CB	Miami, Florida	Central High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	Jul 27, 2017
Chandler Jones CB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Telly Plummer CB	Riverdale, Georgia	Langston Hughes High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Jul 28, 2017
Telly Plummer CB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Javian Hawkins RB	Titusville, Florida	Cocoa High School	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	Aug 7, 2017
Javian Hawkins RB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jarrett Jackson DE	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida	Palm Beach Gardens Community High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	275 lb (125 kg)	Aug 14, 2017
Jarrett Jackson DE	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tutu Atwell WR	Miami, Florida	Northwestern High School	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	155 lb (70 kg)	Aug 21, 2017
Tutu Atwell WR	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Adonis Boone OT	Daytona Beach, Florida	Mainland High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	Sep 24, 2017
Adonis Boone OT	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Hassan Hall RB	Atlanta, Georgia	Maynard H. Jackson High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Oct 31, 2017
Hassan Hall RB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tyler Harrell WR	Miami, Florida	Columbus High School	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Nov 6, 2017
Tyler Harrell WR	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Nigel Kilby TE	Fort Wayne, Indiana	Garden City Community College	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	250 lb (110 kg)	Dec 10, 2017
Nigel Kilby TE	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Allen Love DT	Birmingham, Alabama	Huffman High School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	Dec 14, 2017
Allen Love DT	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Quen Head LB	Forsyth, Georgia	Hutchinson Community College	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Dec 19, 2017
Quen Head LB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jatavious Harris WR	Milledgeville, Georgia	Baldwin High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	Dec 19, 2017
Jatavious Harris WR	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jairus Brents CB	Louisville, Kentucky	Waggener High School	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	Feb 7, 2018
Jairus Brents CB	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Marlon Character Jr. S	Atlanta, Georgia	Northwest Mississippi Community College	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Feb 7, 2018
Marlon Character Jr. S	Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Fred Biletnikoff Award ^[6]	Dez Fitzpatrick	WR	So.
Fred Biletnikoff Award ^[6]	Jaylen Smith	WR	Sr.
John Mackey Award ^[7]	Kemari Averett	TE	So.
John Mackey Award ^[7]	Micky Crum	TE	Sr.
Lou Groza Award ^[8]	Blanton Creque	K	Jr.
Wuerffel Trophy ^[9]	Jonathan Greenard	DL	Jr.

ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Media poll (Atlantic)
1	Clemson	1,031 (145)
2	Florida State	789 (1)
3	NC State	712 (2)
4	Boston College	545
5	Louisville	422
6	Wake Forest	413
7	Syracuse	232

Schedule

The Cardinals' 2018 schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games, including the first game of the season being played in Orlando, Florida at Camping World Stadium, a neutral-site venue.^[10] The Cardinals first non-conference game was an away game, against Alabama of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), before hosting the remaining three non-conference games; against FCS opponent Indiana State from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), Western Kentucky of Conference USA (C-USA) and against arch-rival Kentucky of the SEC.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 1 Alabama *	Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL (Camping World Kickoff)	ABC	L 14–51	57,280
September 8	7:00 p.m.	Indiana State *	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ACCN Extra	W 31–7	44,520
September 15	7:30 p.m.	Western Kentucky *	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ACCRSN	W 20–17	54,923
September 22	12:30 p.m.	at Virginia	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCRSN	L 3–27	34,446
September 29	3:30 p.m.	Florida State	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ESPN2	L 24–28	52,798
October 5	7:00 p.m.	Georgia Tech	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ESPN	L 31–66	51,658
October 13	12:30 p.m.	at Boston College	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	ACCRSN	L 20–38	31,478
October 27	12:00 p.m.	Wake Forest	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ACCRSN	L 35–56	49,603
November 3	12:00 p.m.	at No. 2 Clemson	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ABC	L 16–77	78,741
November 9	7:00 p.m.	at No. 13 Syracuse	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY	ESPN2	L 23–54	42,797
November 17	12:20 p.m.	NC State	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ACCN	L 10–52	48,265
November 24	7:00 p.m.	No. 17 Kentucky *	Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY (Governor's Cup)	ESPN2	L 10–56	49,988
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Sources:^[10]

Game summaries

vs Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	7	7	14
No. 1 Crimson Tide	14	14	16	7	51

Indiana State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Sycamores	7	0	0	0	7
Cardinals	7	0	7	17	31

Western Kentucky

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	7	7	0	3	17
Cardinals	0	3	3	14	20

At Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	3	0	3
Cavaliers	0	6	7	14	27

Florida State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seminoles	7	0	7	14	28
Cardinals	7	14	3	0	24

Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Yellow Jackets	21	10	14	21	66
Cardinals	0	17	0	14	31

At Boston College

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	13	7	0	0	20
Eagles	14	10	0	14	38

Wake Forest

	1	2	3	4	Total
Demon Deacons	21	14	21	0	56
Cardinals	7	14	14	0	35

At Clemson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	3	0	6	7	16
No. 2 Tigers	14	21	28	14	77

At Syracuse

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	7	7	9	23
No. 13 Orange	7	30	7	10	54

NC State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolfpack	7	10	21	14	52
Cardinals	3	0	0	7	10

Kentucky

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Wildcats	14	21	0	21	56
Cardinals	7	3	0	0	10

References

↑ "Louisville dismisses Petrino amid 2–8 season". November 11, 2018.
↑ "Scott Satterfield era at Louisville brings a needed infusion of belief". The Courier-Journal.
↑ "Football Names Ryan Beard to Coach Safeties". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
↑ "VanGorder Selected to Lead the Louisville Defense". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
↑ "Grady Brown Named Defensive Assistant, Recruiting Coordinator". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
↑ "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
↑ "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
↑ "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
1 2 "2018 Schedule". GoCards.com. Retrieved February 5, 2018.

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[1] "Louisville dismisses Petrino amid 2–8 season". November 11, 2018.

[2] "Scott Satterfield era at Louisville brings a needed infusion of belief". The Courier-Journal.

[3] "Football Names Ryan Beard to Coach Safeties". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.

[4] "VanGorder Selected to Lead the Louisville Defense". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.

[5] "Grady Brown Named Defensive Assistant, Recruiting Coordinator". University of Louisville Athletics. 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.

[6] "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.

[7] "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

[8] "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.

[9] "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

[UL18-10] 1 2 "2018 Schedule". GoCards.com. Retrieved February 5, 2018.

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v t e Louisville Cardinals football
Venues	High School Park (1912) Eclipse Park (1913–1916, 1921–1922) Parkway Field (1923–1936, 1952–1956) Maxwell Field (1937–1942) duPont Manual Stadium (1938, 1940–1941, 1949–1951) Cardinal Stadium (1957–1997) L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium (1998–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Cincinnati: The Keg of Nails Kentucky: Governor's Cup Memphis Miami
Culture & lore	Cardinal Bird Marching band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917–1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

2018 Louisville Cardinals football

Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Atlantic Division
Record	2–10 (0–8 ACC)
Head coach	Bobby Petrino (9th season; first 10 games) Lorenzo Ward (interim; remainder of season)
Co-offensive coordinators	Lonnie Galloway (3rd season) Mike Summers (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Brian VanGorder (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Cardinal Stadium
Uniform

Seasons ← 2017 2019 →