LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The upcoming 2024 season could be one of the most consequential years in college football history. Not only does the landscape of the sport look completely different due to conference realignment, it will also be the first season under the brand new College Football Playoff format.
In the new 12-team format, the top five FBS conference champions will receive automatic berths, the top four will receive a first-round bye, and the remaining seven spots will be at-large bids.
This format virtually ensures that the champions of the four power conferences will receive spots in the new CFP. Most at-larges will also likely go to Power Four members.
With that in mind, the folks at Pro Football Focus analyzed the four teams from each Power Four conference that have the best chance of making it into this year’s CFP. In the ACC, Louisville was named as one of the four teams.
“It cannot be overstated how impressive head coach Jeff Brohm and Louisville’s turnaround was last season,” wrote PFF’s Mitch Kaiser. “They assembled one of the nation’s best rushing offenses and posted an elite 92.2 rushing rating. While the Cardinals lost their top two running backs, they signed Miami transfer Donald Chaney Jr. to that role. Chaney broke 17 tackles and gained 272 yards after contact in 2023. Quarterback Tyler Shough will also add dynamism and athleticism, something Louisville has lacked at the position.
“The Cardinals fielded one of the best defenses in college football in 2023 and could do so again in 2024. Their -0.156 EPA per game against the Cardinals ranked 13th in the FBS. Fortunately for Brohm, he gets his three highest-rated defenders back in Quincy Riley, Ashton Gillotte and Mason Reiger – all of whom earned an overall PFF grade above 80.0.”
As expected, Clemson, Florida State and Miami were the other three teams from the ACC that PFF gave the best chances. Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State have the best chances from the Big Ten, according to PFF; Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State and Utah received those ratings from the Big 12; while Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss and Texas were chosen from the SEC.
Louisville is coming off a very successful first season under head coach Jeff Brohm. They went 10-4, their first 10-win season in a decade, and secured their first berth in the ACC Championship Game.
The Cardinals could also have a successful second year. Although the schedule will be more difficult, Louisville is bringing back several key playmakers from last season and strengthening the squad with the best transfer class in the country.
Louisville opens the 2024 season on Saturday, August 31 at 12:00 p.m. EST against Austin Peay.
(Louisville player photo: Jared Anderson – Louisville Report)
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