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. 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.
On December 4, Louisville hired Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield for the head coaching job.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 13, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Ryan Beard as new safeties coach. On January 29, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Brian VanGorder as new defensive coordinator, replacing former DC Peter Sirmon. On February 2, 2018, the Cardinals announced the hiring of Grady Brown as defensive assistant and recruiting coordinator.
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.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Fred Biletnikoff AwardDez FitzpatrickWR So.Jaylen SmithWRSr.John Mackey AwardKemari AverettTESo.Micky CrumTE Sr.Lou Groza AwardBlanton CrequeK Jr.Wuerffel TrophyJonathan GreenardDL Jr.
ACC media poll The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.
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. 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.
Sources:
Game summaries
vs Alabama
Indiana State
Western Kentucky
At Virginia
Florida State
Georgia Tech
At Boston College
Wake Forest
At Clemson
At Syracuse
NC State
Kentucky
References