Louisville pulled off one of the most dramatic upsets of the college football season Friday night, stunning No. 2 Miami 24-21 in a game packed with gutsy calls, defensive heroics, and a relentless underdog spirit. The Cardinals not only snapped Miami’s 10-game home winning streak, but also reignited their own ACC championship hopes and crashed the Hurricanes’ playoff party.
Louisville’s Bold Moves Pay Off
From the opening whistle, Louisville made it clear they weren’t afraid to take risks. The Cardinals unleashed a fake field goal, rotated three different players at quarterback, and ran a reverse that wasn’t a reverse—all in the first half. These creative plays kept Miami’s defense guessing and set the tone for a night where Louisville dictated the action.
Quarterback
Miller Moss was the engine behind Louisville’s offense, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a score. His favorite target,
Chris Bell, hauled in nine catches for 136 yards and both of Moss’s touchdown passes. Running back
Isaac Brown returned to form, racking up 113 yards on 15 carries, including a crucial 28-yard burst on the opening drive.
Defensive Masterclass: Four Interceptions Seal the Win
The real story, though, was Louisville’s defense. The Cardinals intercepted Miami star quarterback
Carson Beck four times—the most he’s ever thrown in a college game. The final dagger came with just 32 seconds left, when
TJ Capers picked off Beck at the Louisville 30-yard line, snuffing out Miami’s last hope for a comeback.
Miami’s offense struggled to find rhythm all night, despite a valiant effort from
Malachi Toney, who caught nine passes for 135 yards and scored on a 12-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Toney even threw a two-point conversion to keep Miami within striking distance, but the Hurricanes couldn’t overcome their mistakes.
Historic Win and Playoff Implications
This victory marks Louisville’s first win against a top-five team since 2016 and their first road win over a top-five opponent since 2007. The Cardinals had previously been 0-18 against Top 10 teams in true road games, often losing by wide margins. Friday night’s result flips that narrative and puts Louisville squarely in the conversation for the ACC title and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
Coach
Jeff Brohm summed up the night:
“On any given day, we can beat anybody.” The Cardinals now stand at 5-1 (2-1 ACC), while Miami falls to 5-1 (1-1 ACC), their playoff dreams suddenly in jeopardy.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
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Louisville: Hosts Boston College on October 25, riding high on momentum and national attention.
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Miami: Must regroup quickly before hosting Stanford, with their margin for error now razor-thin.
Key Takeaways
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Louisville’s creativity and resilience exposed Miami’s vulnerabilities and proved the Cardinals are a force in the ACC.
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Miami’s playoff hopes took a major hit, and their ability to bounce back will define the rest of their season.
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The ACC championship race just got a lot more interesting, with Louisville now a legitimate contender.
Sources
1. Louisville 24-21 Miami (Oct 17, 2025) Game Recap
2. An In-Depth Look Into Teddy Bridgewater - Big Cat Country
3. Louisville Stuns Miami: 5 Takeaways On the Win That ...
4. [PDF] Untitled - Googleapis.com
5. Louisville vs. Miami Game Highlights | 2025 ACC Football
6. 2/#2 Miami (FL) vs Louisville - Football - 10/17/2025
7. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Louisville Cardinals ...
8. Louisville football stuns No. 2 Miami, continues win streak ...
9. Louisville Cardinals vs. Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes Live Score ...
