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The University of Louisville football team is set to play its first true road game of the 2026 season, traveling to Raleigh to take on North Carolina State. The Cardinals hold a 9-4 advantage in the all-time series and won the most recent meeting 13-10 in 2023.
According to DraftKings, Louisville is a slight road favorite, with the spread set at three points. The Cardinals enter the contest with a 2-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in ACC play, while the Wolfpack are also 2-2 but 0-1 in conference action.
Fans can follow the game on the ACC Network, with Justin Kutcher, Max Browne, and Madison Fitzpatrick on the call. Radio coverage is available on 93.9 The Ville and 970 WGTK, featuring Paul Rogers, Craig Swabek, and Jody Demling. Live stats can be found at GoCards.com.
Louisville is coming off a heartbreaking 30-27 loss to Wake Forest. The Cardinals have now dropped four of their last seven home games against FBS opponents, with each of those defeats coming by a margin of three points or fewer. Additionally, Louisville has not played a true road game since a depleted squad fell 38-6 at Dallas in November 2025.
NC State, meanwhile, is riding a 41-31 home win over Appalachian State last weekend. Two weeks ago, the Wolfpack suffered an inexplicable loss at Vanderbilt after CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while attempting to run out the clock in the final seconds. In Week 0, NC State traveled to Virginia and fell 34-8, struggling to generate any offense.
Injuries and eligibility issues have plagued the Cardinals in recent weeks. Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is questionable after taking multiple hits to his lower body late in the Wake Forest game. West Georgia transfer Davin Wydner and freshman Briggs Cherry are prepared to step in if Kienholz cannot play. Running back Keyjuan Brown, wide receiver Lawayne McCoy, safety Koen Entringer, and edge AJ Green also appear on the injury report. On Friday night, Louisville received more bad news when fifth-year players Jabari Mack and Kalib Perry were ruled ineligible.
Key Analysis
Louisville's offense is averaging 486.3 yards per game, ranking 18th in the FBS. The Cardinals gain 295.8 yards per game through the air and 190.5 on the ground. Defensively, Louisville allows 405.5 yards per game, which ranks 116th in the FBS, with opponents gaining 240.3 passing yards and 165.3 rushing yards per contest.
NC State's offense puts up 451.8 yards per game, 34th in the nation, with 232.8 yards passing and 219 yards rushing. The Wolfpack score 38.3 points per game, compared to Louisville's 28.8. NC State's defense allows opponents to convert only 28.3% of third downs, a top-20 mark. The Cardinals commit 93 penalty yards per game, ranking 135th in the FBS, while the Wolfpack average 48 penalty yards per game, ranking 33rd.
Individually, Louisville's passing attack has produced 1,140 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception with a 68.8 completion percentage. The rushing game has gained 279 yards on 30 carries with 2 touchdowns, and the receiving corps has 328 yards on 20 catches with 1 touchdown. For NC State, CJ Bailey has thrown for 893 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions with a 67.3 completion percentage. The Wolfpack rushing attack has 346 yards on 57 carries with 4 touchdowns, and the receivers have 295 yards on 19 catches with 4 touchdowns.
With Lincoln Kienholz questionable, the Louisville offense faces uncertainty. The running game, led by Keyjuan Brown and Isaac Brown, remains a strength, but it may not be enough. The Cardinals defense will be tested by CJ Bailey, who generated significant preseason hype for his dual-threat ability. Carter Finley Stadium is expected to be sold out and energetic for Parents Weekend. Regardless of the quarterback situation, this should be a competitive game. The Louisville defense has shown flashes, notably in the first half against Ole Miss and the second half against Wake Forest, and could deliver its best performance of the season.
Prediction: Cardinals 27, Wolfpack 24
Creighton is a well-known sports media personality and die-hard Louisville Cardinals fan. He serves as producer for The Deener Show (weekdays 7-10 AM) on ESPN 680/105.7 FM and 93.9 The Ville, providing sharp sports talk, fan reactions, and daily Cardinals coverage alongside Drew Deener and Mark Blankenbaker. Creighton is known for his humor and strong opinions on all things UofL. Follow CreightonHarley.