Opposition in-depth: Louisville opens season vs Eastern Kentucky

Our Opposition in-depth series will release two days before each game this season and will feature an in-depth review of the opponent, including pregame updates, storylines, players to watch, predictions (s), and more. 

Starting with game one, Eastern Kentucky. 

Game information 

Know your opponent

The Colonels enter week one coming off their best season under head coach Walt Wells, going 8-5, dancing into the FCS Playoffs, and beating two ranked teams: No. 7 Tarleton State and No. 16 Central Arkansas. 

The Eastern Kentucky program is starting to build momentum under Wells in hopes of returning to the status it had in the 1970s and ’80s, when EKU won two I-AA national titles under Roy Kidd. 

Like many teams this season, there are plenty of new faces from a year ago, with the highlight being transfer quarterback Myles Burkett. The 6-foot, 213-pound signal-caller comes from Albany, where he played in nine games, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 1.845 yards. Burkett originally started his career at Wisconsin, playing in two games as a true freshman. Despite his size, Burkett has a solid arm and puts his playmakers in good positions consistently. Brohm said on Wednesday’s radio show that the redshirt junior reminds him of SMU’s Kevin Jennings. With his ability to create and scramble, while being capable of turning on the jets, this comparison checks out on an FCS scale. Burkett just hasn’t done much at a power four level. 

Speaking of playmakers, Burkett will have a pair around him in running back Brayden Latham and freshman All-American wide receiver Marcus Calwise Jr. Calwise ended the 2024 season on a tear with 42 receptions, 526 yards, and five touchdowns in the last four games of the season. The junior, Latham, should be an all-conference back in his first season taking over as the starter. 

EKU returns pieces on a defense that was the best in the conference last fall. The Colonels held opponents to 23.7 points a contest in 2024. Jaheim Ward and Vito Tisdale Jr. make up half of the secondary. Ward was selected as a preseason All-American. They also get linebacker Braden Sullivan and defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey back, who were key contributors on the front seven a year ago. In all, it’s a balanced roster, and the Colonels are more than capable of being in the FCS Playoffs again; they are top 25 FCS caliber.

Louisville won’t have as easy a time with EKU as the Cards did with the other two FCS opponents under Brohm in Murray State (2023) and Austin Peay (2024). Even a couple of years ago, in 2023, Eastern Kentucky lost to UK by a couple of scores and was leading in the second quarter. 

EKU has not beaten Louisville since 1985, and the two have not met since 2021. They are seeking their third playoff appearance in four seasons.

Pregame updates and setting the stage

The stage? Well, I don’t need to say much. It’s the first game of the season. Time to get rid of those jitters and play clean, fundamental football. In fact, on top of winning, that’s the main goal for Jeff Brohm this Saturday.

Louisville has yet to announce a depth chart, but there are a lot of players you can Sharpie in as starters. For instance, we know the starters at skill positions, linebacker, and on the edge — but in the offensive line and secondary, we could see some change. 

In terms of injuries, the Cardinals won’t have to put out a report if they don’t want to because the new ACC rule is for conference games only. However, by gametime, we will have plenty to report as we see warmups. Louisville has made it through the fall camp without any major or season-ending injuries.

Some of the bigger storylines heading into the game are, of course, Louisville’s transfer quarterback Miller Moss, who has performed well in practice, the new look defensive back group, and also notable is the pass rush, which has seen a massive makeover from last season, bringing in Clev Lubin and Wesley Bailey. Also, keep an eye on Cooper Ranvier (who I expect to be the Cards’ place kicker week one) and the offensive line. Limiting silly mistakes like penalties and communication issues will be a focus for a group with three to four new faces. 

Prediction 

Louisville – 48, Eastern Kentucky – 10 

It should be a thumping, with Louisville taking control early. But, don’t sleep on that EKU defense. They have given power conference teams trouble in previous seasons, and as mentioned earlier, they won’t be a team that rolls over like Austin Peay or Murray State. I could see a few drives stall or a sloppy turnover or two. Still, Louisville has too much talent and will be physically imposing. 

Not that the Cards will make a “statement” against an FCS opponent, but the defense should be able to show improvement. They should be able to stop the big play, hopefully create a couple of takeaways (a weakness from last year), and I also expect the defensive back group to be better tacklers in space than a season ago. 

At the line of scrimmage, EKU will have flashes, and U of L will have small struggles, but in the end, the Cards are in another division of football.