There's just something about a Jeff Brohm-coached team hosting a top-10 opponent in primetime that suddenly turns into an upset. After six seasons at Purdue, the first-year Louisville coach led the Cardinals to a huge 33-20 win over Notre Dame to improve to 6-0 this season while the Fighting Irish fell to 5-2.
LOUISVILLE FANS STORM THE FIELD AFTER BEATING NO. 10 NOTRE DAME TO IMPROVE TO 6-0 pic.twitter.com/wHXkdwAveF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2023
It's the first time in school history Louisville has beaten a top-10 team in back-to-back seasons, both of which were against Sam Hartman.
Louisville has defeated an AP Top-10 opponent in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2023
Sam Hartman was the opposing QB in both of those games pic.twitter.com/pLB9HUNTmb
Louisville outplayed the Fighting Irish throughout much of the game, especially in the second half. With the score tied 7-7 at halftime, Marcus Freeman's team quickly drove down the field for a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. After a back-and-forth third quarter, Louisville led 17-13 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. The Cardinals then scored 16 of the game's final 23 points to win handily, with Notre Dame scoring a touchdown with 1:35 left to make it a two-possession game and that was it.
Hartman completed 23-of-38 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions, the most he has thrown in over 11 months. In fact, the sixth-year senior had thrown just three total interceptions since that three-interception game on Nov. 5, 2022. The Fighting Irish combined to run for just 44 yards on 28 carries, which was their biggest downfall. Meanwhile, Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan had 21 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Only one Cardinals receiver (Jamari Thrash with six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown) finished with more than two receptions and 20-plus yards.
After having the 28th-best third-down efficiency in the country through six games this season, Notre Dame struggled in that area Saturday night. The Fighting Irish converted on just 3-of-13 third-down opportunities and were also short on both of their fourth-down opportunities as well.
After three straight games against ranked opponents, the latter two of which were on the road, Notre Dame will make it four ranked matchups in a row when it hosts undefeated USC next Saturday, with kickoff set for 7:30.
