Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE up over defensive backs and get the ball. He's great in the red zone. He's a prime‑time receiver." Prior to its Nov. 15 bye week, Louis‑ ville ranked ninth in the nation in scor‑ ing defense at 17.8 points allowed per game and No. 2 in rushing defense at a clip of 87.4 yards allowed per contest. The Cards also were tied for seventh in forced turnovers, with 25. Sopho‑ more safety Gerod Holliman enters the Notre Dame game one interception shy of tying the 46‑year‑old Football Bowl Subdivision record of 14 picks in one season. The Cardinals' excellent pass rush has certainly aided Holliman, led by junior defensive end Sheldon Rankins' seven sacks and pair of quarterback hurries. "Charlie Strong was a defensive coach and recruited a lot of good play‑ ers," Bozich said. "They have good players on defense and had good play‑ ers on defense last year. People some‑ times forget Louisville had three first‑ round draft picks last year. "Everyone remembers [quarterback Teddy] Bridgewater, but the other two guys were defensive players. … Strong brought in good defensive play‑ ers and [defensive coordinator] Todd Grantham has taken over and they've kept up that performance this season." At 7‑3, the Cardinals have flown un‑ der the radar for most of the season, but Petrino's group is a couple plays away from a 9‑1 mark. Mistakes cost Louisville late in a 23‑21 loss at Virginia and a 23‑17 defeat at Clemson, not to mention the 21‑0 lead it surrendered to Florida State in an eventual 42‑31 loss Oct. 30. "They're underrated by a lot of peo‑ ple because people look at their record and say, 'Oh, they're only 7‑3,'" Bozich said. "Considering the injuries they've had on offense … there's a little bit of an explanation for it." ✦ 2014 LOUISVILLE SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept.1 Miami W, 31‑13 Sept. 6 Murray State W, 66‑21 Sept. 13 at Virginia L, 23‑21 Sept. 20 at Florida International W, 34‑3 Sept. 27 Wake Forest W, 20‑10 Oct. 3 at Syracuse W, 28‑6 Oct. 11 at Clemson L, 23‑17 Oct. 18 NC State W, 30‑18 Oct. 30 Florida State L, 42‑31 Nov. 8 at Boston College W, 38‑19 Nov. 22 at Notre Dame (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 Kentucky TBA 2014 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Aug. 30 Rice W, 48‑17 Sept. 6 Michigan W, 31‑0 Sept. 13 vs. Purdue* W, 30‑14 Sept. 27 vs. Syracuse^ W, 31‑15 Oct. 4 Stanford W, 17‑14 Oct. 11 North Carolina W, 50‑43 Oct. 18 at Florida State L, 31‑27 Nov. 1 vs. Navy+ W, 49‑39 Nov. 8 at Arizona State L, 55‑31 Nov. 15 Northwestern L, 43‑40 (OT) Nov. 22 Louisville (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at USC TBA * at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; ^ at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.; + at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.