MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Louisville has tried a little bit of everything. A fake basket. Having three different players taking shots from center. A setback that wasn’t one.
It was enough for the Cardinals to knock out No. 2 Miami.
Miller Moss threw two touchdown passes to Chris Bell and ran for a score, Louisville intercepted four of Miami star Carson Beck’s passes – the first time he threw that many in a college game – and the Cardinals topped the Hurricanes 24-21 on Friday night.
“That’s what college football is all about,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “Every week will be a competition until the end, no matter who you play.”
Louisville (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored touchdowns on its first two drives for a quick 14-0 lead, and the Hurricanes (5-1, 1-1) trailed the rest of the way.
Louisville also ended Miami’s 10-game winning streak at home. The last team to win in Miami? It was Louisville, in 2023.
“Obviously, a really disappointing night and result,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “At the end of the day, it’s to their credit… We didn’t coach well enough, we didn’t execute well enough and we failed. But not well enough.”
The Hurricanes were within field goal range on the final drive, but Louisville’s TJ Capers intercepted Beck’s pass in the 30th minute with 32 seconds left to seal the victory.
Moss completed 23 of 37 passes for 248 yards and Isaac Brown ran for 113 yards on 15 carries for Louisville. Bell had nine catches for 136 yards, with his touchdown runs going for 35 and 36 yards.
Beck completed 25 of 35 passes for 271 yards for Miami. The Hurricanes had little success running the ball, generating just 63 yards on 24 carries against a Louisville team that entered the night with the ACC’s No. 1 defense.
Louisville entered the game 1-8 against teams ranked No. 1 or 2 in the AP poll. The victory was then over-No. 2 Florida State, a 63-20 victory in 2016.
And on the road, there had never been a night like this for the Cardinals. They were 0-18 against Top 10 teams in true road games before Friday. Most of them weren’t even close: Louisville lost those games by an average – an average – of 26.3 points.
“Any day we can beat anyone,” Brohm said.
Miami trailed 17-13 heading into Game 4, but Moss’ catch with 13:27 left gave the Cardinals a two-point lead once again. Beck was picked off on the ensuing drive with 7:50 remaining, but Miami recovered the ball on a fumble.
Miami’s Malachi Toney scored on a 12-yard run one play after the fumble, then threw a 2-point conversion pass of his own and Miami was back in the game – trailing 24-21. But the Hurricanes didn’t get any closer.
“We did just enough,” Brohm said.
