Analyzing U of L’s newly released 2020 football schedule game by game
The ACC unveiled its 2020 football schedule on Wednesday. As was announced earlier, each school will play 10 conference games and one non-conference game. The season will start on Sept. 10. The league title game will be either Dec. 12 or Dec. 19.
As expected, Western Kentucky will be Louisville’s non-conference opponent. The Hilltoppers and Cardinals will play Sept. 12 at U of L. And the Cards avoid national runner-up Clemson and a rising North Carolina this season.
And, of course, Louisville and Kentucky will not play for the first time since 1993.
Here’s a look at the Cards’ 2020 schedule.
Sept. 12 vs. Western Kentucky: WKU was 9-4 last year under first-year head coach Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers finished the season with a 23-20 win over Western Michigan in the First Responder Bowl. The Hilltoppers have 16 starters returning for 2020, but must find a replacement for quarterback Ty Storey. U of L beat Western 38-21 last season.
Sept. 19 vs. Miami, Fla: The Hurricanes landed with a thud in 2019, finishing 6-7 with a 14-0 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. There’s hope for 2020, thanks in part to Houston grad transfer D’Eriq King, who will take over at quarterback. In his first season a year ago, Manny Diaz whipped the visiting Cards 52-27.
[Ray Lewis’ sons are coming to Kentucky to play football]
Sept. 26 at Pittsburgh: The Panthers were 8-5 last season, including a 34-30 win over Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl. Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett is one of 15 starters returning for Coach Pat Narduzzi, who is 36-29 in five seasons as the Pitt coach.
Oct. 9 at Georgia Tech: It was rough going for Geoff Collins, who went 3-9 in his first year as the Yellow Jackets coach. With 19 starters back, and more familiarity with Collins’ system — especially on offense after Paul Johnson’s triple-option attack — Tech is hoping to rebound in 2020. Heralded freshman Jeff Sims could end up being the starting quarterback.
Oct. 17 at Notre Dame: After playing host to the Irish last year, losing 35-17 in Scott Satterfield’s first game as U of L coach, the Cardinals travel to South Bend in 2020. Phil Steele has Brian Kelly’s club at No. 9 in his preseason national rankings. Veteran quarterback Ian Book leads the way.
Oct. 24 vs. Florida State: Former Memphis coach Mike Norvell takes over the Seminoles after the short and disastrous tenure of Willie Taggart. The Noles do have 17 starters returning, led by defensive lineman Marvin Wilson. If Norvell can inject some life into the FSU offense, Tallahassee will be happy. The Cards lost 35-24 at Florida State in 2019.
Oct. 31 vs. Virginia Tech: The Hokies suffered a preseason blow with star cornerback Caleb Farley opting out of 2020. Justin Fuente’s team went 8-5 last year, including that 37-30 loss to Kentucky in the Belk Bowl. Junior quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for 13 TDs with just two interceptions in 2019.
Nov. 7 at Virginia: The Cavaliers made last year’s ACC title game, losing 62-17 to Clemson. Coach Bronco Mendenhall may be hard-pressed to engineer a repeat, however. Gone is do-it-all quarterback Bryce Perkins. And Virginia’s defense faltered down the stretch last season. Louisville topped UVA 28-21 a year ago.
[Three takeaways from Kentucky’s 2019 win over Louisville]
Nov. 20 vs. Syracuse: After going 10-3 in 2018, the Orange dropped to 5-7 last season under Coach Dino Babers. And just 11 starters return. One is junior quarterback Tommy DeVito, who threw for 19 touchdowns with just five interceptions last year. But Syracuse must improve on defense, after allowing 30.7 points per game a year ago. Louisville rolled to a 56-34 win over Syracuse in 2019.
Nov. 27 at Boston College: First-year head coach Jeff Hafley takes over a team that went 6-7 last year after a 38-6 loss to Cincinnati in the Birmingham Bowl. Hafley was co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. BC’s defense has nine starters returning after allowing 32.2 points pet game in 2019. U of L beat the Eagles 41-39 last year.
Dec. 5 vs. Wake Forest: Dave Clawson is 36-40 in five seasons as the Wake coach, including an 8-5 mark last year. Just 11 starters return, however, from the team that lost 27-21 to Michigan State in the Pinstripe Bowl. Wake lost a 62-59 shootout to Louisville a season ago.
ACC’s non-conference opponents for 2020
- Boston College: Ohio on Sept. 12
- Clemson: TBA on Sept. 19
- Duke: Charlotte on Oct. 31
- Florida State: Samford on Sept. 19
- Louisville: Western Kentucky on Sept. 12
- Miami: UAB on Sept. 10
- North Carolina: TBA on Sept. 19
- N.C. State: Liberty on Nov. 21
- Notre Dame: Western Michigan on Sept. 19
- Pittsburgh: Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 12
- Syracuse: Liberty on Oct. 17
- Virginia: VMI on Sept. 11
- Virginia Tech: Liberty on Nov. 7
- Wake Forest: Old Dominion on Oct. 9
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 10:23 AM.
