Who Won Louisville Football Game Today: Why the Scoreboard Might Look Empty

Wait, let's clear something up right away. If you’re refreshing your feed looking for a final score from the gridiron, you're going to be waiting a while. Nobody won the Louisville football game today because the season is actually over.

It’s January 14, 2026.

The Cardinals haven't played a snap of football since they took down the Toledo Rockets back on December 23, 2025. That 27-22 win in the Boca Raton Bowl was the exclamation point on Jeff Brohm’s third season at his alma mater. So, while there’s no "game today," there is a massive amount of movement happening behind the scenes that basically determines who wins the games next September.

Why There Wasn't a Louisville Football Game Today

In the modern college football landscape, the "season" never really stops, but the actual games do. The Cardinals finished their 2025 campaign with a solid 9-4 record. That’s the first time since the 2012-2014 era that Louisville has managed to string together three straight seasons with at least nine wins. Honestly, that's the kind of consistency fans were begging for during the lean years.

The confusion today probably stems from the fact that Louisville Basketball actually played a high-stakes game. The 20th-ranked Cards hosted the 16th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers at the KFC Yum! Center last night (January 13).

It didn't go well.

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Virginia jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never really let go, winning 79-70. If you heard someone talking about a Louisville loss "today," they were almost certainly talking about Pat Kelsey’s squad, not Jeff Brohm’s.

The Real "Win" for Louisville Football This Week

While the scoreboard at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is dark, the "win" column for 2026 is already growing. Just yesterday, January 13, Jeff Brohm landed a massive commitment that had the local message boards exploding.

Lincoln Kienholz, the former Ohio State quarterback, officially signed with the Cardinals.

Kienholz is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound playmaker who spent three years with the Buckeyes. He’s coming in with two years of eligibility left. Think about that for a second. In an era where the transfer portal is basically a frantic game of musical chairs, landing a guy with Big Ten pedigree to compete for the starting job is a huge deal.

He’s not alone, either. Brohm has been busy. This week alone, the Cards added:

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• Brody Foley: A massive tight end transfer from Tulsa (via Indiana).
• Koen Entringer: A physical safety from Iowa.
• Cason Henry: An offensive lineman from South Carolina who adds immediate size.
• Justyn Reid: Another tight end to help bolster the depth.

Who Won Louisville Football Game Today: The Recruiting Scoreboard

If we’re counting "wins" by roster talent, then Louisville is currently on a hot streak. They’ve added about 10 transfers in the last week. The focus is clear: dominate the trenches. A lot of people get caught up in the flashy wide receiver recruits, but Brohm is clearly looking at what happened in those narrow losses to Clemson (19-20) and Miami (24-21) last season. Those games were lost in the dirt. By grabbing guys like Eryx Daugherty from Boston College—a guy who didn't allow a single sack last year—the Cardinals are trying to ensure Miller Moss or Lincoln Kienholz actually has time to throw the ball.

Looking Back at the Last Actual Win

To find the last time someone "won" a Louisville football game, you have to look at the Boca Raton Bowl.

That game was a bit of a "rock fight" early on. Louisville and Toledo were tied in a defensive struggle through three quarters, but the fourth quarter turned into a track meet. Miller Moss, the USC transfer who led the offense all year, was named MVP after throwing for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

But the real story was the ground game. Both Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown cleared 100 yards rushing. Seeing two different backs hit triple digits in a bowl game is rare, and it’s why people are so high on the 2026 outlook.

What’s Next for the Cardinals?

Since there isn't a game today, what should you actually be watching? The next big date on the calendar isn't a kickoff; it's the closing of the current transfer portal window and the start of spring practice.

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The coaching staff is currently out on the road, and the recruiting office is working overtime. They’re specifically hunting for explosive receivers like Tre Richardson and Dre'lon Miller to round out the offense.

If you're a fan, the "win" you're looking for right now isn't a score—it's a commitment graphic on social media. The roster is being rebuilt in real-time.

Next Steps for Fans:

• Track the Portal: Keep an eye on the defensive line depth; with several seniors departing, that’s the next area Brohm needs to "win" in the portal.
• Spring Game Prep: Mark your calendars for April. That will be the first time we see Kienholz and the new transfers in a live-action (ish) setting.
• Check the Rankings: With the recent influx of talent, expect Louisville to start appearing in "Way Too Early" Top 25 lists for the 2026 season.

The scoreboard might be empty today, but the foundation for the 2026 season is being poured right now. That's where the real winning is happening.