Storylines, players to watch in Louisville football game vs. Stanford

Louisville football went into the Week 8 bye week with back-to-back wins and will look to keep its winning ways going.The Cardinals enter the final stretch of the regular season by hosting Stanford at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The two teams have only played once, in 2024. The Cardinal won that contest at home, 38-35. The Cardinals will now get Stanford at home before going on the road for the next two weeks.Stanford, too, has recorded consecutive victories, picking up its second ACC win of the year by holding off NC State, 31-28, during Week 8 action. The Cardinal opened the game with a 14-0 lead and was able to hold off the Wolfpack's 14-point, fourth-quarter rally. (NC State, which beat Louisville in Week 5, fired coach Dave Doeren after the game.)Here are three storylines to watch in the Cards' Oct. 31 game against the Cardinal:Stanford haunts Louisville on HalloweenLouisville was a top-25 team and 20½-point favorite with a top-20 offense looking for its fourth consecutive ACC road victory when it played Stanford in 2024. Many wrote the game off as an automatic win with the Cardinals having just recorded the program's first-ever triumph over Clemson and Stanford having lost six straight games. But the Cardinal opened the game with a 10-0 lead and outscored UofL 25-14 in the second half to record the 38-35 upset victory.The loss is one of the biggest examples of the Cardinals' knack for letdown losses after a big victory. Two years later, Stanford comes to the Derby City and is, once again, an underdog. Running back Isaac Brown and linebacker Stanquan Clark are the only remaining starters from Louisville's 2024 squad. The squad will look to avoid another upset loss to the Cardinal, which put together back-to-back wins for the first time in two years after beating Elon and NC State.Louisville has won back-to-back games and gets the Cardinal following a Week 8 bye. The Cardinals have already suffered three three-point losses this season but have seemingly found the necessary fixes for the problems that ailed them.How will the bye help with Louisville's lingering injuries?UofL has struggled with injuries most of the season. But the ailments seemed to have increased over the last couple of weeks. Running back Keyjuan Brown, defensive lineman AJ Green and cornerback DJ Waller have each missed a game, while starting offensive lineman Anwar O'Neal has missed three contests over the course of the season. And although quarterback Lincoln Kienholz hasn't missed time, he's been playing through what appears to have been a lower leg injury.The bye gave the Cardinals time to heal and rest up before heading into a final stretch of the season that includes three road games.Brohm, Pritchard lead alma maters in contestLouisville head coach Jeff Brohm can relate to Tavita Pritchard: Both men have been tasked with leading their respective alma maters. After graduating from Stanford in 2009, Pritchard was hired to lead the Cardinal on Nov. 28, 2025. Brohm helped UofL to its first 10-win season in a decade when he made his head coaching debut with the Cardinals in 2023. The Cardinals have also recorded the program's first win over Clemson and road win over Miami during Brohm's four years at the helm of the team.Pritchard opened his tenure with the Cardinal with a 37-27 win over Hawaii. Stanford's upset win over the Wolfpack gave it four wins, matching the program's 2025 total. With four games left on its slate, the Cardinal is now two wins away from bowl eligibility, something it hasn't achieved since 2018.Louisville football players to watchKeyjuan Brown, running back: After missing one game, Brown returned to the field and scored twice against Syracuse, finishing with 50 yards on 13 carries. A week's worth of rest can help him recover and continue being an integral part of the Cardinals' run game.Antonio Harris, cornerback: Harris saw a significant uptick in his reps against Syracuse and had three tackles and a pass breakup over 61 snaps. He'd only played 13 snaps in the previous six weeks and could be counted on again to play more with the Cardinals looking to improve their defense.Tyler Thompson, defensive lineman: Thompson helped the Cardinals' improved pass rush and recorded two of the team's season-high five sack along with five total tackles against Syracuse, earning ACC Player of the Week honors. He'll be needed to continue getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks with UofL looking to start the final five-game stretch of the regular season on a high note.Stanford football players to watchDavis Warren, quarterback: The Michigan transfer is averaging 241.6 passing yards per game with 11 passing touchdowns through eight contests. He had four of those touchdowns against NC State, completing 22 of his 37 passes for 303 yards.Caden High, wide receiver: The Atlanta native is the Cardinal's leading receiver with 440 yards on 30 catches while catching four TD passes. He continued to be a reliable receiver for Warren with his second 100-yard receiving game against the Wolfpack, tallying 103 yards and a score on nine receptions.Jay Green, safety: As the leader of Stanford's defense, Green has a co-team-high 49 tackles, including six in the three-point victory over NC State..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Courier Journal Sports (@courierjournal_sports) • Instagram photos and videosLouisville vs. Stanford football predictionLouisville 45, Stanford 24. The Cardinals have already had their slip-up moment of the season. They won't let it happen against Stanford, avenging the 2024 loss by by capitalizing on their newfound momentum and adjustments.How to watch Louisville vs. Stanford footballWho: Louisville vs. StanfordWhen: 3:15 p.m. SaturdayWhere: L&N StadiumTV: ACC NetworkRadio: Louisville Radio Network (93.9 FM and 970 AM)Streaming: Qualified subscribers can watch the game at espn.com/watch..oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Storylines, players to watch in Louisville football game vs. StanfordOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.