Backfield questions in play as Louisville visits Pitt

Field Level Media|published: Tue 23rd September, 13:02 2025

Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm during the game against visiting Bowling Green in Louisville, Kentucky. Sept. 20, 2025

Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said his team will face its toughest test so far on Saturday afternoon at Pitt, and the Cardinals might have to do it without two of their top running backs.

Brohm said Monday that the backs, Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, have lower leg injuries.

Brown was a 1,000-yard rusher last season and has 248 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in 2025. He had only one carry for 18 yards in Saturday's 40-17 victory over Bowling Green after being limited in practice.

Watson, who ran for 597 yards in 2024, did not play vs. the Falcons.

"Hopefully, we get them back, but I will not know until later in the week," Brohm said.

The Cardinals (3-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) did not reveal the news about the injuries last weekend until just before kickoff. With this week's game being an ACC contest, both the Cardinals and Panthers (2-1, 0-0) must file player availability reports starting Thursday night.

The conference opener for both teams also will be the Cardinals' first against a Power 4 program this season. Louisville has outscored its opponents 119-48, and its defense ranks fourth nationally by allowing an average of 114.7 passing yards a game.

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein has eclipsed 300 passing yards in back-to-back games entering Saturday's contest.

"We know that we will be much more tested against the offenses we face from here on out," Brohm said.

The Panthers come off their first off week of the season. They squandered a 10-point lead and dropped a 31-24 decision in overtime at West Virginia on Sept. 13.

Pitt was whistled for 14 penalties, but it was not just the number that concerned coach Pat Narduzzi.

"We can't have our older guys, our seniors, our leadership guys, making those types of critical errors," he said.

Saturday's game will feature two of the top defensive fronts. Pitt is tied with four teams by averaging four sacks per game, while Louisville is recording 3.3.

The Cardinals posted a 37-9 win over the Panthers at home last November, a game in which Holstein suffered a season-ending leg injury.

In 2023, the host Panthers scored a 38-21 victory over a then-undefeated Louisville squad that was coming off an upset of Notre Dame in the previous week.

--Field Level Media