The No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (7-1, 4-1 ACC) defeated the No. 18 Duke Blue Devils (5-2, 2-2 ACC) by a score of 23-0 on Saturday at L&N Stadium, in a crucial game for the ACC title race. The Cardinals bounced back from their loss at Pitt two weeks ago, and claimed sole possession of second place in the ACC standings behind Florida State.
Jordan Leads Louisville’s Ground Attack
Louisville’s offense was led by running back Jawhar Jordan, who rushed for a career-high 163 yards on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. Jordan had his ninth career 100-yard rushing game, all coming within the past 13 games. He scored on runs of 14 and 23 yards, giving Louisville an early 14-0 lead.
The Cardinals relied heavily on their running game, as they attempted only 16 passes and completed nine for 97 yards. Quarterback Malik Cunningham did not throw any touchdowns or interceptions, but he added 42 yards on the ground. Louisville finished with 260 rushing yards and 357 total yards.
Louisville’s Defense Dominates Duke
Louisville’s defense was equally impressive, as they shut out a ranked opponent for the first time in program history. The Cardinals held Duke to only 202 yards of total offense and 51 yards rushing. Duke’s quarterback Gunnar Leonard struggled to find any rhythm, as he completed only 12 of 27 passes for 151 yards and one interception.
Louisville’s defense also forced two turnovers on downs, and did not allow Duke to cross midfield until late in the second quarter. The Blue Devils were held to nine first downs, matching the lowest by a ranked opponent in program history. Duke also went 3-for-15 on third down conversions, and failed to score on any of their four trips to the red zone.
Travelstead Adds Three Field Goals for Louisville
Louisville’s kicker Brock Travelstead had a perfect day, as he made all three of his field goal attempts and both of his extra points. Travelstead connected from 47, 20, and 24 yards, accounting for nine of Louisville’s points. He also had four touchbacks on his kickoffs, and averaged 41.8 yards on his four punts.
Travelstead has been a reliable weapon for the Cardinals this season, as he has made 13 of his 15 field goal attempts and all of his 32 extra points. He leads the team in scoring with 71 points, and ranks second in the ACC in field goal percentage (86.7%).
What’s Next for Louisville and Duke
With the win, Louisville improves to 4-0 in the all-time series vs. Duke, including 2-0 at L&N Stadium. The Cardinals also extend their home winning streak to nine games, tied for fifth longest in program history and longest since 2015-16. Louisville has also won its last four home games vs. opponents ranked in the AP or coaches poll.
Louisville will continue its three-game home stand next week, when they host Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Hokies are currently tied with North Carolina for third place in the ACC standings, with a record of 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Duke drops to third place in the ACC Coastal division, behind Miami and Virginia. The Blue Devils will look to bounce back next week, when they travel to Winston-Salem to face Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 4 at noon EST. The Demon Deacons are currently last in the ACC Atlantic division, with a record of 2-6 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
