Stanford Cardinal at Louisville Cardinals

Injuries noted

Stanford Cardinal: Brandon Nicholson (out) — CB #9 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Langdon Horace (out) — WR #18 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; London Bironas (out) — K #19 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Zaiden McDonald (out) — DB #22 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Breylan Thompson (out) — CB #27 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Sam Neely III (out) — CB #28 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Chase Cahoon (probable) — LB #32 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report; Matt Rose (out) — ILB #35 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Aidan Kilstrom (out) — OL #52 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Nathan Mejia (out) — OL #53 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Preston Jernegan (out) — ILB #54 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Brendan Delaney (out) — DL #58 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Reiman Zebert (out) — TE #83 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Peyton Warford (out) — LS #93 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report

Louisville Cardinals: Lawayne McCoy (out) — WR #7 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Antonio Watts (out) — DB #9 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jaydin Broadnax (questionable) — DB #21 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Kris Brunson (questionable) — DB #33 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Travis Egan (out) — TE #44 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jacob Baker (out) — P #48 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Gradey Anthony (questionable) — OL #61 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Bryten Close (out) — OT #63 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; James Glover-Tyson (out) — OL #67 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Anwar O'Neal (out) — OL #70 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Hamilton Atkins (out) — TE #90 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Daylen Russell (out) — DL #90 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Sam Dawson (out) — DL #98 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jerod Smith II (probable) — DL #99 listed Probable on the ACC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Davis Warren is STAN's projected starter

  7.13 Y/A

  Davis Warren is STAN's projected starting quarterback. Current-week previews name Warren as Stanford's quarterback: The Louisville Cardinal (Oct 30) says 'Under center is quarterback Davis Warren'; The Stanford Daily (Oct 30) calls him the sixth-year quarterback; WDRB (Oct 30) also names him. None of these is a team statement that he starts. No opened source reports an injury from Stanford's last game or a limited practice this week. 2026 line: 1933 passing yards, 60.1% completions, 7.13 yards per attempt, 11-2 TD-INT over 8 games.

• Lincoln Kienholz is LOU's projected starter

  10.24 Y/A

  Lincoln Kienholz is LOU's projected starting quarterback. Two current-week previews name Kienholz as Louisville's quarterback but neither calls him the starter. WDRB (Oct 30) quotes him on his health after the bye week: 'The more that I get in there, the better I feel.' The Louisville Cardinal (Oct 30) says the bye cleared 'any lingering issues Kienholz ... may have been dealing with' from weeks before. He is not on any status list in the initial ACC availability report covered by SI (Oct 29). No opened source reports a limited practice for him this week. His last game came before the bye. 2026 line: 1844 passing yards, 67.2% completions, 10.24 yards per attempt, 10-3 TD-INT over 7 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• LOU: 38.7 points per game to STAN's 19.9

  18.8 PPG

  Louisville scores 38.7 a game, nearly double Stanford's 19.9. The Cardinals are up from 29.9 last season, while Stanford has barely moved from 18.8. Louisville's jump could cool against a tougher stretch, but Stanford's number looks like its true level. The bigger question is whether Stanford can keep pace, which shapes how you view the spread more than the Louisville offense.

• STAN @ LOU carries a 60.5 market total

  60.5

  The market has 60.5 here, 9 points above the 51.5 median across 33 games, so it expects a game where both sides find the end zone regularly. That requires steady drive finishing from each offense. If one team cannot keep up and the other leans on the run to protect a lead, scoring can dry up in the second half.

TURNOVERS

• LOU: 1.86 takeaways per game to STAN's 0.63

  1.23 TO

  Louisville forces 1.86 turnovers a game over 7 games, and Stanford's defense forces 0.63 over 8. Turnover counts move around more than most stats, so neither number is fixed. The gap still suggests Louisville creates extra possessions and Stanford rarely does. Stanford's offense has to protect the ball on the road against a defense that takes it away, a spot where a short field or two can swing the margin.

MISMATCH

• LOU: 215 rush yards a game to STAN's 114.1

  215 VS 114.1

  Louisville is running for 215 yards a game over seven games, up from 163.9 last season. Stanford has improved to 114.1 from 84.5 but still lags well behind. Louisville can lean on the run at home and wear down the game clock, while Stanford has to find yards some other way. Both teams moved up from last season, so Louisville's edge on the ground looks steady for this matchup.

COVERAGE

• LOU: 34.3% third downs allowed to STAN's 48.6%

  14.3 PP

  Louisville gets off the field on about two of every three third downs across 7 games, while Stanford lets nearly half get converted across 8. That is a big enough sample to say something about both units, though the sheet doesn't show who they played. Stanford's number points to long drives allowed, which keeps Louisville's offense on the field and the clock moving at home.

REPLACEMENT

• Brandon Nicholson (CB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  CB #9 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Langdon Horace (WR) is out for STAN

  OUT

  WR #18 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• London Bironas (PK) is out for STAN

  OUT

  K #19 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Zaiden McDonald (DB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  DB #22 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Breylan Thompson (CB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  CB #27 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Sam Neely III (CB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  CB #28 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Matt Rose (LB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  ILB #35 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Aidan Kilstrom (OL) is out for STAN

  OUT

  OL #52 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Nathan Mejia (OL) is out for STAN

  OUT

  OL #53 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Preston Jernegan (LB) is out for STAN

  OUT

  ILB #54 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Brendan Delaney (DL) is out for STAN

  OUT

  DL #58 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Reiman Zebert (TE) is out for STAN

  OUT

  TE #83 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Peyton Warford (LS) is out for STAN

  OUT

  LS #93 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Lawayne McCoy (WR) is out for LOU

  OUT

  WR #7 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Antonio Watts (DB) is out for LOU

  OUT

  DB #9 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Travis Egan (TE) is out for LOU

  OUT

  TE #44 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Jacob Baker (P) is out for LOU

  OUT

  P #48 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Bryten Close (OT) is out for LOU

  OUT

  OT #63 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• James Glover-Tyson (OL) is out for LOU

  OUT

  OL #67 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Anwar O'Neal (OL) is out for LOU

  OUT

  OL #70 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Hamilton Atkins (TE) is out for LOU

  OUT

  TE #90 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Daylen Russell (DL) is out for LOU

  OUT

  DL #90 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Sam Dawson (DL) is out for LOU

  OUT

  DL #98 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

SITUATIONAL

• LOU has 6 more days of rest

  8d vs 14d

  Louisville comes off a bye with 14 days of rest, and Stanford has 8 days plus a trip to Kentucky. That is a long road trip on a normal week of rest against a home team that had two weeks to get healthy and prepare. Count the travel and the rest gap together when sizing up Stanford in this spot.

• STAN: 44.4% fourth-down conversion rate to LOU's 0%

  44.4 PP

  Louisville has not converted a fourth down this season over seven games, while Stanford hits 44.4%. Louisville was at 64.3% last season, so zero looks like a small number of attempts and bad luck more than who they are. Stanford also dropped from 58.3%. Expect Louisville's number to climb, and don't assume they fail if they go for it in a big spot.

• STAN: 2.25 fourth-down attempts per game to LOU's 0.57

  1.68 ATT/G

  STAN is at 2.25 fourth-down attempts per game over 8 games; LOU is at 0.57 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 30. Last season STAN was at 2 over 12 games and LOU at 1.08 over 13 games.

TEAM RECORD

• LOU is 3-1 at home; STAN is 0-3 on the road

  3-1

  Louisville has won three of four at home, and Stanford has lost all three of its road games. Those are short samples, three and four games, so the splits can swing with one result. Both trends point the same way in this game, which makes the venue a real factor to weigh rather than a tiebreaker.

• ACC game: STAN 2-3, LOU 3-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the ACC. STAN is 2-3 against it, LOU is 3-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-31.