Miami Hurricanes Week 8 Preview: Louisville Cardinals

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Miami, Florida – The second break is over, and the Miami Hurricanes are back in action as they host the Louisville Cardinals for some Friday night football. UM checks in at number two in the country and is about to embark on a taxing seven-game stretch consisting of ACC opponents. The red birds are also coming off their second bye week after losing a close one to then No. 24 Virginia, 30-27. With a 4-1 overall record (1-1 in ACC play), the Cardiac Canes are a good opportunity to attempt a big upset that shapes the college football playoff and Heisman race.

Only 24 hours until we’re back to work @HardRockStadium 🙌@CanesFootball | @ChickfilA pic.twitter.com/JDklfj2mbt

— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 16, 2025

Led by Jeff Brohm, he is in his third season at Louisville. Brohm is 19-8 overall with the program, including a 12-4 ACC Record. He’s the first Coach at Louisville to win 19 games over two seasons since 2014. Throw in winning six of eight bowl games, and it’s easy to say Louisville has a competent coach. Miami won last year’s meeting in a 52-45 shootout at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, but Brohm won the year before that 38-31 on the Canes’ turf. Despite being heavily favored, Louisville usually puts up a good fight.

Louisville

Miller Moss

Another tight end TD 🔥

📺 ESPN2#GoCards x @NateKurisky pic.twitter.com/AIVXCNXtFc

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) September 27, 2025

The Cardinals are averaging 36 points a game, and they’re facing the toughest defense on their schedule. Miller Moss has thrown for 1,358 yards, including seven touchdowns, with four interceptions. Moss torched Virginia, passing for 329 yards and scoring twice, complemented by another TD on the ground. The performance was tempered with one interception. The redshirt senior will need to be on his A game if he hopes to surpass Miami’s improved secondary.

Chris Bell

Chris Bell #0

-Miller Moss’s favorite target
-4 TDs pic.twitter.com/1iHUbPBM4e

— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) October 16, 2025

This 6’2 senior is the team’s WR1. Chris Bell leads the red birds with 35 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns. The wideout caught 12 passes for 170 yards and a pair of trips to the endzone. Bell has crossed the centennial mark two games in a row. Both were against ACC opponents, and he fully intends to make it three inside Hard Rock Stadium. Averaging 14.3 yards per catch, this is the deep threat UM needs to contain.

Clev Lubin

Clev Lubin is a relentless force off the edge

Boasts a 42.1% true pass rush win rate 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/E8EUB3BjSV

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 26, 2025

The sack (4) leader on the team, Clev Lubin, is a defensive lineman in his first year with Louisville after transferring from Coastal Carolina. Recording 24 tackles, 11 of those solo, Lubin also deflected two passes and forced a fumble. The O-line knows to keep him as far away from Carson Beck as possible. The Cards’ defense performed well against non-conference opponents, but ACC foes Pittsburgh and Virginia had no trouble scoring at least 27 points against them. Bring in the high-flying Hurricanes, and this is likely a similar result.

Miami

Mark Fletcher Jr.

Mark Fletcher Jr BEAST MODE

Touchdown @CanesFootball! pic.twitter.com/pseiYSHmoX

— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) September 14, 2025

Miami was held to a mere 97 rushing yards back in week six, the ground game’s worst performance of the season. Mark Fletcher Jr. managed an anaemic 40 yards on 12 carries, averaging a smidge over three yards a play without a touchdown. Fletcher goes into the contest tallying 428 yards and five TDs, hoping to repeat the numbers produced against Florida and USF. He’ll do better on Friday night with at least 80 yards and a trip to the endzone.

Bryce Fitzgerald

Bryce Fitzgerald gets his 3rd pick of season!!!! pic.twitter.com/0ZcqDwzzYO

— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) October 5, 2025

So in my last preview, I was trying to decide between choosing Bryce Fitzgerald and Rueben Bain. Although picking Bain was a good choice, I had a feeling Fitzgerald would snag himself an interception. You can imagine my reaction when he did. The freshman defensive back is quite the ball hawk, notching three of the unit’s five interceptions. I don’t think he’ll nab a fourth versus Louisville, but I’m starting to think the consensus four-star DB out of high school is a mini Kamren Kinchens.

Akheem Mesidor

Rueben Bain Jr. gets all the hype, but Akheem Mesidor has been dominant as well 👀

He has a 29.4% pass rush win rate to go with his 5 pressure and 1 sack. 6th year senior who can be a difference maker in both phases of the game. pic.twitter.com/klCk0eCO3t

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 10, 2025

The Cards have more to worry about than just Bain. Akheem Mesidor’s presence strengthens the defensive front, helping to win the fight in the trenches. Collecting 23 tackles, 12 of them solo, and 3.5 sacks, Mesidor continues to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The versatile defender’s explosive first step and ability to shed blockers enable Mesidor to penetrate the backfield, resulting in pressure on the quarterback. His best asset is that good ‘ol football IQ, enabling him to read and react to plays swiftly. He’ll get at least one sack.

Prediction

The Battle of the Birds is going to be a fun one. It might be close in the beginning, but the Hurricanes will start to pull away. Louisville will be without an important player, linebacker and South Florida native Stanquan Clark. The Cardinals will also be without running back Duke Watson. UM, meanwhile, remains healthy with the hope that the injury bug stays far, far away since there are no more bye weeks the rest of the year. Canes win 41-21.

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