Louisville, Ky. — Isaac Brown turned in the best performance of his young career, rushing for 205 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries as No. 19 Louisville outlasted Boston College 38–24 on Saturday night at L&N Stadium.
The Cardinals (6–1, 3–1 ACC) piled up 317 rushing yards, using explosive plays to overcome three turnovers and an uneven offensive night. Brown ignited the crowd from the opening snap, ripping off a 73-yard run on Louisville’s first play from scrimmage. He later broke free for a 62-yard touchdown late in the first half, giving the Cards a 21–10 lead at the break.
“Even when we’re not sharp, our guys compete,” head coach Jeff Brohm said. “It wasn’t perfect — far from it — but the team found a way to respond when it mattered.”
Brown’s Breakout and a Gritty Finish
Brown’s fumble early in the third quarter gave the Eagles (1–7, 0–5 ACC) new life. Boston College capitalized immediately as Grayson James connected with Kaelan Chudzinski for a 23-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21–17.
But Louisville’s defense stiffened, and quarterback Miller Moss guided a crucial drive midway through the fourth quarter. After a fumble recovery by Antonio Watts set up the Cards deep in BC territory, Moss fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to Caullin Lacy, extending the lead to 28–17.
Moss finished 15-of-27 passing for 187 yards and one touchdown, while also scoring twice on the ground in the first half. Despite the victory, the sophomore signal-caller was his own harshest critic.
“We left a lot on the field,” Moss admitted. “The good thing is we still scored 38 points and found a way to win, but offensively we’ve got a lot to clean up.”
Louisville closed the door for good when Keyjuan Brown burst through the middle for a 67-yard touchdown run with 1:49 left, capping a 95-yard rushing night on just 10 carries.
Eagles Fight but Fall Short
Boston College, led by head coach Bill O’Brien, stuck to its ball-control game plan early, holding possession for nearly 24 minutes in the first half. But the defense simply couldn’t contain Louisville’s big-play rushing attack.
Quarterback Grayson James finished with 244 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, including scores to Chudzinski and Lewis Bond. Still, costly turnovers and defensive breakdowns doomed the Eagles to their seventh straight loss, their longest skid since 2015–16.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a game with that many explosive runs,” O’Brien said. “We just couldn’t keep their speed in check. That’s on me — I’ve got to coach better.”
Defensive Resolve and ACC Momentum
Despite being on the field for nearly 80% of the first half, Louisville’s defense came alive after halftime. The unit — ranked 10th nationally entering the weekend — forced three turnovers in the second half, two of which directly led to touchdowns.
“Our defense really held us together,” Brohm said. “They kept making stops and setting us up with short fields.”
The win marked a key milestone for Brohm’s team — the first time under his tenure that Louisville followed an upset victory over a ranked opponent with another win. With their 6–1 record, the Cardinals remain firmly in the ACC Championship race.
The Takeaway
Louisville: The Cardinals proved they can win ugly. Even with inconsistent execution, their physical rushing attack and opportunistic defense carried the day. Isaac Brown’s breakout night gives Louisville another weapon as they eye the season’s stretch run.
Boston College: The Eagles’ offensive effort wasn’t enough to mask their defensive lapses. Their bowl hopes are officially over, ending a two-year postseason streak.
Up Next:
Boston College: Returns home to face No. 12 Notre Dame on Saturday.
Louisville: Travels to Virginia Tech for another pivotal ACC matchup.
Behind Isaac Brown’s explosive night and a resilient defense, Louisville showed once again that when the game gets messy — they’re built to survive and advance.
