—The 2026-27 U of L athletics season begins tonight with the women’s soccer team hosting Nebraska at 7:30 p.m. Here’s a preview.
—Inside Carolina reacts to the Seth Trimble transfer news.
—Athlon has Louisville at No. 23 in its college football preseason top 25.
—Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney breaks down Seth Trimble’s fit at Louisville and explains why the expectations for the Cardinals just got a lot higher.
Trimble blossomed into a highly effective college guard in an increasingly-rare four-year stint in Chapel Hill, and had a career year in 2025–26. He averaged 14 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Heels this past season, in addition to being an excellent perimeter defender. And while his three-point shot has never been consistent, he made one of the most memorable shots of the season from beyond the arc, knocking down a three at the buzzer to beat Duke in February.
Those traits make him a perfect fit for a Louisville roster assembled almost entirely via the portal this spring. Trimble is expected to start alongside Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad, another highly-decorated transfer addition who scored over 1,000 points in three seasons in Eugene. The two should play well off each other: Trimble’s elite on-ball defense and ability to generate paint touches offensively are even more valuable next to a guard like Shelstad who is best when he’s firing away from the perimeter but who isn’t a great defender.
Trimble should also thrive playing with Louisville’s biggest portal pickup in Flory Bidunga, the Kansas transfer who’s one of the most dynamic athletes in college basketball. He should be an incredible lob target for Shelstad and Trimble in pick-and-roll situations, particularly when surrounded with effective floor spacers like Karter Knox (Arkansas) and Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa).
In all, that five-man group is arguably the most impressive collection of transfer talent in the sport for 2026–27. All five are proven high-major starting-caliber pieces. Three (Shelstad, Trimble and Bidunga) have been stars. Three of the five have played into the second weekend of the NCAA tournament in their careers; the other two (Shelstad and Bidunga) have each won games in the Dance.
And that experience is critical because the expectations for the Cardinals will be sky high. This was already a team that had pushed the chips in to contend before adding Trimble. With him, there will be no excuses if Kelsey can’t get Louisville playing deep into March. Kelsey has taken the Cards to the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons with the program, a significant step after the school missed out the four seasons prior. But Louisville hasn’t made the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since 2015, by far the program’s longest drought since the tournament expanded to 64 teams. The time is now for Kelsey to prove he’s the man to not just help the program climb out of its worst era, but to elevate it into a championship-caliber place.
—With the addition of Trimble, Louisville has moved into the top 10 of Jon Rothstein’s preseason rankings.
—U of L commit Ja’Hyde Brown has been a fixture at Louisville’s open practices, putting to bed any doubt that the Christian Academy star might sign with someone other than the Cards in December.
—The Sporting News’ Bill Bender thinks a 20-team College Football Playoff field deserves a chance.
—I simply must have one of the Black Kelsey bobbleheads.
‘Pat Kelsey’ sure looks…. umm…. different than I remember him. pic.twitter.com/CsmTCBz8kL
— Justin Soforo (@JustinSoforo) August 9, 2026—If you want women’s professional soccer to stay in Louisville, the best thing you can do is show up for the team over the next couple of months. You can start on Saturday at “Down the Stretch Night,” which will feature a T-shirt giveaway, happy hour and pregame theatrics like fireworks and a flyover.
Card Chronicle readers can get discounted tickets by going here.
—Clev Lubin has been named to the watch list for the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
—North Carolina AD Steve Newmark on the Seth Trimble transfer (via Pete Thamel): “The timing of the decision, the ongoing legal process and the circumstances surrounding our roster made that increasingly difficult to navigate. We are grateful for Seth’s contributions to our program and the University, and to us, Seth will always be a Tar Heel.”
—There is a history of average three-point shooters at North Carolina becoming good three-point shooters once they transfer to another program. Just sayin’.
UNC Caleb Love: 30% – 7.4 3PA/g
AZ Love: 34% – 7.7
UNC Tyler Nickel: 22% – 7.2 3PA/per 40
VAN Nickel: 40% – 9.9 3PA/per 40
UNC Cadeau: 28% – 1.9 3PA/g
UM Cadeau: 39% – 4.3
UNC Cade Tyson: 29% – 1.5 3PA/g
MIN Tyson: 41% – 5.4
UNC Pete Nance: 32% – 3.3 3PA/g
NW Nance: 45% – 3.1 https://t.co/RfV9F2V6Iz
—C.L. Brown writes that if Louisville doesn’t challenge for an ACC title this fall, a lack of elite depth might be the culprit.
—Louisville’s blitz button is now in the hands of Mark Ivey.
—Eric Crawford pens some thoughts on Seth Trimble’s move from UNC to U of L.
—New Purdue athletic director Tommy McClelland with maybe the biggest example of “when keeping it rivalry goes wrong” that I’ve ever seen.
Already less than impressed with Purdue’s new athletic director hire.
Why????
Why in god’s name would you say this?
Do you realize how dumb this makes you look??? pic.twitter.com/UAcyiXwZ9I
—Louisville men’s soccer standout Giacomo Zizza has been named to the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy Midfielders to Watch List.
—The U of L cross country team has unveiled its 2026 schedule.
—Athlon predicts that Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy will lead the country in rushing this season. The Louisville defense can put a big dent in that prediction in week one.
—Ball knower? Wealthy ball knower?
Notable Heisman trophy bet from @CaesarsSports bettor in Illinois:
➡️$5,000.75 on Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz to win the Heisman at 90-1 odds
Bet would win $450,067.50
—Class of 2027 wing Josh Smith Jr. — the son of former NBA standout Josh Smith — has enrolled at North Oldham to play basketball for David Levitch. He and Pierre Rondo should make up one of the best tandems in the state this winter.
—Murray State absolutely wrecked France’s reserve squad earlier this week. The Racers have a chance to be very good in 2026-27.
—The CJ’s Alexis Cubit writes about what she learned from Louisville football’s second open practice.
—In less than three months, there will be hoops.
Sights and sounds: summer practice edition. pic.twitter.com/iDEAKoPqPG
— Trilly Donovan (@trillydonovan) August 10, 2026—Matt McGavic writes about what Seth Trimble brings to the table for Louisville.
—The Cards do not appear in Sports Illustrated’s preseason college football top 25.
—Miami head coach Jai Lucas has agreed a new five-year contract with The U.
—The CJ’s Brooks Holton takes a closer look at U of L hoops freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr.
—Jason Frakes looks at the 75 best high school football seniors in Kentucky for the upcoming season.
—This is so gross.
New look to the floor at Fertitta Center. pic.twitter.com/0nmTt6Vnt3
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) August 10, 2026—The FBI and NCAA are collaborating to combat a disturbing trend: the sexual exploitation and extortion of college athletes.
—AL.com writes that hiring former U of L assistant Richard Owens might have been the most underrated move Kalen DeBoer made at Alabama this offseason.
—On3 has Louisville football at No. 22 in its preseason top 25.
—Texas Roadhouse is taking over at the top of Kaden Tower.
—Great news for a guy who was an absolute warrior for three years at U of L.
Bryan Hudson spent most of last season on practice squad. Now he's working with first team at center with John Michael Schmitz + Lucas Patrick injured. Hudson was pushing even before both went down. He's more than holding his own.
"I think he's done really well," Harbaugh said."
—A preseason top 10 ranking is familiar, but Louisville volleyball is built a bit different heading into the 2026 season.
—Antonio Watts (first team), Clev Lubin (second team) and Tayon Holloway (third team) are all Pro Football Network preseason All-Americans.
—Louisville fans heading to Nashville for the Ole Miss game: There will be a free pre and post-game party at Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk on Broadway. More details here.
—Still reeling from this news.
I would love to see Teddy on our sidelines one day 🙏. pic.twitter.com/HSkTs5cdk5
— Cardiac Cardinal (@_Cardiac_Card) August 9, 2026—Joel Klatt of Fox Sports has Louisville at No. 19 in his preseason top 25.
—The Athletic’s annual college football freaks list is here.
—Louisville traveled to Romania to watch 2028 five-star Benji Berrouet. He answered with 33 points and 22 rebounds. An offer soon followed.
—Quentin Snider, Ballard’s all-time leading scorer, will be an assistant at arch-rival Eastern this season.
—Tre Richardson showing off some of the positive sides of the NIL world.
I was blessed enough to take my son to Disney World and the beach and so many places in our 1st ever family vacation. To see the smile on his face #heismyworld Here are a few pics. Vlog coming soon. TJ is my who and my why. #Youdeservetheworldbecauseyouaremyworldpic.twitter.com/aldOyAG2Xi
— Tre Richardson (@Trerich20) August 9, 2026—College Football Zone has Louisville going 10-2. I don’t know who they are or if they even have a website, but they have Louisville going 10-2 so they get a mention here.
—The latest episode of the Starting 502 Podcast is here.
—A healthy Tre Richardson should bring elite speed to Louisville’s passing game.
—The NCAA put its faith in Congress to fix its problems. Now it’s paying the price.
—And finally, the Mike Rutherford Show is breaking down the Seth Trimble news and more from 2:30-5:30 this afternoon on 1450/96.1. You can watch the live stream here.
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