The team’s hopes of a deep run in the 2026 March Madness hinge on contributions from veteran guards and bench play now that Brown — a projected NBA lottery pick — won’t be on the floor.

Without his scoring punch and playmaking, coach Pat Kelsey’s squad must lean even harder on slashing guard Ryan Conwell and a balanced attack to overcome South Florida Bulls in their matchup at the Round of 64.

Why won’t Mikel Brown play against South Florida?

Mikel Brown Jr. won’t play in Louisville’s NCAA Tournament opener against South Florida because he’s dealing with a lingering back injury that has kept him out of recent games and forced him off the court for this matchup.

The University of Louisville announced that the star freshman guard will be unavailable for Thursday’s Round of 64 game, citing the lower back issue that first flared up earlier this season and has limited his availability down the stretch.

He has missed multiple contests recently as Louisville managed without him late in the regular season and during the ACC Tournament due to this same injury. The Cardinals’ medical staff and coaching staff opted to hold him out rather than risk further aggravation, especially with their NCAA hopes on the line.

His absence is significant: He is a key piece of the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team offense and one of the team’s top scorers and playmakers this season. Without him, their rotation and rhythm will look noticeably different.

How long will Mikel Brown be out?

Mikel Brown is expected to miss at least the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament and won’t play against South Florida, and current reports indicate he could also be unavailable if Louisville advances to the Round of 32.

According to the team’s official statement, he’ll remain out “the rest of this week” even if the Cardinals move past their first game — meaning there’s no firm timeline for his return yet.

At this stage, Louisville has not provided a specific return date beyond this tournament weekend. Coach Pat Kelsey and staff have been cautious, prioritizing his long‑term health over a rushed comeback.

That said, some reports note it’s possible he could be available later in the tournament if the Cardinals advance and if his back responds well in the coming days but nothing has been confirmed.

[Watch Louisville vs Washington online for FREE in the US on Fubo]

The Louisville Cardinals head into the Sun Bowl as slim 2.5-point favorites against the Washington Huskies, with the over/under set at 49.5 points in what promises to be a compelling college football showdown.

Louisville are brimming with confidence after a commanding 41-14 win over in-state rival Kentucky, while Washington looks to rebound from a rough 49-21 loss to Oregon, seeking to end their season on a high note.

When will the Louisville vs Washington match be played?

Louisville face Washington this Tuesday, December 31st, in the highly anticipated 2024 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The game will kick off at 2:00 PM (ET).

Louisville vs Washington: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:00 PM

CT: 1:00 PM

MT: 12:00 PM

PT: 11:00 AM

How to watch Louisville vs Washington in the USA

Catch the 2024 college football clash between Louisville and Washington live on Fubo (free trial). Alternatively, you can tune in to CBS.

The talented point guard exploded for a career-high 33 points, giving Mark Pope’s team a much-needed offensive boost in one of the most important games of the season.

He didn’t miss a single shot from the floor — not even from beyond the arc — to lead the nation’s No. 5 team to a win in the Battle of the Bluegrass. That’s why Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey had no choice but to tip his hat to him.

Pat Kelsey says he has nightmares with Lamont Butler

“Lamont Butler was magnificent,” Kelsey said. “I still see that kid in my nightmares because we played against him when I was the head coach of the College of Charleston and he was the point guard at San Diego State … he was just an absolute warrior. He’s a winner. He’s been out the last couple of games. People were talking about whether he’s going to play or not; I said, ‘That cat is playing. You can mark that one down.’ He is a stone-cold killer and a really good player.“

Mark Pope reacts to Butler’s epic performance

“He’s been that way his whole career. He’s got better and better and better and we’re gonna see some of the some of the beauty,“ coach Mark Pope said of his talented point guard.

Butler finished with 33 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 6 three-pointers on 10-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-6 from beyond the arc, becoming just the second SEC player to score 30+ without missing a shot in the past two decades.

The Trojans finished the regular season with a record of six wins and six losses, far from the contenders for the next stage. Despite this, they will have the opportunity to close out the year by facing Texas A&M in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.

In a time when many players are opting to seek new opportunities through the transfer portal, USC was no exception, and the player choosing to make a change is none other than QB Miller Moss. According to College Football insider Pete Thamel, Moss will be wearing the colors of Louisville for the upcoming season.

“Former USC quarterback Miller Moss is committing to Louisville, sources told ESPN. Moss is one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal, as he’s No. 10 overall and the No. 3 quarterback in the ESPN Portal Rankings,” Thamel stated via his X account @PeteThamel.

During his time at USC, Moss accumulated 3,469 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, with a completion rate of 65.9%. In the 2024 season, Moss passed for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns over the course of nine games as the starting quarterback.

Johnson will not be joining USC after all

The transfer portal in NCAAF can undoubtedly be a double-edged sword. Just ask coach Lincoln Riley, who, until Thursday, thought he would have the talented cornerback Chasen Johnson in his ranks, but that will no longer be the case.

So what happened then? Johnson had committed to join the Trojans for the upcoming season from the UCF Knights, but at the last moment, the talented player decided to join the SMU Mustangs instead.

Johnson is currently ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 12 cornerback in the transfer portal. Last season, he recorded 18 tackles and two pass deflections for the UCF Knights.

What’s next for the USC Trojans after an irregular season?

The USC Trojans’ underwhelming season led to them missing out on playoff opportunities. Despite this, Coach Riley’s team will have one final game: they will face Texas A&M on Friday, December 27, in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.

Mark Pope’s side will have homecourt advantage for one of the biggest games of the season. Needless to say, we’re talking about two programs that have absolutely no sympathy for one another.

This will be Pope’s first time coaching in this rivalry, and while this might be new to him, he fully trusts his veteran players to be up to the task of taking the Cardinals down, so he didn’t feel the need to emphasize what’s at stake on Saturday,

Mark Pope gets honest on his first game vs. Louisville

“The answer is probably no,” Pope said. “You probably have to experience it to do it (communicate). But, I am blessed with guys that are seasoned. I have guys that have played in big-time rivalry games so it’s not like a foreign concept to them. This is just a little level up.”

“It’s exciting and awesome. We love it and we hate it and we all the things…I’m well-aware of the beauty of this rivalry,” he concluded.

Kentucky will have to turn to other players

The Wildcats are dealing with some injuries right now. Kerr Kriisa and Lamont Butler are out, and while Otega Oweh and Jaxson Robinson held their own, the coach acknowledged that he might need to turn to Travis Perry and Trent Noah more often:

“That’s gonna be a work in progress. They’re super talented players. I thought they made solid contributions tonight. It’s hard, you kind of want to put them in the game when there’s a real flow to it,” Pope said of his freshmen.

Perry and Noah held their ground in their last outing, and given how shorthanded the Wildcats are right now, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see them log heavy minutes vs. the Cardinals.

The program announced that Pryor would make a full recovery, with him later sharing a heartfelt message on his Instagram account shortly after the news broke:

“Not the way I expected my senior year of basketball to end!” Pryor wrote, “God’s timing is always perfect, and I know things happen for a reason! A minor setback for a major comeback! I could never quit! Card Nation, I appreciate the love and support throughout this journey; it’s definitely felt! And to everyone who’s reached out to send their prayers and (well) wishes, thank you! They mean a lot to me! The work doesn’t stop here! I’ll be cheering my guys on all season!”

Kasean Pryor could still return for another season

Even though Pryor has already played for five years, he could still apply for a medical redshirt. That would allow him to play for an additional sixth season, although there’s no word about whether he intends to do so or not.

“Kasean’s going to continue to make an impact on this team, even though he’s not (going to be) on the floor,” coach Pat Kelsey said. “His locker room presence, his energy, his personality are infectious. He’s a terrific leader on our team, so we expect him to contribute in that regard moving forward.”

Pryor’s injury occurred in the least fortunate way, as he was clipped by his own teammate, PG Chucky Hepburn, less than a minute into the second half after trying to defend a drive.

The South Florida transfer had recently earned a spot in the starting lineup, averaging 12 points per game on 37% from beyond the arc to go along with 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

The Tigers have flipped the script after an embarrassing loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the opening week. Since, the program from South Carolina has won all six games and boasts a 6-1 overall record. The junior-year QB has been impressive, so far in his second full college football season. Brohm had high praise for Clemson’s star.

“When it comes to Clemson’s quarterback, he’s continued to progress,” Jeff Brohm said, via On3. “Like every quarterback, he’s had a couple of little struggles along the way, which is good for quarterbacks, but he’s over the hump now.“

“I think he’s thrown for 20 touchdowns, three picks, over 500 yards of offense five out of six games, or something like that, or six out of seven, I’m not sure, but he’s playing at a high level. They’ve built the offense around him and what his strengths are, and right now it’s clicking on all cylinders.”

Brohm was precise on his evaluation. Indeed, Klubnik has passed for 1,836 yards, 20 TDs and 3 INTs. He has been a factor on the ground, as well. Clemson’s QB tallies 227 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns through seven games in the college football 2024 season.

Clemson cannot step off the gas

The ACC standings are tight. Though Clemson currently leads all teams, they cannot rest on their laurels. The No. 5 Miami Hurricanes (8-0, 4-0 ACC) are right on the Tigers’ tail. One misstep and the university from Coral Gables can overlap them for the lead. No. 20 SMU and No. 18 Pittsburgh are the remaigning unbeaten programs in the conference. It’s a four-horse race for the title.

Louisville has proven to be a tough nut to crack in the NCAA. The Hurricanes barely prevailed over them in their meeting on October 19. The Canes won a nailbiter by a score of 52-45.

Ahead of the weekend’s clash, Clemson must be wary in hosting the Cardinals. It won’t be a walk on the park, and they must be at their best.

[Watch Louisville vs Georgia Tech for FREE on Fubo]

Louisville starts a new era with a very familiar face as head coach: Jeff Brohm. After his experience in West Kentucky and Purdue, the main goal for him is to put the Cardinals in the Top 25 of the nation or at least get into a bowl game. In 2022, they finished with an 8-5 record.

Meanwhile, Brent Key goes for his first full season at Georgia Tech. Last year, he arrived as an interim replacing Geoff Collins and posted a 4-4 record during his initial tenure. They’re 7.5-point underdogs at home, but lead the all-time series 2-0.

When will Louisville vs Georgia Tech be played?

The Yellow Jackets will host the Cardinals on Friday, September 1 at 7:30 PM (ET). The game is scheduled to be played at famous Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia.

Jack Plummer takes over at quarterback with Louisville after Malik Cunningham went to the NFL and Haynes King won the QB battle at Georgia Tech over Zach Gibson and Zach Pyron.

Louisville vs Georgia Tech: Time by State in the US

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Louisville vs Purdue in the US

The game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will be available on Fubo (7-day free trial). Another option to watch it in the United States is ESPN.

The Cardinals had a good season with a winning record of 7-5 overall, but within the ACC they did not have the same luck since their record was 4-4.

The Bearcats started the season with a loss against Arkansas, but after that bad week they won six straight games. In addition to their winning streaks, the Bearcats were inside the Top 25 for six weeks.

Louisville vs Cincinnati: Kick-Off Time

Louisville and Cincinnati play for the 2022 Fenway Bowl on Saturday, December 17 at Fenway Park in Boston.

Australia: 3:00 AM (AEDT) December 18
Canada: 11:00 AM (EST)
China: 12:00 AM (GMT) December 18
Germany: 5:00 PM (CET)
Ireland: 4:00 PM (GMT)
Mexico: 10:00 AM (CST)
US: 11:00 AM (ET)
UK: 4:00 PM (GMT)

Louisville vs Cincinnati: TV Channel and Live Streaming

The College Football season is available on Television, Radio and Live Streaming on the Internet, this Frisco Bowl matchup and other games will be broadcast in the United States by FuboTV (7-day free trial) and other options to watch this game in the US is FOX. Don’t forget to download the app to watch the game on your smartphone.

If you want to know all the channels, packages and plans offered by FuboTV, you can click here

Louisville vs Cincinnati: Predictions And Odds

Louisville Cardinals are favorites with -2 odds and 1.77 moneyline that will pay $177 bucks for a $100 bet on BetMGM, they have a good record as the visitors. Cincinnati Bearcats are underdogs with +2 ATS and 2.10 moneyline. The totals are offered at 39.5 points. The best pick for this College Bowl game is: Bearcats +2.

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* Odds via BetMGM

Louisville had a very inconsistent season that couldn’t take off even after a streak of four wins in a row in the middle of it. Their 7-5 overall record left them fourth in the ACC Atlantic. The Cardinals only have a 4-4 mark in the Conference, and they also haven’t finished in a good way. They lost two games out of their last three, so they will have to improve to go on holidays with a favorable scoreboard.

Cincinnati were a bit better than their rivals since they keep a 9-3 record so far. They finished third in the Athletic American Conference with a 6-2 mark in it. The Bearcats could have been in a better position given the played against the Tulane Green Wave on their latest match, but they lost 27-24. This would be a special occasion for the new head coach Scott Satterfield since he was in charge of their next opponents the whole year, but he opted to not participate in the preparation of this clash.

Louisville vs Cincinnati: Date

Louisville will take on Cincinnati in the Fenway Bowl of the 2022 NCAA College Football Season this Saturday, December 17 at 11 AM (ET). The game will be played at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Louisville vs Cincinnati: Time by State in the US

ET: 11 AM
CT: 10 AM
MT: 9 AM
PT: 8 AM

How to watch Louisville vs Cincinnati in the US

The game between Louisville and Cincinnati for the Fenway Bowl in the 2022 NCAA College Football Season will be available to watch or live stream on FuboTV (Free Trial) in the US. ESPN is the other option.

If you want to know all the channels, packages and plans offered by FuboTV, you can click here.

The Tigers don’t know what happened in the game against Notre Dame, they lost 14-35 due to multiple defensive line issues, that was the end of an eight week winning streak.

The Cardinals have a good record fop 6-3 overall and 3-3 within the conference, they won the last four weeks and the most recent victory was against James Madison 34-10 at home.

Clemson vs Louisville: Date

Clemson and Louisville play for a Week 11 game of the 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season today, November 12 at Memorial Stadium in South Carolina. The Tigers want to show that the recent loss was something insignificant.

Clemson vs Louisville: Time by state in the US

ET: 3:30 PM
CT: 2:30 PM
MT: 1:30 PM
PT: 12:30 PM

TV Channel in the US to watch Clemson vs Louisville at the 2022 NCAA College Football Week 11

This game for the Week 11 of 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season, Clemson and Louisville at the Memorial Stadium in South Carolina on Saturday, November 12, will be broadcast in the US by FuboTV (7-day free trial) and other options to watch this game in the US is ESPN.

If you want to know all the channels, packages and plans offered by FuboTV, you can click here