Louisville’s playoff hopes with 36-10 win

The Louisville offensive line struggled against the speed of the Houston defensive line and allowed 11 sacks during the contest and countless hurries.

No. 3 Louisville saw its College Football Playoff chances derailed and possibly ended altogether with a 36-10 loss to Houston. Louisville was heavily favored in this game, but they came out very flat and the Cougars dominated them.

The Cougars started the season 5-0 and being in the American Conference, knew that a win over Louisville late in the season could be a play-in game to the college football playoff. It’s the fewest points they’ve scored since a loss at North Carolina in 2011. Houston is coming off back-to-back sloppy wins over UCF and Tulane.

It was a monumental senior night for the Cougars (9-2), though, who scored their second win over a top-five team in program history.

The Cardinals find themselves in quite a different situation. Losses by Michigan, Clemson, and Washington helped vault the Cardinals to No. 5 in the playoff rankings. The Cardinals would then have the opportunity to win the ACC title, not the Tigers. The Cardinals appeared poised to attempt a comeback after scoring on their opening drive of the third quarter, but a Jackson fumble deep in Cougar territory on the next drive all bust sealed the deal. The Cardinals were snubbed from a college football playoff top four spot in the recent poll landing at no. 5, even after no. 2 Clemson fell at home to Pitt, and no. 3 MI fell at Iowa.

Fittingly, the Cougars put an exclamation mark on this one with defense. Up 10-0, Houston threw a fake punt pass to convert a fourth down, and two plays later a tipped pass found Catalon for a 13-yard touchdown.

Ranked ninth nationally in total defense and third against the run, Houston’s defenders are the blunt end of the axe the Cougars swing at people every week.

For Houston fans, the game is a sweet victory, a validation of the team they support, and a stinging reminder that a couple of bad, bad losses prevented this team from achieving the greatness it was capable of. However, for the Cardinals, it’s the biggest, because it’s the next game. Jackson was held to 145 passing yards and one touchdown last week.

For Houston, this was a fantastic effort, but it was also a bit of a gut punch.

The Cardinals have been talking about not making one of the top four spots in the college football playoff for a couple of weeks now.

Add in the fact Louisville’s Lamar Jackson can strike the Heisman Trophy pose now with confidence and this is must-see TV.

Louisville had a hard time slowing down Greg Ward Jr., who had 334 total yards and three touchdowns in the 34-31 victory. He has 228 yards receiving and a touchdown. Louisville rushed for only 101 yards and managed only 312 in total offense.

Houston’s own top-notch quarterback, Greg Ward, was 25-for-44 for 233 yards and two TDs through the air. Stopping Jackson will be a tall task for the Cougars defense, but it’s something the team has done before. A win here would certainly help keep the Cardinals in the conversation, but they are obviously going to need some help getting in because the committee has shown it doesn’t care Louisville has the probable Heisman victor.