Trap Game?: Miami vs Louisville Friday Night Lights Game Preview

Written by Carter Ball

Last season, Miami started the year at 4-0 before an eventual end-of-season falloff. Prior to this falloff, however, the group narrowly escaped in a Friday night Week 5 matchup against Virginia Tech in a hard-fought 38-34 victory.

Similar to last season, the 2025 Canes enter their Friday night game against Louisville in a similar situation, looking to avoid a similar upset scare. The group comes into Friday's matchup at 5-0, with momentum riding high after victories against Florida, Notre Dame, and more. However, last year's Miami team came into the Virginia Tech game in the same situation. The similarities to last year's matchup against the Hokies are striking, and Louisville is surely looking to make the same noise Virginia Tech made just a year ago.

However, this is a different Miami team than years past. Last year's Miami defense was abysmal; this year, however, Reuben Bain and transfer additions Xavier Lucas and Charles Brantley have turned this defense into one of the country's elite units. The Hurricanes come into Week 8 as the nation's second-best overall defense per PFF to start the year, a striking improvement over last year's 30+ ppg allowed for the 2024 Miami defense.

As one of the only P4 games of the weekend played on Friday night, expect all eyes to be on Miami, where the Hurricanes will prove that this year's group is different than years past and whallop Louisville. Louisville's run defense has been shaky all year, and I expect Canes' running backs Jordan Lyle and Mark Fletcher to shine.

Writer's Prediction: 37-10 Miami Victory