Top 25: Saturday Blitz Final 2014 College Football Rankings

Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Brandon Radcliff (23) and Louisville Cardinals quarterback Kyle Bolin (14) celebrate during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Papa John

23. Louisville Cardinals, 9-4 (5-3)

Last Game: Lost to Georgia Bulldogs 37-14 in the Belk Bowl

Bobby Petrino’s first year at Louisville was marked with a bad loss to Virginia, games his team let slip away in Clemson and Florida State, and an embarrassment at Georgia. But at 9-4, the Cardinals went against the grain of a Petrino-coached team and used a stifling defense throughout the year.

That defense got them to an impressive 9-4 record, which is nothing to be ashamed of, in the tougher division of the ACC their first year in the conference. That is enough to put them in the Top 25 at the end of the year, even if they did get blown out in their bowl game.

And quite honestly, fans in Louisville may not even care that much about the blowout loss or if they’re in the Top 25 anyway. It’s pretty clear that the Cardinals are on the rise and will soon be a very good football team under Petrino.

Next: No. 22 Ranked Team