Louisville Football: Ranking Cardinals’ 2020 opponents by toughness

The top-ranked non-conference opponent on the list happens to also be a top College Football Playoff contender. Louisville will get a rematch with the Fighting Irish after losing 35-17 last season but this one should be much close than that even though this will be played in South Bend.

Ian Book is one of the top quarterbacks in the country and he’ll be back after throwing for 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns for an 11-2 team in 2019. He does lose his top three targets, however.

Look out for Braden Lenzy to break out on offense and that defense to be one of the best in the nation under Clark Lea.

Are you really surprised that Clemson is No. 1? You shouldn’t be. This team is a runaway favorite to win the ACC again and make another trip to the College Football Playoff.

Louisville may be one of the only teams in the conference that could give Clemson a true test and if the Cardinals are going to pull off this upset, they’ll need to shut down Heisman favorite Trevor Lawrence and All-ACC running back Travis Etienne.

Oh, and that Clemson defense will be stout once again, especially with the nation’s top recruit Brian Bresee coming in to join that defensive line.

Clemson is nearly untouchable in the ACC right now.