Louisville Stuns No. 2 Miami: Cardinals Intercept Carson Beck Four Times in Massive ACC Upset

It was supposed to be a statement night for Miami quarterback Carson Beck, the Heisman favorite leading one of college football’s most explosive offenses. Instead, it became a showcase for Louisville’s grit, creativity, and resilience — and a disaster for the Hurricanes’ title hopes.

The Louisville Cardinals, 13.5-point underdogs, went into Hard Rock Stadium and emerged with a 24–21 upset victory over the No. 2-ranked Hurricanes on Friday night. The game marked head coach Jeff Brohm’s fourth career win against an AP top-five opponent, and perhaps his most significant yet.

A Nightmare Night for Carson Beck

Beck, who entered the night as one of the nation’s most efficient passers, threw four interceptions, including a game-sealing pick in the final minute. After leading Miami down to the Louisville 31-yard line with 36 seconds left, Beck’s final pass was deflected at the line and intercepted by T.J. Capers, a South Florida native who instantly became a Louisville legend.

“We knew we had to do some different things to slow them down,” Brohm said after the game. “Beck’s a great quarterback, but when you make him throw more than he wants, you gain an edge.”

Beck finished with just one touchdown and four interceptions — a brutal turn for a player projected as a potential top NFL Draft pick. It was the fourth time since 2024 he has thrown at least three interceptions in a game, a troubling trend that will likely weigh on scouts and Heisman voters alike.

Louisville’s Hot Start

Louisville wasted no time setting the tone. The Cardinals scored on their opening drive, thanks to a gutsy fake field goal that extended the possession, followed by quarterback Miller Moss sneaking it in for the touchdown. A few minutes later, Moss connected with Chris Bell for a 41-yard score, giving Louisville a 14–0 lead late in the first quarter.

From there, Brohm’s squad never trailed.

Miami managed to cut into the deficit, but every time the Hurricanes seemed ready to take control, Beck’s mistakes derailed them. His first interception came after a risky deep throw into triple coverage, picked off by safety Antonio Watts. Two passes later, Beck forced another throw that ended up in the hands of a Louisville defender.

By halftime, Miami fans were stunned — and Brohm’s clever play-calling had completely neutralized the Hurricanes’ vaunted defensive front.

Outcoaching the Hurricanes

Brohm and his staff deserve enormous credit. They mixed personnel, used motion, and even lined up three different players at quarterback during the opening series. Those looks kept Miami’s edge rushers Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor guessing all night, limiting the Hurricanes to just one sack.

Louisville’s offense stayed balanced throughout, outgaining Miami on the ground 119–63 and controlling the tempo with timely play-action passes.

Quarterback Miller Moss was calm and efficient, finishing 23-of-37 for 248 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Isaac Brown tallied 113 rushing yards on 15 carries. Bell was the go-to weapon, racking up nine catches for 136 yards and two scores.

Miami’s Costly Mistakes

For the Hurricanes, this was a self-inflicted loss. Miami was flagged nine times for 68 yards, including three false starts that killed drives. Coach Mario Cristobal didn’t mince words afterward:
“We did not run the ball well,” he said. “We got ourselves off schedule several times. All in all, not good enough.”

Even after Beck’s third interception, Miami had life. A Louisville fumble gave the Hurricanes a late spark, leading to a touchdown by freshman Malachi Toney and a successful two-point conversion that made it 24–21. But when Miami got the ball back for one last drive, the night ended the same way it began — in chaos and confusion for Beck and the Hurricanes.

A Statement for Jeff Brohm

With the win, Brohm improved to 5–1 overall and 2–1 in ACC play, continuing his remarkable run since taking over at Louisville. The Cardinals have now won more ACC games than any other team since 2023 under his leadership.

For a program often overshadowed in the ACC hierarchy, this was validation — a night when they took down a playoff contender in its own house and reminded the nation that Louisville football is for real.

The upset also throws the College Football Playoff picture into turmoil, potentially opening the door for teams like Texas, Michigan, or Washington to move up in the rankings.

As the Cardinals celebrated on the field, one chant echoed through the humid Miami night:
“L–U! L–U! L–U!”

The scoreboard told the rest:
Louisville 24, Miami 21.

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