Louisville football continues to rise in rankings as it inches closer to 1st ACC title game
Louisville, Florida State and North Carolina remain as the ACC’s lone ranked teams.
U of L is 11th in the latest US LBM coaches poll and AP Top 25, released Sunday. FSU is 4th in both major polls while UNC is 23rd in the coaches poll and 24th in the Associated Press poll.
Louisville’s ranking is the program's highest since it was No. 10 in the coaches poll and AP Top 25 on Sept. 11, 2016 following a 62-28 win over Syracuse.
U of L is also on the rise in ESPN’s Football Power Index rankings, moving up to No. 18 with the 12th strongest record in the country. Its remaining schedule — which includes Virginia, Miami and Kentucky — is ranked 21st with the squad given a 10.2% chance of winning out.
FSU is the only ACC team ahead of Louisville in the FPI rankings. It is No. 7 with the third-strongest record nationally. Its remaining strength of schedule — Miami, North Alabama and Florida — ranks behind the Cardinals at No. 44.
The Seminoles and Cardinals are the top two teams in the ACC standings and will likely meet on Dec. 2 in the league's championship game. Florida State has already clinched its spot after beating Pitt, 24-7, on Saturday. The FPI gives the Seminoles a 75% chance of winning the conference while the Cardinals have a 23.3% chance of winning the league.
If U of L wins its final two league games it is guaranteed a spot in the ACC title game. But results from other conference teams could help the Cardinals clinch their spot this week, as long as they beat Virginia.
Louisville, which has yet to lose at home this season, hosts the Cavaliers on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
The Cardinals were No. 13 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. The second CFP poll will be released on Tuesday.
C.L. Brown: Louisville football shows it has the depth, heart to handle attrition with 8th win
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football ranking? UofL in latest AP Top 25 and coaches poll
