COLLEGE FOOTBALL LOOK AHEAD

Cardinals face Houston on short rest

The Sports Xchange

November 15, 2016 at 12:22 am.

Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA;  Louisville Cardinals safety Chucky Williams (22) congratulates linebacker Devonte Fields (92) for a sack against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 44-12.  Photo Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 12, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals safety Chucky Williams (22) congratulates linebacker Devonte Fields (92) for a sack against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Wake Forest 44-12. Photo Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville nearly waited too long to get its offense in gear on Saturday, but a 34-point fourth quarter propelled the Cardinals to a 44-12 victory that looked more impressive in the agate type than it did on the field.

But no matter. That win, plus losses by Clemson, Michigan and Washington, have Bobby Petrino’s team back in contention for a berth in the four-team BCS playoff. Though there was little time to scoreboard-watch, given that his team trailed 12-10 entering the fourth quarter, Petrino got the good news after the final whistle.

“I found out after the game that Clemson got beat, and that Washington was behind. That’s the only two things that I was told after the game.”

With the ACC season over, Louisville still needs help to reach the ACC championship game, thanks to the Cardinals loss to Clemson earlier this season. Outspoken about his perception that margin of victory plays too much of a role in the voting, Petrino’s team wound up with an attention-grabbing 32-point victory, capped off by a touchdown run with less than a minute to play after the game was already decided.

“Did you want us to take a knee? We’re not going to take a knee in that situation,” Petrino said. “There’s two minutes left, you hand the ball off, and run the clock out. It’s what you do.”

Louisville now closes with two nonconference games, including this week’s trip to Houston. Quarterback Lamar Jackson said his team isn’t worrying about what it can’t control.

“We just need to win our games. We can’t think about that right now; we just have to play Houston,” Jackson said.

This week’s matchup was circled on both teams’ calendars early, particularly when it looked like the Cougars might be undefeated heading into the Thursday night showdown. Houston has lost twice, however, and its own star quarterback, Greg Ward Jr., missed time last week with a shoulder injury. He returned, but may be at less than full strength this week.

But Houston remains perhaps the most talented team outside of the traditional BCS leagues, and the Cougars already have a victory at Oklahoma in 2016. The Cardinals won’t have much time to prepare, given the short week, and a sellout crowd of loud Cougar fans will await hem when they arrive.

“I think with our time, and schedule, and practices and things, we don’t really have a break,” Jackson said. “We have to get straight to it, and play Thursday. That is a pretty good team they have, so we just have to be ready.”

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

–QB Lamar Jackson did most of his damage on the ground last week, rushing for 153 yards in the victory over Wake Forest. He’s already set the school mark for total yards in a season with two regular-season games yet to play. And he’ll have something extra to prove thanks to his struggles against Houston a year ago.

–LB Devante Fields had three sacks last week against Wake Forest. It was a return to form for the guy who led the Cardinals with 11 sacks a year ago. He may be ready for another late-season roll — in 2015, 8.5 of his sacks came over the final four Cardinal games.

–RB Brandon Radcliff was the spark that got the Cardinals going in the second half last week. He finished with 141 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries.

–TE Cole Hikutini was named as a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the country’s best tight end. He has 35 catches for 526 yards and six touchdowns.