Louisville Football under Scott Satterfield improved by over 70 yards per game from 2019 to 2020 allowing just 369.1 ypg from where the Cards started with Satt in 2020 at 439.9 ypg. The 70 yard difference moved the Cards from 102nd to 39th in the country defensively. That’s in addition to improving by nearly a touchdown on defense last year going from allowing 33.4 points per game in 2019 to just 26.6 ppg in 2020. The difference in 6.8 ppg was good for the Cards to go from 110th in Scoring Defense to 49th in 2020….. A HUGE LEAP.
If Louisville wants to move into Top 25 Total Defense range, the Cards will need to improve by about 25-30 ypg as Top 25 yards per game threshold has been in the 350-335 range for the last few seasons. Louisville has been a Top 25 Total Defense 9 times in the last 18 seasons and a Top 40 Defense in 11 of 18 seasons.
- Louisville Scoring Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Total Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Passing Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Rushing Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Scoring Defense Evaluation
| Total Defense | |
| 1 | 251.5, 1st (2013 Strong) |
| 2 | 294.4, 12th (2004 Petrino) |
| 3 | 308.5, 6th (2014 Petrino) |
| 4 | 311.7, 14th (2010 Strong) |
| 5 | 320.5, 37th (2006 Petrino) |
| 6 | 322.2, 14th (2016 Petrino) |
| 7 | 324.0, 21st (2005 Petrino) |
| 8 | 327.9, 23rd (2011 Strong) |
| 9 | 332.8, 18th (2015 Petrino) |
| 10 | 340.3, 23rd (2012 Strong) |
| 11 | 368.8, 70th (2008 Krag) |
| 12 | 369.1, 39th (2020 Satterfield) |
| 13 | 371.1, 65th (2009 Krag) |
| 14 | 388.1, 62nd (2017 Petrino) |
| 15 | 414.6, 82nd (2003 Petrino) |
| 16 | 429.7, 91st (2007 Krag) |
| 17 | 439.9, 102nd (2019 Satterfield) |
| 18 | 483.5, 122nd (2018 Petrino) |
The fewest yards allowed for the Cards in a single Louisville Football game is 27 yards on September 21, 2013 vs. Florida International (the running clock game). The Cardinals won 72-0 that day.
The most yards allowed for UofL in a single Louisville Football game is 801 yards on September 5, 1998 vs. Kentucky. The Cards lost 68-34 that day.
(Below stats go back through the Howard Schnellenberger era, but rankings are not available beyond 2003).
| Total Defense | |
| 1 | 235.8 (1996 Cooper) |
| 2 | 237.9 (1990 Schnellenberger) |
| 3 | 251.5, 1st (2013 Strong) |
| 4 | 278.83 (2000 John L.) |
| 5 | 294.4, 12th (2004 Petrino) |
| 6 | 297.9 (1989 Schnellenberger) |
| 7 | 308.5, 6th (2014 Petrino) |
| 8 | 309.2 (1993 Schnellenberger) |
| 9 | 311.7, 14th (2010 Strong) |
| 10 | 312.5 (2001 John L.) |
| 11 | 319.2 (1995 Cooper) |
| 12 | 319.9 (2002 John L.) |
| 13 | 320.5, 37th (2006 Petrino) |
| 14 | 322.2, 14th (2016 Petrino) |
| 15 | 324.0, 21st (2005 Petrino) |
| 16 | 327.9, 23rd (2011 Strong) |
| 17 | 332.8, 18th (2015 Petrino) |
| 18 | 340.3, 23rd (2012 Strong) |
| 19 | 348.8 (1991 Schnellenberger) |
| 20 | 350.7 (1994 Schnellenberger) |
| 21 | 353.6 (1992 Schnellenberger) |
| 22 | 359.4 (1999 John L.) |
| 23 | 368.8, 70th (2008 Krag) |
| 24 | 369.1, 39th (2020 Satterfield) |
| 25 | 371.1, 65th (2009 Krag) |
| 26 | 378.0 (1986 Schnellenberger) |
| 27 | 381.0 (1988 Schnellenberger) |
| 28 | 388.1, 62nd (2017 Petrino) |
| 29 | 414.6, 82nd (2003 Petrino) |
| 30 | 422.7 (1997 Cooper) |
| 31 | 428.5 (1987 Schnellenberger) |
| 32 | 429.7, 91st (2007 Krag) |
| 33 | 439.9, 102nd (2019 Satterfield) |
| 34 | 440.6 (1998 John L.) |
| 35 | 483.5, 122nd (2018 Petrino) |
| 36 | 503.7 (1985 Schnellenberger) |
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