Louisville Football under Scott Satterfield shaved nearly 26 yards per game off its rushing defense per game statistic from 2019 to 2020. It was a move up to 80th in the nation (from 112th in 2020). Overall UofL’s defense 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, but clearly there is still room for improvement stopping the run.
If Louisville wants to reach Top 25 Rushing Defense Status, the Cards will need to limit its opponents on the ground to about 125-130 yards per game, which would need a huge year over year improvement. Louisville has been a Top 25 Rushing Defense 8 times in the last 18 seasons and a Top 40 Passing Defense in 10 of 18 seasons.
2020 was an improvement over 2019 and 2019 was a major improvement over 2018, easily one of the worst recent performances defending against the rush. Still 2020 is not close to being on par with historically ‘average’ Louisville Run Defenses, so this is an area to watch in 2021.
- Louisville Scoring Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Total Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Passing Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Rushing Offense Evaluation
- Louisville Scoring Defense Evaluation
- Louisville Total Defense Evaluation
- Louisville Passing Defense Evaluation
| – | Rushing Defense |
| 1 | 80.69, 1st (2013 Strong) |
| 2 | 97.5, 8th (2004 Petrino) |
| 3 | 100.54, 10th (2011 Strong) |
| 4 | 104.8, 18th (2006 Petrino) |
| 5 | 108.92, 10th (2014 Petrino) |
| 6 | 114.0, 23rd (2005 Petrino) |
| 7 | 115.15, 12th (2016 Petrino) |
| 8 | 120.23, 14th (2015 Petrino) |
| 9 | 129.5, 37th (2008 Krag) |
| 10 | 144.31, 52nd (2010 Strong) |
| 11 | 148.0, 49th (2012 Strong) |
| 12 | 163.38, 63rd (2017 Petrino) |
| 13 | 165.08, 84th (2009 Krag) |
| 14 | 166.1, 71st (2003 Petrino) |
| 15 | 168.5, 71st (2007 Krag) |
| 16 | 179.91, 80th (2020 Satterfield) |
| 17 | 205.77, 112th (2019 Satterfield) |
| 18 | 277.25, 127th (2018 Petrino) |
The fewest yards allowed for the Cards in a single Louisville Football game is -78 yards at Wichita State on September 21, 1972. The Cardinals won 46-3 that day. On September 9, 2000 the Cards limited Grambling to -56 yards on the ground and on September 28, 2014 Louisville pushed Wake Forest back for -22 yards at Cardinal Stadium.
The most rushing yards allowed for UofL in a single Louisville Football game is 684 yards on October 8, 1932 at Murray State. The Cards lost 105-0 that day. Recently however, the worst rushing performance for the Cards was 2018 when Georgia Tech came to Cardinal Stadium on October 5, 2018 and ran for 542 yards.
| – | Rushing Defense |
| 1 | 73.25 (2000 John L.) |
| 2 | 80.69, 1st (2013 Strong) |
| 3 | 81.1 (1996 Cooper) |
| 4 | 97.5, 8th (2004 Petrino) |
| 5 | 99.82 (1989 Schnellenberger) |
| 6 | 100.54, 10th (2011 Strong) |
| 7 | 101.17 (1990 Schnellenberger) |
| 8 | 104.8, 18th (2006 Petrino) |
| 9 | 108.92, 10th (2014 Petrino) |
| 10 | 113.0 (2002 John L.) |
| 11 | 114.0, 23rd (2005 Petrino) |
| 12 | 115.15, 12th (2016 Petrino) |
| 13 | 120.23, 14th (2015 Petrino) |
| 14 | 123.3 (1993 Schnellenberger) |
| 15 | 125.5 (1995 Schnellenberger) |
| 16 | 128.5 (2001 John L.) |
| 17 | 129.5, 37th (2008 Krag) |
| 18 | 133.8 (1992 Schnellenberger) |
| 19 | 144.31, 52nd (2010 Strong) |
| 20 | 148.0, 49th (2012 Strong) |
| 21 | 152.7 (1999 John L.) |
| 22 | 161.2 (1994 Schnellenberger) |
| 23 | 163.38, 63rd (2017 Petrino) |
| 24 | 165.08, 84th (2009 Krag) |
| 25 | 166.1, 71st (2003 Petrino) |
| 26 | 167.64 (1988 Schnellenberger) |
| 27 | 168.5, 71st (2007 Krag) |
| 28 | 179.91, 80th (2020 Satterfield) |
| 29 | 187.3 (1997 Cooper) |
| 30 | 205.77, 112th (2019 Satterfield) |
| 31 | 210.73 (1986 Schnellenberger) |
| 32 | 216.1 (1991 Schnellenberger) |
| 33 | 218.8 (1998 John L.) |
| 34 | 238.55 (1987 Schnellenberger) |
| 35 | 277.25, 127th (2018 Petrino) |
| 36 | 279.91, (1985 Schnellenberger) |
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