The Wake Forest vs Louisville matchup is underway at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, with both ACC teams entering the game at 2-1 overall.
Louisville opened the scoring with a touchdown, while Wake Forest responded with a field goal from Connor Calvert. The Cardinals held a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter as both offenses looked to establish control.
Wake Forest vs Louisville Live Score
According to the provided ESPN game update, the score was:
| Team | 1st Quarter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest | 3 | — | — | — | 3 |
| Louisville | 7 | — | — | — | 7 |
The game information lists a 9:30 p.m. ET kickoff on September 26, 2026, at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Early Game Breakdown
Louisville started with the stronger field position and offensive momentum. The Cardinals were driving late in the first quarter, with running back Isaac Brown contributing on the ground.
Brown had three carries for nine yards during the early portion of the game, while his latest six-yard run moved Louisville to the Wake Forest 48-yard line.
Wake Forest’s points came from Connor Calvert, who converted a 39-yard field goal with 6:18 remaining in the opening quarter. The scoring drive covered 38 yards across six plays.
Quarterback Stats
Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez completed 3 of 4 passes for 16 yards in the early stages.
Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz completed 4 of 6 attempts for 45 yards, giving the Cardinals an early advantage through the air.
The early passing numbers were:
| Player | Team | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| Gio Lopez | Wake Forest | 3/4, 16 yards |
| Lincoln Kienholz | Louisville | 4/6, 45 yards |
Rushing Leaders
Wake Forest’s Ty Clark III led the early rushing numbers with 27 yards on five carries.
For Louisville, Isaac Brown had four carries for 16 yards according to the game update.
| Player | Team | Rushing |
|---|---|---|
| Ty Clark III | Wake Forest | 5 carries, 27 yards |
| Isaac Brown | Louisville | 4 carries, 16 yards |
Team Stats
The early team statistics showed a relatively close contest, although Louisville had an edge in total offense and time of possession.
| Statistic | Wake Forest | Louisville |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 58 | 71 |
| First downs | 4 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Third down | 0/2 | 2/4 |
| Fourth down | 0/1 | 0/0 |
| Time of possession | 5:45 | 8:54 |
Louisville also had one penalty for 15 yards, while Wake Forest had not been penalized at that point.
ACC Standings Context
Entering the matchup, Louisville was 2-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, while Wake Forest was 2-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
That made the game particularly important in the ACC standings, with Wake Forest looking to improve its conference record and Louisville attempting to build on its opening league victory.
Wake Forest vs Louisville Outlook
The early stages of Wake Forest vs Louisville showed a competitive game, with Louisville holding a 7-3 advantage and possessing the ball for nearly nine minutes in the opening quarter.
Wake Forest’s offense had moved the ball effectively enough to produce four first downs, but the Cardinals were converting third downs more consistently. Both teams had avoided turnovers early, leaving the game open for a change in momentum as it progressed.
For readers tracking the Wake Forest vs Louisville score, stats and play-by-play, the matchup features two ACC programs trying to strengthen their position during the 2026 college football season.
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