Louisville Turns FSU’s Goal-Line Gamble Into a 44-20 Rout

Isaac Brown’s 97-yard touchdown, on the first snap after a goal-line stop, turned Florida State’s 14-0 lead into a 44-20 Louisville win. He ran 17 times for a career-high 235 yards and two scores Friday night at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, and the Cardinals piled up 397 yards on the ground without their leading rusher.

Florida State had the ball at the 2, went for it on fourth-and-goal, and got nothing. The next play went the other way for a program record, and the Seminoles never recovered.

The Stop at the 3-Yard Line

The Seminoles looked settled after two first-quarter scores. Fifth-year quarterback Ashton Daniels finished a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard run at 8:34, then hit Micahi Danzy for 25 yards at 2:08 after converting a fourth-and-four. Florida State carried 11 times on that opening series and led 14-0.

The defense even stuffed Louisville on fourth-and-one, with linebacker Chris Jones making the stop after Rylan Kennedy’s sack. Then the Seminoles drove to the Louisville 2 and, for the first time this season, came away empty on a red-zone trip for the first time.

They passed up a short field goal that would have made it 17-0. Kaleb Beasley met receiver Jasen Lopez on fourth-and-goal and dropped him at the 3. Lopez finished with one catch for minus-1 yard. Head coach Mike Norvell did not hide from the snap that followed.

They’re pinned back. They got to go 98 yards, and they did it in one play.

Mike Norvell, Florida State head coach, postgame

Norvell also said his team did not do a good enough job in that moment. The official play was 97 yards from the 3, not 98, and it took 12 seconds. Florida State had more first downs (22-21), more plays (77-58), and the ball for 31:18 to Louisville’s 28:42, and still lost by 24.

Isaac Brown Goes 97 Yards, Then 68 More

Junior running back Isaac Brown, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound Miami native, took the first handoff after the stop, broke the left edge, and scored. The 97-yard run at 9:16 of the second quarter is the longest play from scrimmage in Louisville history. It was also his first carry of a night that ended at 13.8 yards per attempt.

ALL. THE. WAY 💨

Isaac Brown goes 97-yards to the house. The longest play in program history.

Watch on @espn #GoCards pic.twitter.com/UKU9qbJQfT

— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) October 10, 2026

He was not even the Cardinals’ lead back coming in. Senior Keyjuan Brown, who had 367 yards on 38 carries and 9.7 yards per rush, was ruled out with an undisclosed injury. Isaac had crawled through September, with 197 yards in the first four games, then burst for 125 on nine carries at NC State, including a 70-yard score. Friday was the 13th 100-yard game of his career.

BROWN’S FULL NIGHT

• The rushes: 17 carries, 235 yards, touchdowns of 97 and 68 yards, no fumbles.
• The return: He took the second-half kickoff 71 yards to the Florida State 28, with a horse-collar flag tacked on.
• The catch: One reception for 7 yards, which left him with 242 yards from scrimmage plus the return.
• The standard: The 235 yards were a career high and the most by any FBS running back this season.

He had 884 yards in nine games last season and made third-team All-ACC before an injury ended his regular year. He still had the 68-yarder left on Friday. Midway through the fourth, with Louisville up 35-20, he went up the middle on a two-play, 75-yard drive and scored at 7:37. Carson Hilbert’s extra point was blocked, so that play made it 41-20.

397 Yards From a Short-Handed Backfield

Louisville ran 43 times for 397 yards, 9.2 per carry, and scored all six of its touchdowns on the ground. That is the Cardinals’ largest rushing total since 411 against Syracuse in 2017. Head coach Jeff Brohm, speaking after the win, treated the round number as the point.

To run for over 400 yards in ACC play, that doesn’t happen very often.

Jeff Brohm, Louisville head coach, postgame

The box closed at 397, not 400. Five ballcarriers still did the damage, and three of them scored. Brohm also said he stayed out of the way, with his brother Brian Brohm and the offensive staff taking the call sheet.

LOUISVILLE’S GROUND NIGHT

Sophomore Marquise Davis tied the game at 14 with a 3-yard run at 3:21 of the second quarter, part of a seven-play, 59-yard drive. Sophomore Braxton Jennings ripped a 44-yard touchdown at 12:57 of the fourth on a six-play, 85-yard series. Freshman Lekhy Thompkins added 21 yards late. Senior quarterback Lincoln Kienholz ran nine times for 40 yards and both of his scores, and he was 11 of 15 for 140 yards with no interceptions. After the fourth-down stop, Louisville outgained Florida State 438-190 and finished with 537 yards to 362.

How Louisville Scored 35 Straight Points

The Cardinals scored on five straight possessions from the 97-yarder through Jennings’ long run. Florida State went quiet for two full quarters. Beasley later added his fourth interception of the season, and linebackers Stanquan Clark and T.J. Capers each had 10 tackles.

FRIDAY NIGHT SCORING

1. 8:34, first quarter: Daniels 7-yard run (Gabe Panikowski kick), 14 plays, 75 yards. Florida State 7, Louisville 0.
2. 2:08, first quarter: Danzy 25-yard pass from Daniels (Panikowski kick), 8 plays, 55 yards. Florida State 14, Louisville 0.
3. 9:16, second quarter: Isaac Brown 97-yard run (Hilbert kick), 1 play, 97 yards. Florida State 14, Louisville 7.
4. 3:21, second quarter: Davis 3-yard run (Hilbert kick), 7 plays, 59 yards. 14-14.
5. 12:45, third quarter: Kienholz 3-yard run (Hilbert kick), 4 plays, 14 yards, after Brown’s 71-yard kickoff return. Louisville 21, Florida State 14.
6. 8:06, third quarter: Kienholz 1-yard run (Hilbert kick), 8 plays, 76 yards. Louisville 28, Florida State 14.
7. 12:57, fourth quarter: Jennings 44-yard run (Hilbert kick), 6 plays, 85 yards. Louisville 35, Florida State 14.
8. 8:30, fourth quarter: Danzy 2-yard pass from Daniels (try failed), 10 plays, 79 yards, including a 22-yard catch by Jayvan Boggs on fourth-and-seven. Louisville 35, Florida State 20.
9. 7:37, fourth quarter: Isaac Brown 68-yard run (kick blocked), 2 plays, 75 yards. Louisville 41, Florida State 20.
10. 2:59, fourth quarter: Hilbert 39-yard field goal, 7 plays, 24 yards. Louisville 44, Florida State 20.

Brohm said he was proud the team hung in there after losses that had not been fun. Louisville had dropped two one-score games, 30-27 to Wake Forest and 31-28 at NC State, and came in 2-3. The 14-0 hole lasted until one missed tackle on the edge. The lead that looked real in the first quarter was gone in a single snap, which is the part that stuck with people watching the clip land on Friday night.

Florida State Still Cannot Win Away From Home

Daniels completed 21 of 37 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran 13 times for 45 yards and the 7-yard score, his 10th rushing touchdown of the season, an FSU record for a quarterback. A second Seminole, D.J. Sperry, threw one incompletion, so the team passing line was 21 of 38. Sophomore Ousmane Kromah led the rushers with 88 yards on 19 carries and caught four balls for 43 yards. Danzy had four catches for 50 yards and both scoring throws. Florida State sacked Kienholz once and was sacked four times for 18 yards.

The Seminoles are 3-3 and 1-2 in the ACC. They have now lost 13 straight games away from Tallahassee, counting two neutrals, and 11 straight true road games. Their last win outside Doak Campbell Stadium was the 2023 ACC championship, a 16-6 decision over Louisville in Charlotte on Dec. 2, 2023, with Brock Glenn at quarterback. Their last true road win was Nov. 25, 2023, 24-15 at Florida.

FLORIDA STATE’S 2026 SCORES

• Aug. 29 vs. New Mexico State: Won 34-17 in Tallahassee.
• Sept. 7 vs. No. 19 SMU: Lost 27-24 at home.
• Sept. 19 at No. 10 Alabama: Lost 50-36 in Tuscaloosa.
• Sept. 26 vs. Central Arkansas: Won 34-7 at home.
• Oct. 3 vs. Virginia: Won 38-7 at home, with Daniels running for five scores.
• Oct. 9 at Louisville: Lost 44-20 after leading 14-0.

That split is the trap. The Seminoles can look sharp at Doak and then come apart once they leave. Norvell is in his seventh season. The morning after Friday’s game, the argument around the program was his job, not Brown’s yards. A 14-0 road lead is supposed to travel. This one did not survive the next snap.

A 3-3 Seminoles Team Heads to Miami

Florida State stays on the road. The Seminoles play No. 4 Miami, which is 5-0 and 3-0 in the ACC, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Hard Rock Stadium, on ESPN. Louisville, now 3-3 and 2-2 in league play, goes to Syracuse the same day. The Cardinals needed the win after two tight losses; the Seminoles now carry a 24-point road defeat into a rivalry week.

Isaac Brown walked into Friday as the change-of-pace back behind an injured teammate and walked out with 235 yards, a record run, and a kick-return spark. Florida State walked in up a script, fourth-and-goal from the 2, and walked out with a 3-3 record and another empty trip away from home. The snap they took to put Louisville away is the one the Cardinals will keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Longest Play From Scrimmage in Louisville History?

Isaac Brown’s 97-yard touchdown against Florida State on Oct. 9, 2026, is the longest play from scrimmage in program history, and it is also the longest play Florida State has ever allowed. The official scoring play was a one-play drive that took 12 seconds of game clock, with Hilbert’s extra point making it 14-7.

How Many Yards Did Isaac Brown Rush for as a Freshman and Sophomore?

He ran for 1,173 rushing yards as a true freshman in 2024, with 11 touchdowns, which set Louisville’s freshman rushing record, then added 884 yards and seven scores in nine games in 2025 before injury. He entered the Florida State game with 2,379 career yards after moving into ninth on the school’s list at NC State.

What Is the All-Time Series Record Between Florida State and Louisville?

Florida State leads 18-7. The Seminoles are 7-4 in games played in Louisville and 5-5 in the last 10 meetings, with their most recent series win the 16-6 ACC championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 2, 2023.

Who Scored Florida State’s Touchdowns Against Louisville?

Daniels ran 7 yards for the first score and threw 25-yard and 2-yard touchdowns to Danzy, who finished with four catches for 50 yards. The try after the last score failed, so that drive made the game 35-20 rather than 35-21, and Kromah’s 88 rushing yards were the most by a Seminole back on the night.