Louisville (5-4, 4-2 ACC) started Kyle Bolin with quarterback Lamar Jackson dealing with an ankle injury, and Bolin played lights out in the Cardinals’ 41-17 win over Syracuse (3-6, 1-4).
What the win means for Louisville: It would have been an ugly follow-up season for Bobby Petrino if the Cardinals failed to make a bowl game, but now at 5-4 Louisville looks safe to play in the postseason. Louisville’s remaining games are against Virginia, Pittsburgh and struggling rival Kentucky. Bolin also proved he’s more than capable of replacing Jackson, and maybe Petrino, who has shuffled his quarterbacks a few times this season, will stick with Bolin another week.