Exactly two years ago this week, Louisville made its College Football Playoff push. Behind future Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and a string of blowout victories, the Cards sat at No. 5 in the playoff rankings, with a last-second loss to eventual champion Clemson as its only blemish.
Could unheralded, upstart Louisville challenge conventional wisdom and possibly make it into the CFP as a one-loss non-conference champion? The debate raged until a Thursday night in Houston. Louisville looked like a lost, disorganized, uninterested team and got blown out 36-10, blowing not only its playoff hopes but a New Year's Six game, too.