Orange Bowl still in play for U of L football?
College football postseason projections list the University of Louisville as a likely contender to make anything from the Sun Bowl to Pinstripe Bowl, though ESPN on Thursday night had fans buzzing with Orange Bowl consideration.
How, with a 7-3 record, is that possible?
During Duke's 45-20 loss to North Carolina, U of L was listed as an Orange Bowl contender with the Blue Devils, Georgia Tech and Clemson. Should Florida State make the College Football Playoff, the highest-ranked team of that group would then get the ACC's top bowl bid.
Here's what needs to happen for the Cardinals:
Of course, U of L has to win out, beating Notre Dame and Kentucky to finish 9-3. That would dash the Irish's hope of an Orange Bowl bid while boosting Florida State's resume.
Duke's loss helped. The Blue Devils won't make the ACC Championship Game now and shouldn't leap the Cardinals even with a Nov. 29 victory over Wake Forest.
U of L also has to hope for a Nov. 29 Georgia Tech loss to SEC rival Georgia. At 9-2, the Yellow Jackets, at No. 18, are the highest-ranked College Football Playoff team in the ACC other than Florida State. Georgia Tech clinched a spot in the ACC Championship with Duke's defeat and could end up with another loss when they face the Seminoles.
And then there's Clemson, ranked 22nd in the College Football Playoff standings, two spots ahead of U of L. The Tigers, also 7-3, would need a loss to either Georgia State on Saturday or rival South Carolina Nov. 29, a pivotal day for the Cardinals' bowl fate.
IN THE C-J
• Saturday, of course, marks U of L's first-ever trip to Notre Dame. It'll be Paul Hornung's first since 2007. The Heisman Trophy-winning Irish quarterback, according to columnist Tim Sullivan, will go leading two buses of Louisville residents to South Bend, Ind. (http://cjky.it/1vvYHL8)
• Trinity and St. Xavier will play the biggest high school football game in the city Friday night, though it's big news that Iroquois is playing at all. Preps writer Jason Frakes chronicled how a traditionally inept program has risen to play for a bid to the state semifinals. (http://bit.ly/1xJGoTr)
• Look for courier-journal.com live blogs complete with stats and social media buzz for both Kentucky and U of L's basketball games Friday night, which tip off at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively. First, read over preview materials for the Cats (http://cjky.it/1zJzGuv) and Cards (http://cjky.it/1qCv0H4).
AROUND THE WEB
• U of L-Notre Dame, a matchup of two teams just outside the AP Top 25, is among the highlights of the Week 13 college football slate. Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples wrote that the schedule needs improvement with most of the SEC taking off or scheduling cupcakes before the regular season ends. (http://bit.ly/1xJGt9L)
• UK senior Bud Dupree, now widely known as one of the most athletic "freaks" in the college game, was the highest-rated senior on The Sporting News' 2015 NFL Draft big board updated Thursday. (http://bit.ly/1r4GNs8)
• USA Today Sports' Sam Amick, amid the former Cat's NBA rise, wrote this week of "How Anthony Davis became the scariest force in the NBA." And New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams still thinks the third-year pro hasn't reached his ceiling. (http://usat.ly/1HuQ8UL)
Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner .