Louisville is drowning in uncertainty right now. The Cardinals ran into a California gut-punch and a Clemson heartbreaker, watching their title hopes fall apart. But as if two straight losses weren’t enough, another fresh headache happened. And the new problem cuts right at the QB and HC positions with Miller Moss and Jeff Brohm’s vague statuses. 

“It’s currently trending toward Louisville QB Miller Moss missing tomorrow’s game vs. SMU due to an injury,” CBS Sports Matt Zenitz reported on X on November 21. “And redshirt freshman Deuce Adams making the start for the Cardinals, sources tell @CBSSports. Louisville and SMU both enter the game 7-3.”

Miller Moss, who started all 10 games this season, has not looked like the early-season gunslinger lately. He’s averaged just 184.5 passing yards over the last month, dipping under 203 yards in three straight contests. 

Miller Moss’ Clemson performance is efficient but quiet where he completed 19-of-27 passes for 212 yards, no passing touchdowns, no picks, but there’s a lone rushing score. And now Louisville doesn’t even know if they’ll have that version available. 

Season-long, he has completed 197 of 309 passes for 2,132 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions plus a team-leading seven rushing TDs. But if he can’t go, the offense turns to a pair of untested names – Deuce Adams or Brady Allen. And both come with mystery, nerves, and just enough upside to make Saturday weird.

Deuce Adams, the preferred redshirt freshman from Austin, has thrown only four passes all season, completing three for 18 yards. He’s played 20 snaps across four games and added six carries for 11 yards. Brady Allen spent one season with Jeff Brohm at Purdue before joining Louisville. He completed 6-of-9 for 69 yards, a TD, and a pick in this year’s opener. His career line sits at 8-of-13 for 84 yards. And the injury report gets worse. 

Starting RB KeyJuan Brown, fresh off 136 and 135-yard back-to-back performances, is out. So is linebacker/safety Antonio Watts and RB Isaac Brown. That’s four major pieces missing for an ACC road finale at SMU.

Jeff Brohm on the $7.2M SEC shortlist

Louisville hasn’t played since November 14, a 20-19 home loss to Clemson filled with self-inflicted wounds. 10 penalties, an early missed PAT, two late missed field goals, and four empty fourth-quarter drives. 

“We’re going to identify the mistakes,” Jeff Brohm said. “We’re going to talk about it. We’re going to correct it. We’re going to go through it.” 

But even as he tries to steady the ship, his name is floating into SEC territory.

Florida’s $7.2 million opening has sparked a national search, and Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan listed Jeff Brohm among the coaches to watch. And why not? He’s 26-11 at Louisville, fresh off the program’s first double-digit win season since 2013. Add in a 30-10 run at Western Kentucky and 36-34 at Purdue, and his resume looks SEC-ready. But for now, the Gators are noise. SMU is the problem right in front of him.

The Mustangs enter off a bye week after crushing Boston College 45-13. They’re one of four ACC squads with just one league loss and already lead the all-time series 3-0 over Louisville, including last year’s 34-27 win. Oddsmakers have SMU slightly favored at -2.5. And with Louisville reeling, injured, and unranked, Saturday feels like a season-defining swing.

Kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium comes at noon ET on ESPN. Louisville needs stability. They need playmakers. They need discipline. And they might need to win it without their starting quarterback.