After holding off App State last week in a close win, NC State will look to build on that momentum in a challenging ACC home opener against Louisville. Here are several names to watch for the Cardinals ahead of this week’s game.
#3 QB Lincoln Kienholz, 6’2, 215, Junior
The former Ohio State backup quarterback is off to a strong start for the Cardinals in 2026. In his first season as a starter, he’s already thrown for 1,140 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. He's also running for 134 yards (his longest run this season is 41 yards) and has scored six touchdowns, proving that he’s one of the best P4 dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
NC State hasn’t been the best against mobile quarterbacks so far this year, so if Kienholz ends up playing, keeping him in the pocket, checking for QB runs, and making him beat you with his arm should be NC State’s plan for the transfer quarterback.
#5 HB Keyjuan Brown, 5’10, 215, Senior
The senior from Anniston, AL, has been at Louisville for all four years of his college career, which is rare nowadays. He’s come on strong in the 2026 season, leading Louisville in rushing yards through four games, tallying 30 carries for 279 yards (9.3 ypc) and two touchdowns. He’s got big-play ability, being able to break off for big runs at any time, including a 58-yard run in a 41-31 win against SMU a few weeks ago.
Keyjaun was listed as probable for the game this week in their initial injury report, so it’ll be interesting to see who gets more burn between him and All-Conference running back Isaac Brown, who is fully healthy.
#0 WR Tre Richardson, 5’10, 175, Senior
Tre Richardson has quickly become a productive option in Louisville’s passing game after arriving from Vanderbilt in the offseason. He led the Commodores with 806 receiving yards on 46 catches and scored seven receiving touchdowns in 2025.
Through Louisville’s first four games, Richardson has caught 20 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown, averaging 16.4 yards per reception. His longest catch was 62 yards in the Cardinals’ narrow loss to Ole Miss, and he also scored a 30-yard rushing touchdown against Ole Miss, but he hasn’t reached the end zone since the season opener. Regardless of who starts at quarterback in Carter-Finley Stadium this week, NC State will have to keep Richardson covered all night and limit his touches.
#50 EDGE Clev Lubin, 6’3, 260, Senior
The star pass rusher transferred to Louisville for the 2025 season from Coastal Carolina, and since the 2024 season at Coastal Carolina, Lubin has recorded 116 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, and 5 forced fumbles.
Lubin in 2025 earned third-team All-ACC honors, playing all 13 games and finishing 25th nationally in total sacks, 4th in the ACC with 8.5 sacks, and 7th in the ACC with 13.5 tackles for loss.
With Teague Andersen moving to center, it’s going to be a big challenge for NC State’s tackles, especially Rico Jackson, who has stepped in to replace Andersen at his old spot. Jimarion McCrimon could also be targeted a lot for his issues with holding penalties this season. I would expect NC State to double-team Lubin, slide towards him, or chip-block him throughout the game. The Wolfpack can’t let Lubin sack CJ more than once, and they’ll have to limit his pressures as well.
#6 Stanquan Clark, 6’3, 240, Senior
Stanquan Clark is a vital veteran presence for this defense. Like Keyjuan Brown, Clark has spent his entire career at Louisville and is looking to finish strong after playing only five games following a leg injury. Back in 2025, Clark was second on the team in tackles with 76 and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors.
During his college career, Clark has totaled 128 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, and 3 forced fumbles. Even though Clark hasn’t played a full season since 2024, he’s going to be a force for Louisville on both sides of the ball.
Game Notes
- Starting QB Lincoln Kienholz is officially a game-time decision (listed as ‘questionable’), and it seems the trend is toward backup quarterback Davin Wydner starting in his place.
- Louisville opened as a -7.5 point favorite, but after the Kienholz news this week, the line now sits at -3 in favor of the Cardinals, and the over/under is set at 58.5.
- Wynder was at Ole Miss as a backup in 2022 and 2023, before transferring to West Georgia in 2024. In his two years at West Georgia, he threw for 3,390 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with a 59% completion percentage.
- Wydner is also a mobile quarterback, with 176 carries for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns in two years at West Georgia.
- You also can’t forget about All-ACC junior running back Isaac Brown, who has 314 carries for 2,254 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, averaging 7.2 ypc throughout his career.
- Though it’s been a slower start for Brown this year, with only 197 yards and 1 touchdown at 4.1 ypc. He was listed as probable for this week’s game, so it’ll be interesting to see how he and Keyjuan are used against the Wolfpack.
- Louisville’s offense averages 486.3 yards/game, ranking 4th in the ACC.
- The rushing offense averages 219 yards/game, ranking 5th in the ACC.
- Offensive points per game average 41.3, ranking 18th nationally and 3rd in the ACC.
- The total offense averages 486.3 yards/game ranking 4th in the ACC.
- Their defense, however, allows 28.8 points per game, ranking 109th nationally and second-to-last in the ACC.
- The total defense allows 405.5 yards/game, ranking 3rd-to-last in the ACC.
- This game is lining up to be a shootout, and it could come down to who has the ball last.
