Louisville Stuns No. 2 Miami 24-21: Cardinals End Hurricanes' Perfect Season with Historic Road Victory
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Louisville Cardinals delivered one of the most stunning upsets of the 2025 college football season Friday night, toppling the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes 24-21 at Hard Rock Stadium to snap the Hurricanes' undefeated season and 10-game home winning streak.
Carson Beck endured the worst performance of his college career, throwing four interceptions—the first time he'd committed that many turnovers in a single game. Miller Moss threw two touchdown passes to Chris Bell and ran for a score as Louisville (5-1, 2-1 ACC) earned its first road victory against a top-10 opponent in program history, improving from 0-18 in such contests.
"This is what college football is all about," Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm said. "Every week is going to be a contest down to the very end, no matter who you play. On any given day, we can beat anybody."
Early dominance sets the tone
Louisville came out firing on all cylinders, executing a masterful opening drive that featured trick plays and deception. The Cardinals drove 74 yards in 12 plays, including a fake field goal that converted a fourth-and-2 at the Miami 22-yard line. Moss powered into the end zone on the following play, giving Louisville a 7-0 lead.
The Cardinals struck again quickly, extending their advantage to 14-0 before Miami could establish any offensive rhythm. The stunning start silenced a Hard Rock Stadium crowd expecting another dominant home performance from their undefeated Hurricanes.
"Obviously, a really disappointing evening and outcome," Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. "At the end of the day, credit to them. We didn't coach well enough, we didn't execute well enough and came up short. Just not good enough."
Beck's nightmare evening
The Georgia transfer completed 25 of 35 passes for 271 yards but the four interceptions overshadowed any statistical achievements. Beck had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game during his college career before Friday night's meltdown.
The turnovers came at critical moments. Beck's fourth interception, with 7:50 remaining and Miami trailing 24-14, effectively ended any comeback hopes. The Hurricanes recovered a fumble on the ensuing Louisville possession to give Beck one final chance, but the damage was irreparable.
"Carson's a competitor, and he'll bounce back from this," Cristobal said. "But tonight wasn't our night."
Miami's running game provided no relief. Mark Fletcher Jr., who scored a touchdown on his birthday to cut Louisville's lead to 14-7 in the first quarter, managed just 18 yards on eight carries against the ACC's top-ranked defense. The Hurricanes accumulated only 63 rushing yards on 24 attempts.
Louisville's balanced attack
Moss completed 23 of 37 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. His connection with Chris Bell proved devastating—Bell hauled in nine catches for 136 yards and both touchdown receptions, repeatedly beating Miami cornerback OJ Frederique in one-on-one matchups.
"Bell looked like a man among boys tonight," one Miami observer noted. "He probably made a bunch of NFL money with that performance."
Running back Isaac Brown, a Homestead native who desperately wanted a Miami scholarship offer in high school, delivered a personal statement game. Brown, spurned by his hometown team, rushed for 113 yards on 15 carries in front of countless family and friends in attendance.
Miami's missed opportunities
The Hurricanes had multiple chances to seize momentum but repeatedly failed to capitalize. Miami settled for field goals on drives that reached Louisville territory, leaving critical points on the board. The Hurricanes went 3-for-10 on third-down conversions and managed just 334 total yards—their lowest output of the season.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney provided one of few bright spots, catching nine passes for 135 yards while adding two carries for 14 yards and a touchdown. He also completed a two-point conversion pass. Nickel back Keionte Scott delivered nine tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble in a losing effort.
Miami's defense allowed zero points on three of Beck's four turnovers, giving the offense multiple opportunities to overcome the mistakes. But the offense couldn't deliver when it mattered most.
Historical significance
Louisville's victory marks the Cardinals' second win at Hard Rock Stadium since 2023 and only the Cardinals' second victory ever against a top-two ranked opponent. Their previous win came against No. 2 Florida State in 2016—a 63-20 demolition.
Before Friday night, Louisville had lost its previous 18 true road games against top-10 opponents by an average margin of 26.3 points. This historic upset shattered that narrative and announced the Cardinals as legitimate ACC contenders.
For Miami, the loss represents multiple firsts—all negative. Beck suffered his first home loss as a starter (previously 17-0), his first defeat against an unranked opponent (previously 17-0), and threw more interceptions in one game than ever before in his career.
Playoff implications
Miami (5-1, 1-1 ACC) remains in the College Football Playoff conversation but must navigate a challenging ACC schedule without margin for error. The Hurricanes face Stanford next week before critical games against SMU and Pittsburgh.
"We've got to regroup and respond," Cristobal said. "Championship teams respond to adversity by refocusing and executing at a high level. That's what we expect from this group."
Louisville continues to build momentum under Brohm. The Cardinals host Boston College on October 25 before facing a challenging final stretch that could determine their playoff positioning.
The Schnellenberger Trophy, awarded to the winner of this rivalry game, returns to Louisville for the second consecutive meeting. The Cardinals proved they belong among the ACC's elite, while Miami must answer questions about their championship mettle after a stunning home defeat.
