Not the best of starts for a new University of Louisville quarterback, taking a while to acclimated. Delays of games, awkward and rushed passes, one missing a wide open receiver, a sure touchdown. Say hello to the signal calling when all eyes are on you, when every decision has to be the right one.
Lincoln Keinholz was clearly feeling the pressure in the opening minutes. First time starter at UofL after three years of backup duty at Ohio State University. Nothing there had prepared him for what he faced in the 2026 opening for UofL against the University of Mississippi. A crowd of 57,390 at Titan Stadium in the Music City Kickoff Classic.
Early mistakes quickly leading to questions about natural abilities and instincts, whether he was the right person. Game time second guessing but Louisville struggling on offense, failing to take advantage of huge Old Miss mistakes. Wondering whether it was going to be a really long night.
Keinholz will need to reinvent himself at halftime with UofL trailing 10-6. Coach Jeff Brohm and Keinholz getting to know each other, needing to know which buttons to push, which plays to call to make this latest quarterback do what he does best. They will get it together, but not soon enough, and Louisville will lose to Mississippi 41-38 on the last play of the game.
Dramatic improvement, thankfully, with Keinholz ending the night with 18 completions on 29 attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns. The first quarterback in UofL history to eclipse 300 yards in a season opener. Even two former quarterbacks (Jeff and Brian Brohm) on the UofL staff had be impressed.
Let there be no doubt that UofL has a scrambler back there, not after that gutsy seven-yard run to tie the score at 38-38 with a minute left in the game. Two UofL touchdowns in the final four minutes. No throw in the towel for this team.
Just not enough, soon enough but there are no more top 10 teams on UofL’s schedule right now. Keinholz has the opportunity to do some special things.
Tre Richardson actually provided the spark for Louisville to start the second half, breaking free for a 30-yard rushing touchdown on the first drive out of the locker room. Richardson closed out the third quarter with a 62-yard reception from Keinholz to tie the game at 24 heading into the final frame. He ended the night with a team-high 83 receiving yards on four receptions.
“We fought tooth and nail until the end so I’m proud of our team for sticking together,” said Coach Brohm. “We had some good moments. Some other moments weren’t as good. We had some flaws in the action, and we picked some things up, found ways to make plays. But in the end, we didn’t make enough (plays). When you play good football teams, it’s not going to be smooth”
Sophomore kicker Carson Hilbert, a son of former UofL kicker John Hilbert, went three-for-three on points after touchdown and a 46-yard field goal before halftime.
Defensively, Koen Entringer and T.J. Capers led with seven tackles apiece. Stanquan Clark added six tackles to go with an interception in the second quarter.
Typical first game with plenty of mistakes but providing glimpses of great possibilities for Lincoln Keinholz.
