CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The headliners were Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Swinney at Friday’s ACC Kickoff, as it has been for the past five years, when either Clemson or Florida State has won the conference each season. And then there was Louisville, perhaps the best-kept secret in college football.
"We have a goal to win a national championship," Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said, "and I’ve made sure our players understand that."
Petrino’s goal wasn’t to convince the media of the same, but he certainly made his case that the idea wasn’t far-fetched.
On defense, a flurry of talent returns, led by potential All-Americans DeVonte Fields, Keith Kelsey, and DeAngelo Brown.