Kienholz says Louisville has more to show after 2-1 start

The former Ohio State backup has 10 touchdowns without an interception as Louisville turns its fast start toward ACC play.

The Pate State Wire DeskVerified reporting · full source list below · monitored by an editor

● Reported
SEP 22, 2026

The Pate State · Wire Graphic

Kienholz total touchdowns through three games

Kienholz interceptions through three games

4-4

Louisville’s ACC record last season

01 · The NewsKienholz sees more ahead

After Louisville’s 41-31 win over SMU on Saturday, Sept. 19, quarterback Lincoln Kienholz said the 2-1 Cardinals still have not played a complete game.

“I think we haven’t even been close to our ceiling yet,” Kienholz told College Sports Radio on SiriusXM. “I think we’ve had three solid games so far, but you know, I think we haven’t really had our complete game yet. So hopefully soon we can put it all together, offensively and defensively. So yeah, I’m just looking forward to keep going to work with these guys every day.”

Kienholz has passed for 816 yards and six touchdowns without an interception through three games, completing 65.8% of his throws. The former Ohio State backup has added 153 rushing yards and four touchdowns, giving Louisville a dual-threat offense that has won two straight.

Louisville opened this season with a 41-38 loss at Ole Miss on Sept. 6, then beat Villanova 59-13 on Sept. 11 before handling SMU. Its next game is against Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The listed schedule runs through a home game against Stanford on Oct. 31 and does not include the Kentucky game mentioned by On3. On3 reported that Louisville does not face another ranked opponent in the remaining schedule, but the late-season path is not fully established by the verified games.

Brohm described the SMU win as another step for a team still figuring itself out.

“I talked with our team after the game, it reminds me of growing up in the neighborhood before cell phones. And when school got out, you’d go out in the backyard, and you’d play ball all day long, and you had a group of friends you normally would play with. And a lot of times things would go well, and you’d pat each other on the back, and things wouldn’t, and you’d get on each other, and you’d fight amongst each other, and you’d just figure it out in the end,” Brohm said.

02 · The StakesWhy It Matters

If Louisville turns that production into a more complete team, it can move from a fast start to a serious ACC and playoff contender. The Cardinals went 4-4 in ACC play last season after finishing 9-4 overall.

03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching

Can Louisville put it all together?

Kienholz said the Cardinals have not played their complete game offensively or defensively; watch whether both sides improve together.

Does Kienholz’s production hold?

He has 816 passing yards, six passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns without an interception through three games.

Sourcing & standards: Reporting via On3. Produced by the Pate State Wire Desk under the site's verification rules, monitored by an editor. Corrections are timestamped, never silent.