There’s no way to sugarcoat this: A Louisville football team that began September with aspirations for an ACC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoffs (CFB) is now fighting for survival with its season on the brink of disaster.
NC State (3-2, 2-1) delivered the latest blow, edging the sloppy, error-prone Cardinals (2-3, 1-2) 31-28 for three-point losses and their third defeat by a total of nine points in rainy Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. Saturday.
Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, who was a gametime decision after suffering an ankle injury against Wake Forest, started with both ankles heavily taped and looked to be at nearly full strength. He did his part, completing 21-of-30 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. His scoring throws went to Lawayne McCoy for 33 yards and Tre Richardson on a catch-and-run that covered 38 yards…