Final Game Day Injury Report for Clemson Football’s Clash Against Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals (7-2, 4-2 ACC) prepare to host the Clemson Tigers (4-5, 3-4 ACC) in a pivotal Friday night showdown at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, both teams are nursing key injuries that could tilt the balance in this ACC tilt with major postseason implications. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with the Cardinals aiming to rebound from a heartbreaking 29-26 overtime loss to Cal last weekend and keep their slim Atlantic Coast Conference championship hopes alive. For Clemson, riding momentum from a 24-17 upset over Florida State, a win here would push their bowl eligibility odds above 70% and provide a signature road victory to salvage a disappointing season.
The ACC’s final game-day availability report, released Friday afternoon, paints a picture of cautious optimism for Louisville and lingering depth concerns for the Tigers. While neither squad is decimated, the absences and question marks along the trenches and in the secondary could amplify the importance of special teams and quarterback play in what projects as a high-scoring affair. Louisville’s high-powered offense, averaging 35.2 points per game under new starter Miller Moss, faces a Clemson defense that ranks 45th nationally in scoring defense (24.1 points allowed). Conversely, the Tigers’ Cade Klubnik, fresh off a turnover-free performance against FSU, will test a Cardinals unit that surrendered 29 points to Cal despite forcing two turnovers.
Leading the headlines for Louisville is the continued absence of star running back Isaac Brown, the team’s leading rusher with 782 yards and five touchdowns on an ACC-best 8.6 yards per carry this season. Brown, a sophomore from Trinity (Ky.) High School, aggravated a lower-leg injury late in the Cardinals’ 28-16 win at Virginia Tech on Nov. 1, sidelining him for a second straight game. Coach Jeff Brohm confirmed Brown’s status post-practice Thursday, noting the backfield will lean on a committee featuring returning starter Duke Watson—who tallied 19 yards and a touchdown in his return from a month-long ankle injury last week—and freshman phenom Keytaon Thompson, who exploded for 112 yards on 18 carries against Cal. “Isaac’s a dynamic player, but our depth has been tested all year,” Brohm said. “Duke looked sharp in limited reps, and Keytaon’s got that burst we need. We’ll grind it out.”
On a brighter note for the Cardinals’ defense, veteran linebacker Stanquan Clark has been upgraded to full participation and is expected to make his long-awaited return after missing 10 weeks with a fractured ankle suffered in Week 2 against James Madison. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Clark, a former All-ACC honorable mention, logged 78 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss last season and brings veteran savvy to a linebacker corps led by Kalib Perry’s 62 stops this fall. Clark’s return could prove timely against Clemson’s balanced attack, which averages 178 rushing yards per game. “Stanquan’s been practicing full-go for two weeks now—his energy’s infectious,” defensive coordinator Ron English said. “He’ll rotate in early and give us that edge presence we’ve missed.”
However, Louisville’s secondary remains a wildcard. Starting cornerback Tayon Holloway, who has three interceptions and 42 tackles this season, is listed as questionable with a hamstring strain that limited him to just 12 snaps against Cal. Backup corner Jarvis Cooper stepped up with five tackles in that game, but Holloway’s coverage skills are crucial against Klubnik’s precise passing (2,456 yards, 18 TDs, no INTs in his last four starts). Rotational edge rusher A.J. Green, a sophomore with 4.5 sacks, is also questionable after tweaking his knee in Wednesday’s walk-through; his status will be a game-time decision, per Brohm. If both are sidelined, expect redshirt freshman M.J. Griffin to see extended reps at corner, bolstering a unit that ranks 62nd in pass defense (221.4 yards allowed per game).
Quarterback Miller Moss, Louisville’s transfer from USC, is fully available despite a shaky outing against Cal (22-of-38 for 289 yards, two TDs, one INT, and three sacks). Brohm hedged on Moss’s starting status earlier in the week but confirmed Friday he’d helm the offense, with backup Harrison Bailey as the emergency option. Moss’s mobility—evident in his 45-yard scramble for a score last week—could exploit Clemson’s linebacker depth issues.
Shifting to Clemson, the Tigers enter healthier than they’ve been in weeks, with no new major setbacks from Thursday’s travel day. Notably absent from the injury report is quarterback Cade Klubnik, who battled an ankle sprain and quad contusion in the FSU win but practiced fully and is cleared for a full workload. The redshirt junior has been lights-out lately, completing 72% of his passes without an interception over his last 108 attempts, and his dual-threat ability (312 rushing yards, four TDs) adds unpredictability. “Cade’s tough—those bumps didn’t slow him down against FSU, and they won’t here,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s locked in.”
Clemson’s most glaring void is at wide receiver, where leading pass-catcher Bryant Wesco Jr. remains sidelined with a season-ending back injury suffered Oct. 18 against SMU. The 6-foot-3 sophomore amassed 512 receiving yards and six touchdowns before the setback, forcing Clemson to redistribute targets to Antonio Williams (28 catches, 412 yards) and Beaux Collins (24 receptions, three TDs). Wesco’s absence has dropped the Tigers’ passing efficiency to 112th nationally (6.8 yards per attempt), though Klubnik’s recent hot streak has masked the issue.
Defensively, Clemson will be without starting defensive tackle Stephiylan Green, ruled out with an undisclosed injury after being downgraded from questionable. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound junior started six games, logging 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and his absence exacerbates a run defense that ranks 89th (152.3 yards allowed per game). However, the Tigers received good news on two fronts: rotational defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart and starting safety Ricardo Jones, both probable through midweek, are fully cleared after full practices. Capehart (18 tackles, 1.5 TFLs) and Jones (45 tackles, two INTs) provide stability in the secondary and along the line, allowing Clemson to roll with a front four featuring Peter Woods and Vic Burley up front.
Other minor notes for Clemson include backup offensive lineman Blake Miller (questionable, shoulder) and reserve cornerback Avieon Terrell (probable, hamstring), neither of whom are expected to impact the starting lineup significantly. The Tigers’ running back group is at full strength, with Phil Mafah (742 yards, nine TDs) poised for a heavy workload against a Louisville defense that has struggled against the run (4.8 yards per carry allowed).
These injury dynamics set up intriguing matchups. Louisville’s revamped backfield will test Clemson’s depleted interior line, while the Cardinals’ secondary—if Holloway sits—must contain Klubnik’s precision without Wesco stretching the field. Brohm emphasized adaptability in his pre-game remarks: “Injuries are part of it, but execution isn’t. We’ve got the pieces to compete.” Swinney echoed the sentiment, adding, “This is do-or-die for us—healthy or not, we’ve got to play Clemson football.”
With temperatures dipping into the low 40s under the lights and a sellout crowd of 60,800 donning black alternate uniforms for a “blackout” theme, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A Louisville win keeps them in the ACC race alongside Miami and SMU; for Clemson, it’s a step toward redemption in a season that started with national title buzz but veered off course after early losses to Georgia and North Carolina. As players tape up and warm up, the final injury report underscores a timeless truth: Football’s heart beats strongest when the depth chart is tested.