Here are five major questions facing the Cardinals entering the season:
1. The joys of youth? With just nine seniors, and only about half of them expected to be major contributors, Louisville will look to a very young but very talented group to lead them. The good news, though, is that the majority of the sophomores and juniors on the squad have significant experience, including quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who took over the starting job last season after just three games.
2. More productive backfield? Louisville's leading rusher a season ago, Victor Anderson, has graduated, but the rushing attack figures to be somewhat more stout this season. In junior Dominique Brown, an ex-quarterback, the Cardinals have a big, physical back. Jeremy Wright is a shifty change-of-pace back who can be a major weapon through screens and draws. If the offense is to be dynamic, the running backs will have to be more productive as a unit than last season.
3. Can Bridgewater be Big East offensive POY? Bridgewater certainly showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, earning him conference freshman of the year honors. But in order for the Cardinals to make a run through the conference, he'll need to be more consistent. Interceptions were a problem -- he threw three in a Belk Bowl loss to North Carolina State -- but he certainly has the tools to be one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. If he is, Louisville has the potential to run the table.
4. How good are these receivers? Three of Louisville's top four receivers last season were freshmen. Michaelee Harris, DeVante Parker and Eli Rogers all figure to again be major weapons, and if junior Damian Copeland can stay healthy, Louisville will have four speedy receivers wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries. Harris, Rogers and Bridgewater all played together in high school, giving them a relationship that spans far beyond just last season.
5. Can the defense hold up? Despite possessing an impressive group of athletes, the offense had a tendency to sputter last season. The defense, however, was often resposible for keeping the Cardinals in games. It has plenty of talent returning, but it lost two leaders in DE Greg Scruggs and LB Dexter Heyman. If the defense can again hold teams to around just 20 points a game, Louisville should often find itself on the winning side. Senior Adrian Bushell and junior Hakeem Smith will anchor a physical secondary.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Big East, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSSportsBigEast.