Well, this year, Miller Moss is throwing passes in a new city, and he’s not the only one excited this spring—Louisville fans share his enthusiasm. The transfer from USC didn’t just impress in 2023; he dominated the Holiday Bowl, throwing six touchdowns against—ironically—Louisville. The Cardinals watched, likely with frustration… and then, a couple of years later, they offered him a starting role. Best part? He has his lady love by his side to celebrate his big moments.

But the story was supposed to be different. At the start of 2024, Moss had the quarterback whisperer in his corner. His USC HC, Lincoln Riley, has a track record of developing Heisman contenders and potential top draft picks. When Moss led the Trojans to a convincing road win over LSU, it seemed Riley had struck gold again. But he didn’t. Moss started nine games before being replaced by Jayden Maiava after a 4-5 start. A loss to Washington was the turning point for Riley. Was Moss solely to blame for the poor offense? Not entirely. But his interceptions, inability to convert third downs, and avoidable sacks certainly hindered the team.

Fast forward to present day: Moss is Louisville’s star quarterback. New team, new city, and the starting QB position is firmly his. But back west, his biggest champion is still his girlfriend, Sofia Hildebrand—she’s not just cheering from the sidelines; she’s completely devoted. Her latest Instagram Story? “@louisvillefb you guys got a good one.” Picture her laying a kiss on him—talk about a clear show of support. Honestly, that’s more than just a post; it’s a straight-up declaration of love.

No wonder that motivation worked really well for Miller Moss, as he completed 18 of 26 passes for 208 yards in the first half’s five series. Redshirted Caullin Lacy emerged as a deep threat, highlighted by his 18-yard touchdown catch from Moss and 16.5 yards-per-reception average. However, this enthusiastic assessment isn’t Sofia’s first.

A few weeks ago, the Louisville Cardinals’ Instagram post showcasing their Spring Ball visuals, including those of Moss, generated excitement. Two weeks later, things are looking great for Moss, who’s been making impressive throws and showcasing his powerful arm. The 23-year-old Hildebrand even joined the comments to cheer him on, writing, “I heard from a little bird you have the greatest QB in the country.” She doesn’t leave a single chance to hype her man.

But Miller Moss did face some inconsistencies too, throwing a lone interception in the game. Despite that, HC Jeff Brohm remains confident in what he is building around the team. After the spring game, he said, “I think for the most part we’ve had a good camp. … Since there are a lot of new faces, we need to make sure that we know exactly what to do, how to do it, and that we can play as fast as we can without making a lot of mistakes. For the most part, we’ve gotten better at certain things. There’s still, without question, some things we need to clean up, and they continue to show up sporadically.” That’s a straight-up fact. The Cardinals do have some areas they need to focus on before the season starts.

Dark cloud looms over Miller Moss and Co.

Louisville’s spring game exposed some weaknesses, particularly in the passing game. Caullin Lacy was heavily relied upon, and justifiably so. He made a key catch on the opening drive and scored a touchdown in the second quarter, immediately dominating the offense. While Chris Bell contributed, he lacked Lacy’s consistency, showing flashes but ultimately inconsistent play.

Without Lacy and Bell out there, the passing game just sputtered. Brady Allen and Deuce Adams stepped in at QB, but those two couldn’t shake free. When Lacy and Bell weren’t on the field, nobody was getting open past the hash marks. It didn’t even matter who was throwing the ball; the running backs kept ending up as the third receiving option. Point blank, the lack of receiver production was a huge problem. The offense just ground to a halt without Lacy and Bell, really showing how thin Louisville is at wideout.

As the wide receivers faltered, the team relied on the running backs as safety nets in the passing game. Even Miller Moss understands their unsaid struggles. “It’s not necessarily like we have a super heavy running back room compared to our receivers or super heavy receivers compared to our tight ends. So, I think our ability to be balanced and attack defenses just in a bunch of different ways makes us unique, and hopefully, you know, we can continue to develop in all phases offensively.”

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, they’ve already rebuilt after losing all four starting defensive backs, with Rae’Mon Mosby and transfer Rodney Johnson solidifying starting cornerback roles. At safety, D’Angelo Hutchinson stepped up, while Florida International transfer Jojo Evans completed the secondary. This rapid defensive overhaul mirrors the potential need for a similar rebuild at wide receiver.

Now that Miller Moss is going to make his much-awaited comeback this season, let’s see if Jeff Brohm can fix these issues to give their QB a perfect system or not. After all, Louisville football has got a good one.