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2003 Louisville

9–⁠4 (5–⁠3 Conference USA), coached by Bobby Petrino.

Schedule and results

Louisville in 2003, game by game: won at Kentucky 40–24; won at Syracuse 30–20; won vs. UTEP 42–14; won vs. Temple 21–12; lost at South Florida 28–31; won vs. Army 34–10; won vs. Tulane 47–28; won at East Carolina 36–20; lost at No. 13 TCU 28–31; lost vs. Memphis 7–37; won vs. Houston 66–45; won at Cincinnati 43–40; lost vs. No. 14 Miami (OH) 28–49+28−30Won 40–24 at Kentucky+16KentuckyWon 30–20 at Syracuse+10SyracuseWon 42–14 vs. UTEP+28UTEPWon 21–12 vs. Temple+9TempleLost 28–31 at South Florida-3South FloridaWon 34–10 vs. Army+24ArmyWon 47–28 vs. Tulane+19TulaneWon 36–20 at East Carolina+16East CarolinaLost 28–31 at No. 13 TCU-3No. 13 TCULost 7–37 vs. Memphis-30MemphisWon 66–45 vs. Houston+21HoustonWon 43–40 at Cincinnati+3CincinnatiLost 28–49 vs. No. 14 Miami (OH)-21No. 14 Miami (OH)
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 31atKentuckyW 40–⁠2443%
Sep 13atSyracuseW 30–⁠2047%
Sep 20vsUTEPW 42–⁠1491%
Sep 27vsTempleW 21–⁠1282%
Oct 4atSouth FloridaL 28–⁠3145%
Oct 11vsArmyW 34–⁠1092%
Oct 17vsTulaneW 47–⁠2870%
Oct 25atEast CarolinaW 36–⁠2077%
Nov 5at13TCUL 28–⁠3134%
Nov 15vsMemphisL 7–⁠3771%
Nov 22vsHoustonW 66–⁠4573%
Nov 28atCincinnatiW 43–⁠4055%
Dec 18Bowls & playoffvs14Miami (OH)GMAC BowlL 28–⁠4929%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Miami (OH) 49–⁠28 in the GMAC Bowl; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 3rd in the Conference USA.

In program history: The 21st-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 82 on file).

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 2003.

Record
9–⁠4
Conference
5–⁠3 tied for 3rd in Conference USA
AP final
Unranked
Points
450–⁠361
Coach
Bobby Petrino
Elo
1564 +42 this season
SP+ rating
0.5 No. 60 of 117; offense No. 22, defense No. 86
SRS
0.1 No. 58 of 117 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
No. 49
Offensive coordinator
Paul Petrino
Defensive coordinator
Mike Gillhamer
Offense
Multiple
Defense
4–⁠3

Drives and havoc

Points per trip inside the 40Average startHavoc
Offense0.0own 26— allowed
Defense-0.1own 30— caused

A trip inside the 40 is a drive that reaches the opponent’s 40-yard line; points per trip is how many it scored on average (allowed, on defense). Average start is where drives began (the defense’s line is where its opponents started). Havoc is the share of plays ending in a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception or a pass broken up. From CollegeFootballData.com.

Top recruits in the 2003 class

Michael Bush ATH★★★★★No. 11
Thomas Miller CB★★★No. 682
Harry Douglas WR★★★No. 682
Thomas Boyce TE★★★No. 682
Brent Moody K★★★No. 682

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2003 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Running backs12.00.767
Receivers52.40.780
Offensive line32.00.767
Linebackers22.00.767
Defensive backs32.30.778
Athletes and specialists24.00.897
Whole class162.40.789

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

2003 Conference USA standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
Southern Miss8–⁠09–⁠4
TCU7–⁠111–⁠225
Louisville5–⁠39–⁠4
Memphis5–⁠39–⁠4
South Florida5–⁠37–⁠4
Houston4–⁠47–⁠6
UAB4–⁠45–⁠7
Tulane3–⁠55–⁠7
Cincinnati2–⁠65–⁠7
East Carolina1–⁠71–⁠11
Army0–⁠80–⁠13

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.