LOUISVILLE (Interstat) — Louisville scored 44 points and Florida State scored 20 as the Cardinals defeated the visiting Seminoles in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game on Friday at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. A crowd of 48,992 watched Louisville improve to 3-3 and Florida State fall to 3-3.

Florida State opened the scoring in the first quarter. Ashton Daniels rushed up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown at the 8:34 mark, and Gabe Panikowski made the extra point. Daniels later connected with Micahi Danzy on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 2:08 left in the opening quarter, and Panikowski again converted. The Seminoles’ early 14-point cushion came behind Daniels, who completed 21 of 37 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns while carrying 13 times for 45 yards and another score. Danzy finished with four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Quintrevion Wisner added seven carries for 20 yards and two catches for 19 yards, while Jayvan Boggs caught three passes for 42 yards. Landen Thomas had two receptions for 28 yards, Duce Robinson had two for 14, Chase Loftin had one for 6, Desirrio Riles had two for 8 and Jasen Lopez had one for minus-1.

Louisville answered in the second quarter. Carson Hilbert missed a 54-yard field goal attempt, but Isaac Brown broke free for a 97-yard touchdown run and Hilbert made the kick. Marquise Davis then scored on a 3-yard run, and Hilbert’s extra point tied the game. Brown powered the Cardinals throughout, finishing with 17 carries for 235 yards and two touchdowns, plus one reception for 7 yards and a 71-yard kick return. Davis added nine carries for 56 yards and a score. Braxton Jennings had three carries for 49 yards and a touchdown, and Lekhy Thompkins added two carries for 21 yards.

Lincoln Kienholz gave Louisville the lead for good in the third quarter with a pair of short touchdown runs. He scored from 3 yards and later from 1 yard, with Hilbert converting both extra points. Kienholz completed 11 of 15 passes for 140 yards and ran nine times for 40 yards and two touchdowns. Louisville’s ground game continued to wear down Florida State, and the Cardinals’ defense began making stops after a fast Seminoles start.

In the fourth quarter, Jennings broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run and Hilbert’s kick extended the margin. Florida State responded when Daniels found Danzy for a 2-yard touchdown, but the subsequent two-point pass failed. Brown then ripped off a 68-yard touchdown run, though Hilbert’s extra point missed. Hilbert later connected on a 39-yard field goal to close the scoring. Louisville’s defense protected the lead with a series of tackles and pressures, while Florida State could not generate another scoring drive.

Stanquan Clark led Louisville with 10 tackles and half a sack. T.J. Capers also had 10 tackles. Benjamin Perry recorded eight tackles and two quarterback hurries, while Kaleb Beasley made seven tackles and an interception. Koen Entringer added six tackles, and Cam White had five. Demeco Kennedy finished with five tackles, half a sack and one quarterback hurry. Clev Lubin had four tackles, half a sack and one quarterback hurry. Tayon Holloway, Jerod Smith II, DJ Waller Jr., TJ Banks and Trent Carter each made three tackles. Daylen Russell and Brycen Scott each had two tackles. Tyler Thompson added two tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. AJ Green contributed one tackle, one sack and two quarterback hurries. Eric Hazzard, Joshua Donald, James Glover-Tyson and Micah Rice each had one tackle, with Donald adding half a sack. Blake Ruffin added a quarterback hurry.

For Florida State, Chris Jones and CJ Richard Jr. each made seven tackles. Omar Graham Jr. had five tackles, while Caleb LaVallee and Quindarrius Jones each had four. K.J. Kirkland added three tackles. Rylan Kennedy posted three tackles and a sack. Desirrio Riles had two receptions for 8 yards. Jasen Lopez had one reception for minus-1 yard. Chase Loftin had one reception for 6 yards. Duce Robinson had two receptions for 14 yards. Landen Thomas had two receptions for 28 yards. Jayvan Boggs caught three passes for 42 yards. Micahi Danzy finished with four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Quintrevion Wisner added seven carries for 20 yards and two receptions for 19 yards.

Louisville’s receiving corps also contributed. TreyShun Hurry had five receptions for 56 yards. Lawayne McCoy caught three passes for 78 yards. Jaleel Skinner had one reception for minus-1 yard, and Tre Richardson had one reception for no gain. Lekhy Thompkins carried twice for 21 yards. Niall Hayes punted once for 48 yards. Carson Hilbert handled kicking duties and connected on a 39-yard field goal while also converting extra points. The Cardinals finished with 44 points while holding Florida State to 20.

The game featured a fast start by Florida State before Louisville took control with its running game. The Seminoles scored twice in the opening quarter, but Louisville answered with two second-quarter touchdowns to tie the score. The Cardinals then scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter and added two more touchdowns and a field goal in the fourth. Florida State’s only second-half points came on Daniels’ second touchdown pass to Danzy, and the failed two-point attempt left the Seminoles short of closing the gap. Louisville’s defense limited Florida State after the first quarter and forced the Seminoles to play from behind. The Cardinals’ victory evened their record at 3-3, matching Florida State’s record.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Louisville 48, Florida State 24. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Louisville with an 85 percent probability to win. Florida State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-4. The total score of 64 went under the over/under line of 60.5.