This isn’t meant to be a subliminal dive into Miami’s back-and-forth 52-45 survival at the L&N on Saturday afternoon.

Some of it because the game exhausted me.

Partly due to its nature.

It was a great football game.

The kind that is now referred to as an “instant classic.”

Also because the Louisville Cardinals were on equal terms with the Hurricanes. Who, make no mistake, is a really good team, a real top 10, a real last dozen.

Cards lost.

I’m at a loss.

But I didn’t feel like playing, I should have.

Both teams made big plays.

Both teams made big mistakes.

Both teams were in good shape, as you would expect from the unsavory ACC Zebras.

Both teams caught a break from the, as expected, poor ACC refereeing.

How even were Stephen’s (Steven?) cards and sticks? Apart from the final balance.

Louisville was 3/3 in the red zone. Miami was 4/4 in the red zone.

Each team turned it over once.

Each team used the gift to score a touchdown.

Louisville sacked Cam Ward three times. Miami sacked Tyler Shough three times.

Ward was 21/32 for 319 yards and 4 throws for a score.

Shough was 31/51 for 342 yards and four touchdowns.

The only relevant statistical offensive disparity came from the high overall numbers.

242 vs. 145. Favor the winners.

There were times when the Cards simply couldn’t bring down the Hurricane ball carrier (or receiver). Nothing is more meaningful or important than Damien Martinez’s 30-yard rush that extended Miami’s lead to 14 with 4:05 left. A few Cardinals went full throttle. Martinez carried three Cardinals the last five or so yards to bury the ground, saying Cardinals were trying to take the ball away from the runner instead of putting it on the turf.

There were many worthy moments for Louisville. On both sides of the ball. A number, not like that.

The same goes for Miami. The Cards still scored 45 points.

These 67 seconds were full of magic. This and many other dazzling positive aspects were not enough.

Louisville didn’t back down.

They just couldn’t close the deal.

—CD Kaplan