Given there’s no doubt where many of my almost 100% Cardinal-loving readership will go in the Comments section, let’s just start there and get it over with.

In real time, I heard from several fans how Louisville was screwed by the refs late.

Once, when Kevn Jennings scrambled for an important 1st Down late, and he appeared to have nonchalanted his way out of bounds, a yard or less short.

Don’t even think it was reviewed. Though it may have been. (I was somewhat distracted after the 6:56 mark of the 2d, when it was first pitch of my Tigers’ game against Cleveland. Even though the Guardians had 5 in the bottom of 1st before recording an out, I kept watching out of the corner of my eye. What are laptops for, right?)

Anyway, back to the game at hand, I agree with the naysayers. To my eyes, Jennings appeared short. An important situation.

Then, of course the fumble. Forced by Cardinal Stanquan Clark, recovered at the five yard line or so by Corey Thornton.

Called a turnover and change of possession on the field.

After the review, it was overturned, giving the Mustangs a 1st Down at U of L’s 13. After a legitimately whistled Card PI in the endzone, SMU tallied the go head/ eventual winner from close in.

But there was 6:39 left, as it is said, “plenty of time.”

My take on that call — again different folks will see it differently — is that his shin was down before the ball came loose. Open to reasonable opposition with a contrary take.

Whether it was the proverbial “indisputable evidence” to overturn the call on the field is certainly a legit question. I don’t think it was and the call should have stood.

I would also posit it was not why the Cards lost. They had plenty of chances to prevail before and after. Including just before and just after.

Both teams showed shakiness on D, but SMU slightly less so.

Early in the 4th, they held the Cards twice inside the Red Zone on 3d and 4th downs with just a yard to be gained.

Then on U of L’s last chance, the OL’s porousness — a problem all day — did them in. A sack on 1st down made it 2d & 19 at the Mustang 21. Then a sack in reality if not officially made it 4th and 17 at the 19.

SMU picked off a Shough prayer in the endzone.

Ball Game.

27-34.

The visitors appeared a somewhat more confident team from the get go.

Won the coin toss. Took the ball. 3:21 in, they were up a TD. Then gave up a Card getback score. Then tallied again in 2:36.

U of L was the first team to flinch, settling for a FG on its second possession.

The Cardinals never led.

Anyhow, I’m not going to argue about whether U of L got hosed at the end. They might have. They might not have. I understand the ways of diehards.

What I believe is that U of L had plenty of chances to take charge and win the game.

Like last week in South Bend, they didn’t.

— c d kaplan