Louisville began competing in intercollegiate football in 1912.[1] However, these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since the 1940s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[3] The Cardinals have played in 14 bowl games since then, with a 15th assured in 2021, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
Due to COVID-19, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against any player's athletic eligibility, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the standard four.