1998 Louisville Cardinals football team

1998 Louisville Cardinals football
Motor City Bowl, L 29–48 vs. Marshall
ConferenceConference USA
Record7–5 (4–2 C–USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBobby Petrino (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorChris Smeland (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumPapa John's Cardinal Stadium
1998 Conference USA football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 7 Tulane $  6 0   12 0  
Southern Miss  5 1   7 5  
Louisville  4 2   7 5  
East Carolina  3 3   6 5  
Army  2 4   3 8  
Houston  2 4   3 8  
Memphis  1 5   2 9  
Cincinnati  1 5   2 9  
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1998 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach John L. Smith, the Cardinals compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, placing third in C-USA. Louisville was invited to the Motor City Bowl, where the Cardinals lost to Marshall. The team played home game at the newly opened Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.