In the past few years Louisville played in the Big East, the nonconference schedule was brutal to watch. We're talking about games against Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, FIU, Arkansas State, Southern Miss ... you get the picture.

But athletic director Tom Jurich vowed to do better. A jump into the ACC meant the Cards had to ramp up nonconference games. Now comes a report from ESPN college football reporter Brett McMurphy that Louisville and Alabama will open the 2018 season in Orlando, Florida.

That gives Louisville two Power 5 opponents on its nonconference schedule in four of the next five years. The only exception is 2017, a slate that features Charlotte, Marshall, Houston and Kentucky (at least for now). Louisville also will play neutral-site games in three of the next five years, starting with Auburn in Atlanta to open this season. A game against Purdue in Indianapolis is set for 2017.

Coach Bobby Petrino is in favor of opening the season against a marquee national opponent, so watch for this trend to continue.