By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson accounted for more than 450 yards of total offense in the cardinals’ Music City Bowl victory.

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns and added 227 yards and two touchdowns through the air to help the Cardinals (8-5, 5-3 ACC) knock off Texas A&M (8-5, 4-4 SEC), 27-21, in the 2015 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.

A pro-Louisville crowd of 50,478, the smallest for the event in 10 seasons, had plenty to cheer about, as the Cardinals jumped to a 13-0 lead and hung on late with a defensive stand to win their third bowl game in four seasons. The Aggies, which had been tied with Michigan State for the longest active bowl winning streak (four), fell in the postseason for the first time since losing to LSU in the 2011 Cotton Bowl.

Here are five takeaways from the SECs first defeat of bowl season:

1. The New Petrino

Bobby Petrinos changes as a person are well-documented, but his changes as a play-caller arent. Petrino made his name with tall, statuesque passers such as Brian Brohm and Ryan Mallett. Jackson couldnt be more different than Petrinos prior pupils, but the head coachs genius is that hes reinvented his offense to cater to what Jackson can do best.

Much like Steve Spurrier did in his later years when he scrapped the Fun x98N Gun at South Carolina for a more run-heavy offense, Petrinos scheme looks little like it did at Arkansas and in his first stint with the Cardinals. If you have a hole that doesnt fit the peg, drill a different hole. Petrino has done that this season with his true freshman standout, and the season culminated with Petrinos 100th career win as a head coach.

2. Quarterback Shopping

Texas A&M doesnt have a quarterback. There were some moments of success from Jake Hubenak (28-48-307, 2 TD, 1 INT) in his first career start, but the sophomore struggled against an aggressive Louisville defense. The quarterback transfer market will soon be heating up (former Texas Tech starter Davis Webb announced Wednesday that he will be looking for a new home next season), and the Aggies need to be a significant player after losing both Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray earlier this month.

Former Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is the head coach at Texas Tech, so it would seem logical that he would bless a move to College Station if Webb desires. 2014 Sugar Bowl hero Trevor Knight will be available once Oklahomas season ends. Other names will pop up once spring practices concludes. A one-game audition for Hubenak isnt really fair, but in a make-or-break year for Kevin Sumlin, action must be taken.

3. Garretts Growth

Texas A&M sophomore Myles Garrett is the most feared pass rusher in the SEC. He led the conference in sacks this season and now has 24 in two years. But against Louisville and its frequent zone reads with Jackson, Garrett looked lost and indecisive. The Cardinals exposed Garretts side of the defensive line, getting him to commit to the handoff while Jackson was tucking the ball away and heading outside.

A defense has to earn the right to rush the passer. That requires making stops on first and second down and limiting the opponents running game. The Aggies failure to do that restricts the ability of Garrett to do what he does best. Its been a problem all season against quality opponents, and it was again against Louisville. While his statistics are impressive, his impact could be far greater if he and the team can put the defense in better situations for him to succeed.

4. Fields Day

Louisville outside linebacker Devonte Fields is one of many troubled transfers that the Cardinals have taken on, but the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with TCU shone brightly in helping the team hang on for the victory with two pass breakups on Texas A&Ms final march deep into opposing territory. He also had three sacks earlier in the game.

Fields, a junior, will likely turn pro in the next few weeks, and his draft stock was aided by a big performance against an SEC opponent. His name fell off the radar after falling out of favor at TCU, but Fields is now back on the map after a stellar performance in what was likely his final college game. This isnt likely the last well hear of his name.

5. Spinning it Forward

Not all 8-5 records are created equal. After an 0-3 start, Louisville won eight of its final 10 games, including two wins over SEC teams, to close on a high note. The Cardinals lose just two offensive starters, and the defense will have plenty of experience as well. Theres always Clemson and Florida State to deal with, but this team appears primed to make a serious run at the ACC title.

Texas A&M. which mirrored 2014s fall from 5-0 to 8-5, enters a critical offseason after which Kevin Sumlin will likely be coaching his job when toe meets leather once again on Septembers first Saturday. The Aggies also will be an experienced group in 2016, but the erosion from the past couple months will require plenty of maintenance. The program isnt broken, but its certainly cracked. If Sumlin wants a sixth season in 2017, another 8-5 year wont cut it.