| Year: | 1997 |
| Team: | Louisville Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Conference USA |
| Short Conf: | C–USA |
| Record: | 1–10 |
| Conf Record: | 0–6 |
| Head Coach: | Ron Cooper |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Donnie Kirkpatrick |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | One back |
| Def Coach: | Everett Withers |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 flex |
| Stadium: | Cardinal Stadium |
The 1997 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by head coach Ron Cooper in his third and final season as head coach, compiling an overall record of 1–10 with a mark of 0–6 in conference play, placing last out of seven teams in C-USA. Louisville played home game at the old Cardinal Stadium for the final season, before moving to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in 1998.
1997 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Walk-On Player of the Year (Frank Camp Chapter)- Chris Scott