Notre Dame Opponent Preview: Pittsburgh Panthers

A look at the next opponent on the Notre Dame schedule, the Pitt Panthers

Notre Dame (6-2) gets back to action this weekend when the Pitt Panthers come to town. This will be the 72nd meeting between the two rivals and the Irish will look to build a winning streak after beating USC over a week ago. Notre Dame has won three straight against Pitt and six of the last seven. Notre Dame has won the last three matchups inside of Notre Dame Stadium.

Where: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.) 
When: Saturday - October 28th
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: NBC/Peacock
Line: Notre Dame -20.0, O/U: 45

Let's take a first glance look at the Panthers.

HEAD COACH - Pat Narduzzi

Record: 64-45 (9th season)

Narduzzi made his bones as a defensive coordinator under former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. He ran the Cincinnati defense under Dantonio from 2004-06 before leaving with him to Michigan State. The pair was together from 2007-14, and during those eight seasons together the Spartans went 75-31, won two Big Ten titles and finished inside the Top 10 of the AP Poll three times and inside the Top 10 of the Coaches Poll four times. Their best season together was 2013, when the Spartans went 13-1 and finished No. 3 in both polls. Their only defeat that season was a 17-13 loss to Notre Dame. They rebounded by beating Michigan (29-6) in the regular season, Ohio State (34-24) in the Big Ten title game and Stanford (24-20) in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State went 3-4 against Notre Dame during their time together, winning three of the first four contests against the Irish.

Narduzzi was hired at Pitt following the 2014 season after the Spartans went 11-2 and finished 5th in both polls.

Pitt has posted a winning record in all but one of Narduzzi's previous seven season, earning a bowl berth in all but two seasons. Michigan State declined a bowl berth following the 2020 season despite being bowl eligible.

The next season was Pitt's best under Narduzzi. The Panthers went 11-3 and beat Sam Hartman and Wake Forest in the ACC Championship game. Pitt lost to Michigan State in the Peach Bowl and finished the season ranked 13th in both polls. Pitt went 9-4 in 2022, bouncing back from a 4-4 start the season with five straight wins, including victories over No. 20 Syracuse, Duke, Miami and UCLA in the Sun Bowl.

Narduzzi has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the best defensive minds in college football over the last 15+ years.

Offensive Coordinator: Frank Cignetti Jr. (2nd season)
Defensive Coordinator: Randy Bates (6th season)

2023 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (2-5)

2023 STATISTICAL OVERVIEW

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: RB C'Bo Flemister - 68 att., 282 yards, 4.1 YPC, 2 TD; RB Rodney Hammond - 60 att., 247 yards, 4.1 YPC, 3 TD; RB Daniel Carter - 23 att., 104 yards, 4.5 YPC, 2 TD

Passing: QB Phil Jurkovec - 57-112, 50.9%, 818 yards, 6 TD, 3 TD; QB Christian Veilleux - 52-98, 53.1%, 647 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT

Receiving: WR Konata Mumpfield - 30 rec., 347 yards, 11.6 YPC, 3 TD; WR Bub Means - 20 rec., 326 yards, 16.3 YPC, 3 TD; TE Gavin Bartholomew - 17 rec., 310 yards, 18.2 YPC, 1 TD; WR Daejon Reynolds - 11 rec., 154 yards, 14.0 YPC, 0 TD

Tackles: S Donovan McMillon - 57; S Javon McIntyre - 45; LB Solomon DeShields - 37; LB Shayne Simon - 27; LB Brandon George - 26; LB Bangally Kamara - 25; DT David Green - 23; S Phillip O'Brien Jr. - 23; DE Dayon Hayes - 22

Tackles For Loss: LB Solomon DeShields - 6.5; DE Dayon Hayes - 5.5; LB Shayne Simon - 5.0; DT Deandre Jules - 5.0; DE Bam Brima - 3.0; LB Bangally Kamara - 3.0; DT David Green - 3.0; CB AJ Woods - 3.0; DE Samuel Okunlola - 3.0

Sacks: DE Bam Brima - 3.0; LB Shayne Simon - 3.0; DE Samuel Okunlola - 3.0; LB Solomon DeShields - 2.0; DE Dayon Hayes - 2.0; CB AJ Woods - 2.0

Interceptions: CB MJ Devonshire - 2; CB Marquis Williams -1; CB AJ Woods - 1; S Phillip O'Brien Jr. - 1

DEPTH CHART - OFFENSE

DEPTH CHART - DEFENSE

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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