ACC Network Analysts Believe Pitt Going Underrated

The Pitt Panthers have been underrated in the conference title race, according to ACC Network analysts.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have won 20 games combined over the last two seasons, captured an ACC title in 2021 and tied the league lead in players taken in the last three NFL Drafts. 

There's a lot to like about what Pitt has built recently, especially as Pat Narduzzi's tenure as head coach matures. But after his team was picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the ACC preseason poll, some who follow the ACC closely think the Panthers are being underrated. 

“Here we are, it’s August and no one is talking about Pitt again. It’s almost like an annual rite," ACC Network's Wes Durham said during a visit to Pitt practice. "Two-a-days and no one is talking about Pitt. But the value of what Pat has built here and really the history of the program since they’ve come into the ACC, it’s on an ascent.”

Two traditional titans have been cemented as early front runners in Clemson and Florida State, but Durham is confident that Pitt, despite all they lost to the NFL Draft and transfer portal this past offseason, is certainly good enough to compete for that wide-open No. 3 spot, if not more. 

“Look, I expect them to be involved with this," Durham said. "I think we were all easy to pick Florida State or Clemson in some order, right? And then the question was who’s going to be the third-best team? They are clearly capable of being the third-best team in this league, maybe even one or two depending upon what happens around them.”

One of his ACC Network co-hosts, former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt, has learned his lesson while leading the Hurricanes. 

He's been cautious to underestimate Pitt ever since his undefeated and then-playoff bound 2017 Miami team was the victim of a massive upset at the hands of freshman quarterback Kenny Pickett, Narduzzi and a suffocating team defensive performance. 

“I learned my lesson as a coach, taking [Pitt] for granted in … 2017, I think. We had won something like 15 games in a row," Richt said. "We went to Pitt and they were 4-7. We were ranked something like No. 2 or 3 in the College Football Playoff and a little freshman, kid named Kenny Pickett, whipped our tail.”

Durham and Richt both pointed to Pitt's track record as the primary reason why they are so sure the Panthers will again be in the conference title picture. Pitt has a reputation for player development that makes significant losses from year to year more palatable and the Panthers themselves would point to their Sun Bowl win over then No. 18 UCLA - amid a wave of opt-outs - as evidence to that point. 

After watching practice for a couple of days and speaking with the coaches and players who make up the program, Durham's faith in this program has not been shaken. 

“They’re track record, number one," Durham said when asked what makes him believe in Pitt. "They’ve been through this before. ... You got guys who can fill those gaps. I feel like that’s a big part of who this program is. Their player development is second to none.”

Durham added that the North Carolina game in Week 4 will be the first major test for the Panthers and if they survive it, would confirm his belief that they are a real player in the ACC title race. 

“I think they’ve got some questions to answer," Durham said. "They’ve got a beneficial schedule that stair-steps a little bit and if they get to Carolina healthy in game four, we’re getting to find out where that test is.”

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