Pitt Annnounces Starting Lineup vs. Cal

The Pitt Panthers announced their starting lineup vs. the Cal Golden Bears.

Oct 5, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide reciever Censere Lee (11) celebrates with tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH -- The No. 22 Pitt Panthers announced their starting lineup vs. the Cal Golden Bears, as they look to stay undefeated on the season.

Pitt Football Starting Lineup vs. Cal

Offense

Quarterback-Eli Holstein
Running Back-Desmond Reid
Wide Receiver-Kenny Johnson
Wide Receiver-Konata Mumpfield
Wide Receiver-Raphael "Poppi" Williams Jr.
Wide Receiver-Censere "C.J." Lee
Wide Receiver-Daejon Reynolds 
Tight end-Gavin Bartholomew
Left Tackle-Branson Taylor
Left Guard-Ryan Jacoby
Center-Lyndon Cooper
Right Guard-BJ Williams
Right Tackle-Ryan Baer

Defense

Defensive End-Nate Matlack
Defensive Tackle-Sean FitzSimmons
Defensive Tackle-Nakhi Johnson
Defensive End-Jimmy Scott
Star Linebacker-Kyle Louis
Mike Linebacker-Brandon George
Money Linebacker-Braylan Lovelace
Safety-Donovan McMillon
Safety-Javon McIntyre
Cornerback-Ryland Gandy
Cornerback-Rashad Battle

Special Teams

Longsnapper-Nilay Upadhyayula
Placekicker-Ben Sauls
Punter-Caleb Junko
Holder-Cam Guess

Sophomore linebacker Rasheem Biles is in street clothes and won't play for the Panthers vs. the Golden Bears. Fellow sophomore linebacker Braylan Lovelace will get the start over him at Money for the for second staright weekend and the third time this season.

Pitt will keep redshirt sophomore Sean FitzSimmons at defensive tackle, after he started last week vs. North Carolina on the road.

Redshirt sophomore Nick James is back for the Panthers after missing out last weekend vs. the Tar Heels, as he didn't travel. He is on the bench.

The Panthers will also keep redshirt junior defensive back Javon McIntyre at safety, with senior Phillip O'Brien Jr. on the bench.

Quick Preview

Pitt is now 5-0, which is their best start to a season since they had the same record in 1991. They also finished undefeated in non-conference play, which was the first time they ever acheived that since joining the Big East in that 1991 season, after historically playing as an independent previously.

They blewout Kent State 55-24 in the season opener at Acrisure Stadium on Aug. 31. They then made two comebacks, down 21 midway through the third quarter to take down Cincinnati, 28-27, on the road in the River City Rivalry on Sept. 7, and down 10 with five minutes remaining, with two late touchdown drives to defeat rival West Virginia at home on Sept. 14.

Pitt also dominated FCS opponent Youngstown State 73-17, the first game they scored more than 70 points since they defeated another FCS opponent, New Hampshire, 77-7 on Sept. 25, 2021 at home.

The Panthers took down the North Carolina Tar Heels, 34-24, in Week 6 on the road, giving them their first ever win in Chapel Hill.

Cal is 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the ACC. They won their first three matchups against FCS opponent UC Davis, 31-13 on Aug. 31 at home, traveled to take down Auburn on Sept. 7, 21-14, and then dominated San Diego State, 31-10 on Sept. 14.

They would lose on the road to Florida State on Sept. 21, 14-9, and then blew a 35-10 lead midway through the third quarter to then ranked No. 8 Miami at home last weekend in primetime, losing 39-38 on a last minute touchdown.

History of Pitt vs. Cal

Pitt and Cal have played each other five times, with Pitt holding a 3-2 series lead. This will serve as the first matchup between the two schools in almost 60 years.

They faced off in a home-and-away in the 1950s, with Pitt winning the first matchup, 27-7, at Pitt stadium in their 1955 home opener and Cal getting the 14-0 victory in 1956 in Berkeley, Calif.

The Panthers and Golden Bears played again a home-and-away in the early 1960s. The Panthers won both games, including a tight 26-24 victory on the road in 1962 and then a convincing, 35-15 victory at home in 1963.

Cal won the final matchup between both schools at home in 1966, 30-15, as Pitt would finish with a poor 1-9 record that season.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

• Report: Cal Loses Starting RB Before Pitt Game
• Pitt, Cal Ranked Top Week 7 Matchup
• Pitt Announces Honorary Captain vs. Cal
• How to Watch: No. 22 Pitt vs. Cal
• Former Pitt Star to Make Season Debut With Buccaneers

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt