Pat Narduzzi Embraces Pitt's Difficult Scheduling

The Pitt Panthers have scheduled ambitiously and did so with purpose.

PITTSBURGH -- By lining up West Virginia, Cincinnati and Notre Dame on their non conference schedule, the Pitt Panthers became one of just six teams in college football that will play 11 games against Power 5 opponents. 

While some teams choose to load their non-conference slate with against Group of 5 or FCS opponents that figure to be likely wins, the Panthers have scheduled more ambitiously, and done so for good reason, according to head coach Pat Narduzzi. 

"We talk about selling season tickets, who wants to see four FCS teams come in here?" Narduzzi said. "Is that what we're paying for? Wait until October or November to get some single game tickets. I think that's one of the things that comes out. You want to put exciting teams in this stadium, in this city to show off what we got and how we match up with all those teams."

Adding that his players love to get up for big games against teams on even footing before ACC play begins, Narduzzi acknowledged it may not make their record look as nice when the season ends, but values that Pitt is competing with quality opponents. 

"In the end, some people have maybe prettier records, but like who's playing real teams and who's not?" he said. "The people that can measure that, that's great. But they always say at the end of the year, they don't care who you beat. It's how many wins you have. They don't care whether you beat nobody or beat somebody."

Pitt concluded a tight home-and-home series with Tennessee last year. Both games were decided by a single score and both teams won a game. 

Pitt is also in the thick of a four-game set against West Virginia and will begin a series with new Big 12 member Cincinnati in Week 2 of this year. Wisconsin is on the schedule for a home-and-home in 2026 and 2027 and through an agreement with the ACC, Pitt will play Notre Dame seven times over the next 13 seasons. 

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