Inside The Panthers

Pitt Ranked 40th in Pre-Spring Ball Efficiency Ratings

The Pitt Panthers are the fifth-highest rated team in the ACC.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Ranked 40th in Pre-Spring Ball Efficiency Ratings
Pitt Ranked 40th in Pre-Spring Ball Efficiency Ratings /
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PITTSBURGH -- Each season, ESPN college football analyst Bill Barnwell uses his SP+ ratings to try and create a self-admittedly imperfect, but objective ranking of every team in the FBS. Combining returning production, recent recruiting and recent history, he has pulled together an early measure of where each team in college football stands ahead of 2023 spring ball and the Pitt Panthers sit in the middle of the pack. 

Barnwell's model has the Panthers as the 40th most efficient team in college football as spring ball approaches and the first preparations for the 2023 season are put in motion with an overall rating of 9.6. They own the 37th-best offensive rating and the 40th-best defensive rating in the FBS, according to the metrics.  

Pitt suffered significant losses this offseason - their leading rusher, tackler, receiver, passer and best defensive tackle, along with a host of other starters and key contributors left for the transfer portal, NFL or graduation. While there were some key pieces added through the transfer portal, they're unknowns that have less of a bearing on the current ratings. 

Their spot at 40th nationally also makes the Panthers the fifth-highest-rated team in the ACC. Florida State and Clemson lead the way at 11th and 12th, respectively. No. 28 North Carolina and No. 36 Louisville also fell in ahead of Pitt. The Panthers boast the 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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