How to Watch: Pitt vs. North Carolina

How to watch the Pitt Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels football game.

Pittsburgh Panthers Konata Mumpfield (9) hauls in a pass after separating himself from North Carolina Tar Heels Marcus Allen (29) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on September 23, 2023. / Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels in their ACC football opener on Oct. 5, looking to keep their good start going into conference play.

Quick Preview

The Panthers are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and finished their non-conference slate undefeated for the first time in program history.

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.

North Carolina started the season 3-0, with a 19-17 win on the road vs. Minnesota and home wins vs. Charlotte, 38-20, and against FCS opponent NC Central, 45-10.

The Tar Heels had no answer for the James Madison Dukes on defense, as they lost in a 70-50 embarrasment at home in Week 4 for their first loss of the season.

UNC would take a 20-0 lead over rival Duke in the third quarter in their most recent game, but Duke would score three touchdowns unanswered to win 21-20.

History of Pitt vs. North Carolina

North Carolina holds a 12-5 series lead over Pitt and has never lost at home in this matchup, 7-0.

The Tar Heels have won the past two games, with a 42-24 victory in Chapel Hill on Oct. 29, 2022, as quarterback Drake Maye threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns to no interceptions, including three in the fourth quarter to comeback from a halftime deficit.

They also won last season at a wet, dreary Acrisure Stadium on Sept. 23, 2023, as Maye threw for almsot 300 yards and a touchdown and the Pitt offense struggled to score points.

UNC won the first six matchups against Pitt from 2013-18 in ACC play, with all victories coming within a touchdown or less.

The most demoralizing defeat for Pitt came on Sept. 24, 2016 in Chapel Hill, when quarterback Mitch Trubisky converted three fourth down plays on the same drive, connecting with wide receiver Ryan Switzer on two of them and UNC eventually scored the game-winning touchdown with two seconds left.

Pitt has won twice in the ACC, both at home and in overtime, with a 34-27 win on Nov. 14, 2019 and a 30-23 victory on Nov. 11, 2021. North Carolina made big comebacks in both games, but quarterback Kenny Pickett made sure to get Pitt the victories in those overtime periods.

How to Watch

Pitt and UNC will kickoff at noon at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. in a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN2.

This is the third noon kickoff for the Panthers in 2024, who also faced the Golden Flashes in Week 1 and the Bearcats in Week 2 at noon.

Pitt will also play on ESPN2 for the third time this season, also doing so against Cincinnati and then WVU in Week 3.

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

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