In the 100th and final (for now) matchup, the Panthers came up just short in their bid to deliver a very large upset to their cross-state rivals. The largely positive performance by Pitt was marred by a controversial — to be kind — decision by Pat Narduzzi to kick a field goal after three plays from the 1-yard line failed to get the Panthers into the end zone. The field goal would have pulled Pitt to within four points, but it still necessitated a touchdown, and time was ticking away late in the 4th quarter. It was missed, anyway. The Panthers had one more chance, but a Kenny Pickett pass to the end zone was knocked away and the game ended with a 17-10 Penn State victory.
Despite the loss, Pitt actually moves up to 59th in Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings. The Panthers have the 110th ranked offense, 98th ranked special teams and 20th best defense in the nation. In ESPN’s FPI, Pitt is now favored in six of its remaining nine games, the three exceptions being UCF, Miami and at Duke.
UP NEXT
Daniel Tosh’s alma mater, the University of Central Florida. The largest University in the United States (by enrollment), perpetual underdog, and the Group of 5’s best hope for a New Year’s Eve bowl game, UCF just put a 45-27 beat down on Stanford. Lead by the emerging Dillon Gabriel, who torched Stanford for 22-of-30, 347 and four touchdowns, UCF comes in an 11-point favorite.
The Knights are 3-0 on the season and ranked 17th in the Nation. Last year, UCF took Pitt to the woodshed with a 45-14 victory in Orlando.
It was a very bad week for the ACC with Pitt, Georgia Tech, Boston College and NC State all losing. GT to Citadel, Boston College to Kansas and NC State to West Virginia. … Virginia Tech had to come back from down 14-3 at halftime to beat Furman. … Clemson crushed Syracuse, putting to rest any thought of another team in the ACC being good. … The ACC’s only other ranked team, Virginia squeaked by Florida State.
Louisville 38 – Western Kentucky 21
Miami 63 – Bethune-Cookman 0
Duke 41 – Middle Tennessee 18
Clemson 41 – Syracuse 6
Wake Forest 24 – UNC 18
Kansas 48 – Boston College 24
Citadel 27 – Georgia Tech 24
Virginia 31 – Florida State 24
West Virginia 44 – NC State 27
Virginia Tech 24 – Furman 17
The same people who are complaining about the missed field goal decision would be complaining if it were successful and they didn’t score again, would be complaining if they went for a touchdown and didn’t make it, would be complaining if they made a touchdown – went for two and didn’t make it or made a touchdown – tied it and lost in OT because they didn’t go for two. Get over it in a hurry. UCF is too good a team to let your focus be deterred.
The same people who are complaining about the missed field goal decision would be complaining if it were successful and they didn’t score again, would be complaining if they went for a touchdown and didn’t make it, would be complaining if they made a touchdown – went for two and didn’t make it or made a touchdown – tied it and lost in OT because they didn’t go for two. Get over it in a hurry. UCF is too good a team to let your focus be deterred.