The ACC is divisional no more. It’s now one big Atlantic Coast division. Starting in 2023 at least.
With the elimination of divisions and the implementation of the 3-3-5 scheduling format, Pitt has been assigned an annual schedule of Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College. That’s not exactly an exotic pairing for Pitt, with Boston, Blacksburg and Syracuse locked into the GPS every season, but it is favorable schedule-wise.
Pitt has played Syracuse every year since basically forever, but the Orange aren’t exactly a threat in the ACC. Virginia Tech continues a Big East rivalry, but the Hokies of old haven’t been seen in years. Boston College is… a former Atlantic division crossover.
That .382-win percentage against is easily the lowest among all ACC schools, and the .360-win percentage over the last three years is second behind just Wake Forest’s schedule of VT, Duke and Georgia Tech. Pitt’s schedule may not be recruiting rich, but it is winnable.
So, how has Pitt fared historically against all three annual opponents? Let’s take a look.
Virginia Tech
All-time series: 11-10 VT
First Meeting: 1993; 63-21, VT
Last meeting: 2021; 28-7, Pitt
Dating back to Pitt’s first contest against Virginia Tech on Sept. 11, 1993, it’s been nearly a split series.
Pitt has won the last two games, including a 28-7 victory at Lane Stadium last October, but Virginia Tech holds an all-time 11-10 record against Pitt. The two sides have met every year since 2012, with Pitt holding a 6-5 record during that span.
Virginia Tech won the first four matchups between 1993-96 and seven of the first eight matchups from 1993-2000. The longest stretch for either side is four games — Pitt’s 2001-03, 2012 stretch and VT’s 1993-96 stretch.
Pitt is 7-4 at Heinz Field and 3-7 at Lane Stadium in the all-time matchup.
Boston College
All-time series: 17-15, Pitt
First meeting: 1959; 22-14, Pitt
Last meeting: 2020; 31-30, BC
While the history between Pitt and Boston College goes back much further than Virginia Tech, the all-time series is very close. Pitt has a slight 17-15 edge, helped by a dominant 70s.
Pitt and BC first met on Nov. 11, 1959, with Pitt emerging as the 22-14 winners, and it would be another decade before the two sides met. After two losses to open the 1970s, Pitt rattled off eight straight victories between 1972-1981.
With nearly annual matchups between 1985-2004, BC took an 11-6 stretch. The two sides have only played three times since 2004, and after a Pitt win in 2014, BC took the last two matchups in 2019 and 2020.
Pitt has won nine of 16 home matchups and split 16 away matchups evenly against BC.
Syracuse
All-time series: 42-32-3, Pitt
First meeting: 1916; 30-0, Pitt
Last meeting: 2022; 31-14, Pitt
Pitt and Syracuse have met 77 times now, dating back over 100 years. In fact, Pitt and Syracuse have played every single season since 1955. That’s grandparent range for the players at Pitt now.
Pitt holds an all-time 42-32-3 edge against Syracuse, including four in a row dating back to 2018. Kenny Pickett notably never lost a start against ‘Cuse. With just three wins dating back to 2002, Syracuse hasn’t fared well.
Pitt won the first meeting back on Oct. 21, 1916, with a 30-0 victory in Syracuse, New York, and after playing consistently until 1930, Pitt and Syracuse didn’t play again until 1955.
After a tie in 1990, Pitt lost 11 games in a row, before the aforementioned 17-3 run since 2002.
Pitt is 23-11 at home against Syracuse and 19-21-3 on the road all-time. And interestingly enough, an 11-game win streak is the longest for both sides.
