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Pitt Football Could Be On Way To Lowest Win Total in Long Time

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Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi leads his team out of the tunnel before facing Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now.)

The lost on Saturday to Wake Forest virtually eliminated Pitt from participating in a bowl game. Barring a miracle finish, this would be the first non-bowl season for Pitt, excluding the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season, since 2017 when they finished 5-7.

Looking at the rest of the schedule, the question now becomes how bad could this 2023 season get in terms of historical perspective?

Pitt currently sits with a record of 2-5 with a difficult remaining schedule ahead.

PITT REMAINING SCHEDULE
at No. 15 Notre Dame (6-2)
vs. No. 4 Florida State (7-0)
at Syracuse (4-3)
vs. Boston College (4-3)
at No. 16 Duke (5-2)

Realistically, how many winnable games do you see on that schedule? The answer to that is one, possibly two.

If that were to happen and Pitt only finishes with 3 or 4-wins, here’s the last time Pitt has been that bad.

MOST RECENT 4 WIN SEASONS
1996 (4-7)
1969 (4-6)
1960 (4-3-3)
1957 (4-6)
1954 (4-5)

MOST RECENT 3 OR LESS WIN SEASONS
1998 (2-9)
1995 (2-9)
1994 (3-8)
1993 (3-8)
1992 (3-9)
1990 (3-7-1)
1984 (3-7-1)
1972 (1-10)
1971 (3-8)

If this were to play out, the biggest question then becomes how would the Pitt administration react to this?

It’s hard to comprehend that this is even being talked about considering Pitt is just two years removed from winning the ACC Championship. That’s likely a distant memory for Heather Lyke and company.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Steve
Steve
1 year ago

It was a reach to give Narduzzi an extension when HL did. the $$ amount and term… hard to buy him out now… he’s on the hot seat the rest of this year and next… Need a new OC and QB…………………………………

Panther
Panther
1 year ago

Narduzzi has tanked this team. Shame on Narduzzi for going with the Cignetti/ Jurkovec show this season. Is Narduzzi trying to get fired so he can walk away with the guaranteed money?????

srs28704
srs28704
1 year ago

Narduzzi is not like Gottfried, Ogeron LSU, Haywood, Bobby Petrino, Hugh Freeze, or Mel Tucker with extra-curricular activity. And no hazing like Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. Did not punch someone like Woody Hayes or Bobby Knight. Give him a break. Phil Jurkovec looks the part, so does Junko. Times are tight due to lower revenue from losses else we may travel with more Reserves. VA Tech sold out against PITT with bleak outlook. Hopefully it is a not fair weather turnout against FSU. Would love to repay the late 70’s early 80’s favor they did some time ago. Clawson had… Read more »

Denny
Denny
1 year ago
Reply to  srs28704

Let’s not forget about that freak, Franklin. He really is the perfect fit for that sick school in unhappy valley.

On Campus Stadium Please
On Campus Stadium Please
1 year ago
Reply to  Denny

love how you tie PSU into how bad your coach stinks….rent free

MrThisThat
MrThisThat
1 year ago

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OWNS ped st. Deal with that Pedo

On Campus Stadium Please
On Campus Stadium Please
1 year ago
Reply to  MrThisThat

what’s your point? They own almost every other college football team. You should be dealing with a 3rd string QB from Wake Forest punked you.
Throwing around false pedo statements also shows low class but you probably know that right?

MrThisThat
MrThisThat
1 year ago

My point is you are not a Pitt Fan. You are a Pedo Troll. Go over and wax Uncle Jerry’s carrot a

Giovanni
Giovanni
1 year ago

Narduzzi is a specialist on Defense. He has proven that he’ll never understand how to optimize an Offense, therefore, he’s not a Head Coach. Lyke should offer him the Defensive coordinator position (or not) but definitely replace him with a top-notch coach since the budget appears to be there to do so.

Denny
Denny
1 year ago
Reply to  Giovanni

I agree – super comment!

Tim
Tim
1 year ago
Reply to  Giovanni

I’m ok with the DC and his assistant coaches. Narduzzi is done. I stopped respecting him as much as I formerly did when he disparaged Mark Whipple, then threw Slovis under the bus needlessly. This team makes so many stupid mistakes. The false start thing is continual and ridiculous at mid-season. Cignetti is just bad and can we look at the O line coach? A high school offense and a Jr. high punter. 2 and 5. H2P. And time for change.

kevin
kevin
1 year ago
Reply to  Tim

Well said Tim, Narduzzi will never get an OC that thinks for himself. And if/when he does, he will sabotage it, like he did with Whipple, Canada, etc.
H2P!!!

Giovanni
Giovanni
1 year ago

One of the highly interesting/amazing stat take-aways from this article is that Pitt had a 1-10 record just four years before winning the National Championship (and did so in convincing manner). Shows what the ‘correct’ coaching change can accomplish. A man can dream…

Jimbo
Jimbo
1 year ago

Is there anyone out there who thinks AD Heather Lyke, who is ultimately responsible for this mess known as Pitt football, will be hired by Ohio State as their new AD? Just wondering……

comeon sense
comeon sense
1 year ago

Penalties per game (Pitt):
2021 #91 of 131 D1 teams
2022 #110 of 131
2023 #131 of 133

Total Offense per game (NCAA leader 553 – LSU & Oregon)
2023 320 yards
1970 302 yards
1957 279 yards

*BYU 426*

PPG:
2023 25 #115 of 133

Saying for a friend….

Rob
Rob
1 year ago

Thoe offensive line play may be the biggest issue for this team. Multipple times a guy came through unblocked to sutff the run The pass protection has been abysmal all season. Yes Cignetti is a big problem, but I think Borbely should be gone too.

kevin
kevin
1 year ago
Reply to  Rob

I’ve been saying that for a long time! O-Line makes QB, RBs better.

Richard Johnson
1 year ago
Reply to  Rob

I agree.

Denny
Denny
1 year ago

This is the worst Panther team in the 21st century. Coaching is the problem, and perhaps we can now discuss dimentia and/or neglegence.

Dixon
Dixon
1 year ago
Reply to  Denny

Speaking of coaching, how many of Narduzzi’s assistant/position coaches have moved on to bigger and better jobs at other schools? Not many that I can think of…tells you something about Duzz’s hires.

Young
Young
1 year ago
Reply to  Dixon

This is a good point. It is almost like PN is afraid of hiring someone better than him.

Warren Stern
Warren Stern
1 year ago

Time for a quality head coach, and better recruiting, and a schedule that will fill the stadium. Time to get into the big time for Pitt.

Joe
Joe
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Stern

You mean a schedule like Penn State? Who came off a bye week and UMASS to lose to Ohio State? Are you a season ticket holder?

Denny
Denny
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

PSU is for Losers!

On Campus Stadium Please
On Campus Stadium Please
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

lost by a possession on the road to Ohio State, which would beat pitt by 100

On Campus Stadium Please
On Campus Stadium Please
1 year ago
Reply to  Warren Stern

you will never fill the steelers stadium unless PSU comes to town

Last edited 1 year ago by On Campus Stadium Please
Jack smith
Jack smith
1 year ago

Ohio state is Penn state’s daddy. At least pitt doesn’t lose to the same schools every year

Joe
Joe
1 year ago

I recall that during the first few games of PITTS ACC championship year there were those calling for Narduzzi’s head. I don’t believe the quality of the recruiting is at issue. It’s the coaching of and application of those players that is at issue. The coaches and the media took Wake Forest as a given with a #3 string QB, forgetting that he was recruited to start just like the others. Based on the last 2 minutes of each half it looks like no attention was paid to the WF’ passing game the week before. It could also be the… Read more »

Jane
Jane
1 year ago

It’s a bad year they counted on a lot of super seniors instead of developing younger players… and they swung and missed on a senior quarterback transfer it happens now if it happens next year, we got a problem. !

Richard Johnson
1 year ago

Pitt will never be a consistent top 25 program as long as this ego maniac is Coach.

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