Pitt does not have many national expectations this season, following a 3-9 disaster last season, but one national analyst is projecting the Panthers back to a bowl game.
Brett McMurphy on Action Network released his Week 0 bowl projections, and he projects Pitt to face off against FAU in the Boca Raton Bowl in Boca Raton, Fla. on Dec. 18. Action Network set Pitt as an early 4-point favorite.
McMurphy also projects Miami and Virginia to make the College Football Playoff, with Miami winning the ACC.
The Boca Raton Bowl, which has been in service since 2014, was initially set up to serve as a tie-in for MAC and Conference-USA programs. But in the years since, it’s featured C-USA, MAC, AAC and ACC schools.
The most recent edition of the Boca Raton Bowl featured USF and Syracuse, a 45-0 drubbing by the Bulls.
Pitt is entering the 2024 season with a “Prove It” mantra. The Panthers, the coaching staff, the players and everyone in the building, know that last season will not be forgotten unless a better result is put in.
The season will largely hinge upon whether or not there’s solid quarterback play. Nate Yarnell is entering the summer as the starting quarterback. Still, as Pat Narduzzi has emphasized, there will be competition all the way up until kickoff against Kent State on Aug. 31. But whoever is at quarterback, he will have Rodney Hammond Jr., Desmond Reid, Konata Mumpfield, Kenny Johnson and Gavin Bartholomew, among others, at this disposal.
It remains to be seen whether new offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s offense will immediately translate, but if Yarnell or Eli Holstein can play serviceable football, it will go a long way in 2024.
“There’s a different attitude, without a doubt,” Narduzzi said last week. “There’s got to be — we went through spring ball, there was a different attitude. We went through winter conditioning, there was a different attitude. They went through summer conditioning, there was a different attitude, and there has to be. There’s got to be an attitude adjustment. I think that has occurred and I think they got it.”
The defense did suffer significant losses, but the positions of need have been bolstered through the transfer portal and a few areas defensively are entering the summer with a significant amount of depth. The defensive line and cornerback are still areas of concern, but the portal arrivals will likely be key members of both units. And the linebackers and safeties are clear areas of strength.
It will come down to whether or not the offense can take a step up from where it was last season.
a Dec. 18 bowl game. If that’s the case Duzz shouldn’t even get on the plane
Virginia to make the playoffs??? Who is this guy?
H2P!!!
he has got to mean FSU. most everyone has UVA near the bottom. would be a huge upset and coach of he years honors certainly.
not a real huge reach to have us in a 12/18 bowl. what is that, 6 wins maybe 7 ? heck, i might even be willing to stake my reputation .. oh wait.
Let’s beat Kent State first.