Pat Narduzzi has preached the importance of going 1-0 each week and worrying about what can be controlled. Where voters place Pitt in the AP Poll, or how Vegas views the Panthers’ ranked road matchup cannot be controlled.
A good performance against No. 20 SMU certainly can.
If Pitt handles its business week in, and week out, the Panthers will achieve the goals set before the season. The goal was an ACC championship, but with a win against SMU, the Panthers can start to dream bigger. A win against the Mustangs sets the Panthers on a path toward legitimate contention.
Pitt controls its destiny. A win isn’t necessarily needed for the Panthers to have a successful season, but it’s well within reach now.
It may be an ACC Network broadcast, but Pitt has the only ranked-on-ranked matchup of the primetime window. No. 18 Pitt vs. No. 20 SMU, or No. 10 Texas A&M vs. 4-3 South Carolina, or No. 7 Tennessee vs. 3-5 Kentucky, or No. 11 Clemson vs. 5-3 Louisville.
Pitt and SMU are a combined 14-1 this season, and the primetime broadcast gives the Panthers another opportunity to make another statement.
A win against Syracuse (an Orange squad that knocked off Virginia Tech) in primetime drew a lot of eyes. A win against a good SMU squad, favored by a touchdown, should, too. A win would be that much bigger.
It’s been another important week with No. 3 Penn State, No. 11 Iowa State and No. 24 Illinois losing in the top 25), and No. 2 Georgia currently battling a “lesser” opponent. You just never know.
The first College Football Playoff poll will be released Tuesday, and with a ranked road win fresh on the committee’s mind, the Panthers could make a significant jump. Of course, that isn’t something the Panthers can control though. All Pitt can do is control what it can against the Mustangs and handle business. It’s not an easy task, the Panthers are a touchdown underdog, but it’s possible.
It appears the nasty weather may miss the matchup, which bodes well for a cleaner game. Pitt has a chance to go 1-0 against a very good opponent and control what it can control.
Pitt looks so soft on defense. Completely laying an egg defensively. Let’s face it they played bad teams early on hiding the glaring issues on this team. Might get ugly tonight.
Eli’s been a complete mess the past three games..And the Defense is horrible tonight
They been bad on 3rd down defensively most of the year and have somehow held it together but tonight they’re soft undisciplined defensive unfortunately was exposed. Eli is seeing ghosts which really concerning he looks like he’s aiming the ball when throwing now. His footwork is gone piss poor qb development from our staff. He’s regressed the longer he’s been around these stooges.
I knew it was gonna be bad when I saw those ugly all white uniforms. 🤮
Narduzzi’s pre-game interview right before kick was a mess.
Everything that could go bad is going BAD!
Not giving up on this Pitt team but I think Ryan Baer needed to be moved to left tackle. Eno’s is having a rough night against SMU. Lots of Panthers are having a rough night so far but I think Ryan Baer needs to take over that left tackle spot for the remainder of the year and should in truth have been playing that tackle spot tonight. Very disappointing night so far.
Uniforms and coaches can’t be blamed for sloppy tackling. Hopefully all the Eli and Cade Bell talk goes away now that they have showed nothing on offense the last couple of weeks. Even the Duzz would admit….this is an ass-whoppin.
What a complete disaster
A fake punt? 😂 good grief!
May be time to just get Yarnell in there for some work.