Pitt is sitting at 7-3 (3-3 ACC), and while ACC and College Football Playoff hopes are long gone, there’s still a lot for the Panthers to play for this season.
It’s already a major turnaround from last season, already more than double the wins as last season, but with a 7-0 start, expectations skyrocketed. A trio of losses certainly hurt, but the Panthers have an opportunity to start a stretch of three straight wins against Louisville.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, and for those not making the trip, ESPN2 is broadcasting the conference clash.
Pitt is sitting as a 7.5-point road underdog, according to DraftKings, with a bet to cover holding -112 odds. The total point spread sits at 57 points, holding -112 odds for the Panthers. And a Pitt moneyline bet has +225 odds.
Pitt is 11-9 all-time against Louisville, dating back to a 27-6 win in the first meeting in 1976. It’s been a series of runs all time. The Panthers won the first four meetings; Louisville won the next seven meetings between 1990-2007 and the Panthers have won seven of the last nine meetings.
Pitt won the second most recent matchup 23-20 in 2020, a performance in which Kenny Pickett threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense forced three Cunningham interceptions, Louisville won the last matchup in Louisville in 2022 off a poor performance from former quarterback Kedon Slovis and the Panthers upset then-No. 14 Louisville at Acrisure Stadium last season.
Louisville is 6-4 (4-3 ACC) is coming off a brutal loss to Stanford, 38-35, off a late game-winning field goal. The loss will very likely drop the Cardinals from the College Football Playoff Poll.
Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough is still in the midst of a strong final season, after transferring in from Texas Tech, and running back Isaac Brown is one of the most versatile players in college football as a true freshman.
Pitt is coming off its third straight loss of the season, falling to No. 20 Clemson at Acrisure Stadium. It was a frustrating, mistake-filled afternoon in which the Panthers had a victory within reach and let it slip away.
Pat Narduzzi, as he’s done all season, said the Panthers will bounce back with two games remaining on the schedule.
“Yeah, they’re not going to lose confidence after what they did out there today,” Narduzzi said Saturday. “We’ve got a good football team in there and we played a good football team. They aren’t crappy. We’ve got a darned good football team, and we just keep our heads up. We’ve got two more guaranteed games and then we’ll move on from there.
“We’ve got a really good Louisville team on the road, and then we’ve got to pick up the pieces, and our guys will do that. They were great in the locker room afterwards. It’s the game of football. It’s what we do.”
Narduzzi declined to announce the starting quarterback earlier this week, but Eli Holstein has been cleared after missing last week with an injury. And Nate Yarnell is in the mix, too.
Pitt’s Kyle Louis Built an All-American Foundation in the Film Room
Ludwig: Pitt Losing Elijah Dotson Isn’t End of the World
Louisville Has Older Seventh-Year Senior at the Helm of Offense
A Look into the Top Five Commits in Pitt Class of 2025
Who’s Up at Pitt Running Back Without Daniel Carter in the Mix?
Pitt Recruiting: Recruits Reaction to Clemson Visit
Pitt QB Eli Holstein Cleared to Play, Starter vs. Louisville Undetermined
Pitt Defensive Back Commit Elevated to 4-Star Status
Pitt Bowl Projections Include Wisconsin, Washington and USC
Pitt K Ben Sauls Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist
Pitt LB Out with Season-Ending Injury
Pitt WR Commit Damarion Fowlkes Receives Another 4-Star Rating
Pitt Football Opens as Big Road Underdog Against Louisville
Pitt Hosts 2025 5-Star DE Javion Hilson
Pitt Lingering in AP, Coaches Poll Following Third Straight Loss
