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Pitt Football: Panthers will be powered by defense in 2020

By Shane Lunnen

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Pat Narduzzi of the Pittsburgh Panthers prepares to lead his team onto the field before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on September 14, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Pat Narduzzi of the Pittsburgh Panthers prepares to lead his team onto the field before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on September 14, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

How will Pitt football fare in 2020?

The last several years the Pitt non conference slate included games against Penn State, Oklahoma State and UCF. This year it appeared the Panthers could have started 3-0 with easier non conference opponents in Miami of Ohio, at Marshall and Richmond. Those games have been cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic.

The ACC will play a 10-game conference schedule with one non conference opponent that must be played in the home state of the ACC school. Potentially Pitt will add Miami (OH) or Richmond back to their schedule.

Also there will be no ACC divisions. Instead the top two teams based on conference win percentage will head to Charlotte for the conference championship. The biggest change is Notre Dame joining the conference for one year only and play a conference schedule. Schedule dates will be determined at another date.

  • Game 1: vs. Miami (OH) (Sept. 12) — W
  • Game 2: vs. Syracuse (Sept. 19) — W
  • Game 3: vs. Louisville (Sept. 26) — W
  • Game 4: vs. NC State (Oct. 3) — W
  • Game 5: at Boston College (Oct. 10) — W
  • Game 6: at Miami (FL) (Oct. 17) — W
  • Game 7: vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 24) — L
  • Game 8: at Florida State (Nov. 7) — L
  • Game 9: at Georgia Tech (Nov. 14) — W
  • Game 10: vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 21) — W
  • Game 11: at Clemson (Nov. 28) — L

Prediction: 8-3, 7-3 ACC

Notre Dame and Clemson are likely losses. All other opponents are games Pitt can win. Pitt has not won in Tallahassee since Dan Marino was a Panther so we will chalk the Seminoles as the other loss.

Whoever the non conference opponent turns out to be, Pitt should win the game. Clemson will be the run away favorite to make the conference title game but their opponent is up in the air.

Pitt has a chance to be the other team earning their way to Charlotte. They have a quality veteran quarterback looking to have his best season yet and a suffocating defense that can control games. While the Panthers may have won nine or more games with their previous schedule, this season could still be very interesting in Pittsburgh.

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