Pitt Football Ranked in AP Poll for First Time Since 2022

Pitt has regained a spot in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the end-of-season poll in 2022.

Fresh off a win against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. for the first time in program history, sitting at 5-0 for the first time since 1991, Pitt is ranked 22nd in the country. Pitt is the third-highest-ranked team in the ACC.

Pitt cracked the top 25 in the Coaches Poll, too, checking in at 24. With 170 points, the Panthers are just ahead of future opponent SMU.

The AP Poll has Miami as the highest-ranked ACC school, checking in at sixth. Clemson (10th), Pitt (22nd) and SMU (25th) are also ranked. Syracuse and Louisville received votes.

The Coaches Poll also ranks Miami as the top school in the ACC, checking in at sixth, and Clemson (11th), Pitt (24th) and SMU (25th) are also ranked. Virginia, Louisville and Syracuse received votes.

Pitt is riding high, ranked for the first time in a while, but the Panthers don’t want to get too ahead of themselves entering the bulk of ACC play.

Pat Narduzzi isn’t worried about being ranked or looking ahead to the rest of the season though; he’s focused on Cal coming to town next weekend.

“Worried about Cal,” Pat Narduzzi said Saturday afternoon. “You know, we were breaking down on beat Cal in the locker room before the dancing and celebration goes on. But we’re on to the next, we’ll enjoy this for the evening and then tomorrow morning get back to work, work on the next.”

Pitt is undefeated largely because of an offense that’s scoring 45.6 points per game and averaging 522.2 yards per game — both of which are top six in all of FBS football. Eli Holstein has completed 113-of-172 pass attempts (65.7%) for 1,567 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions — adding 265 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Desmond Reid has been an all-around weapon, racking up 62 carries for 347 yards and a touchdown, 24 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns and a 78-yard punt return touchdown.

The Pitt defense hasn’t met its lofty standards yet this season, allowing 25.2 points per game, but the unit has stepped up when it’s mattered late in games. The Panthers forced four turnover on downs against UNC.

Pitt will be back in action this weekend at Acrisure Stadium, hosting a Cal squad that suffered a controversial loss to Miami Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.