PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Panthers will get right back at it as the defending ACC Championships hosting the Backyard Brawl while finishing the season at the Miami Hurricanes. A number of intriguing matchups along with way.
Breaking down the 2022 Pitt football schedule.
West Virginia, September 1
It's the return of the Backyard Brawl for a guaranteed sellout in prime-time. What an opening for either Kedon Slovis at Pitt or Nick Patti or any other returning quarterback taking over for Kenny Pickett. Mountaineers have had two losing seasons in three years of head coach Neal Brown and hired Slovis' offensive coordinator at USC to lead their offense.
Tennessee, September 10
It was a remarkable comeback win in the first Johnny Majors Classic. The Vols fans travel well, there will be a lot of orange at Heinz Field. Tennessee finished 7-6 in 2021 with half of their losses by a touchdown or less. Volunteers finished seventh in the nation with 39.5 points per game and ninth in yards per game. QB Hendon Hooker really emerged against the Panthers and finished with 31 touchdowns to three interceptions and is back for a sixth college season.
At Western Michigan, September 17
You can only think back to last year to know this will be a tough game. Quarterback Kaleb Eleby is gone as is leading receiver Skyy Moore (Shady Side Academy). Eleby threw for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns while Moore caught 11 passes for 124 yards and a score against Pitt. Broncos new offensive coordinator is Jeff Thorne, the dad of Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, from the Peach Bowl. Pitt has two memorable games playing at a MAC school—both losses to Bruce Gradkowski and Toledo and at Ohio University.
Rhode Island, September 24
Pat Narduzzi played Youngstown State earlier in his career where he once played and his father coached. Now he will face the school he graduated from in hosting Rhode Island. The Rams finished 7-4 in 2021 beating FCS power Delaware along with defeating two teams on Pitt schedule-UMass and New Hampshire. Rhode Island 6'2", 234-pound QB Kasim Hill threw for 18 touchdowns and ran for six more last season.
Georgia Tech, October 1
Can't believe they are not playing in Atlanta where the matchup seems to be every season. Panthers have won four straight in the series and lost one time ever at home to the Yellow Jackets, in 2014. GT hired a new offensive coordinator and are unclear at quarterback and offensive line along with having inconsistent play among the receivers. The schedule is tough opening with Clemson, later playing Ole Miss and UCF before the game at Heinz Field.
Virginia Tech, October 8
New coaches with the Hokies familiar to Pittsburghers. Former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry is the new head coach and former Paul Chryst assistant at Wisconsin and Pitt, Joe Rudolph is the offensive line coach. Last year's starting QB Braxton Burmeister transferred as VT added 6'2", 229-pound QB Jason Brown who beat Florida and Auburn at South Carolina last year. Also bringing in QB Grant Wells from Marshall where he started two seasons with 34 touchdowns.
At Louisville, October 22
The first game at the Cardinals since 2011, when both schools were in the Big East. It's the fourth year of head coach Scott Satterfield. Cardinals won six games last year, beating all they should with no upset wins. Quarterback Malik Cunningham is a handful and will get early Heisman interest after throwing for 19 touchdowns and running for 20 more, along with 1,034 rushing yards in 2021.
At North Carolina, October 29
This is always a tight game and each team will have broken in new starting quarterbacks by their meeting. The last nine matchups all one-score games with last year Pitt winning in overtime. Mack Brown had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation in 2021 and added National Championship coach Gene Chizik to lead its defense. It's a dynamic-receivers battle with Josh Downs catching 101 for 1,335 yards for the Tar Heels last season.
Syracuse, November 5
It's the conference opponent the Panthers have played most and also owned, winning 17 of the last 20 against the Orange. Syracuse has the best tailback in the ACC as Sean Tucker rushed for 1,496 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman. Dino Babers did add transfer quarterback Dan Villari, who is a big, physical quarterback from Michigan. He will work with new offensive coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck.
At Virginia, November 12
The best returning quarterback is at Virginia, Brennan Armstrong threw for 4,444 yards and 31 touchdowns and also rushed for 256 yards and nine more touchdowns. Pitt saw it first hand as Armstrong threw for 487 yards against them. They also have receiver Dontayvion Wicks returning, he had 10 catches for 144 yards against Pitt. Will be interesting to see how new head coach Tony Elliott sets up this team through the first two months of the season.
Duke, November 19
First time for the Panthers facing Duke in the ACC without David Cutcliffe as head football coach. 44-year-old Mike Elko, the previous defensive coordinator at Texas A&M takes over the Blue Devils this year. Among Elko's career highlights, slowing down and beating Alabama in 2021 with the number three scoring defense overall. The offensive coordinator comes from a high-powered, passing offense at Memphis.
At Miami, November 26
Since the Kenny Pickett upset win when the Hurricanes were ranked number two in the nation, Pitt hasn't beaten Miami. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke had a near perfect game throwing for 426 yards and three touchdowns and tailback Jaylan Knighton ran for 80 and a pair of scores. A candidate for the Panthers job when Pat Narduzzi was hired, Mario Cristobal leaves Oregon to take over the Hurricanes, where he won two national championships as a player.
