Tag: Pitt Football

Pitt 37, UCLA 35 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

Pitt 37, UCLA 35: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all means

Pitt beat UCLA to win the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?

Pitt 37, UCLA 35 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

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Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl What Happened

– In an insane game with several twists and turns, UCLA – with backup Ethan Garbers in the game – went 70 yards in about 90 seconds to go up 35-34 on a TJ Harden touchdown run. Pitt only had 34 seconds and no time outs, but QB Nick Patti was able to move the offense enough for Ben Sauls to hit his fifth field goal of the game, connecting from 47 yards out for the win. Before all of that …

– UCLA owned most of the game offensively, but was crushed by five turnovers. It was up 14-6 and driving, but Dorian Thompson-Robinson got picked off by Bub Means for a touchdown – followed up by a two-point conversion – to tie it up. UCLA pushed ahead by two touchdowns on its own pick six – Jaylin Davies took it 52 yards for a score, and then …

– Down 28-14, Pitt scored 20 straight points with two Rodney Hammond touchdown runs and two Sauls field goals to take the lead before the Bruins went on their final scoring drive.

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Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Player of the Game

Ben Sauls, PK Pitt 
He nailed five field goals from 22, 49, 31, 27, and the game-winner with four seconds to play from 47 yards away.

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Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Fun Stats

– 4th Down Conversions: Pitt 4-for-4 – UCLA 0-for-1

– Time of Possession: Pitt 37:03 – UCLA 22:57

– UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 16-of-24 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns with three picks – and ran for 15 yards and a score – before getting knocked out of the game hurt.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl What It All Means

Pitt was missing a whole slew of starters, but it scrapped and toughed it out to stay alive. The pass rush was good enough to keep the pressure on to force the five turnovers and four picks, and the O was saved time and again by Sauls finishing drives with field goals.

With this, the Panthers close a strange season with five straight wins and 20 victories over the last two years. For head coach Pat Narduzzi, this was a huge moment. He was 1-4 in bowl games before this, and the lone win was in the Quick Lane in a tough fight with Eastern Michigan.

Yeah, this sours the season a bit for UCLA. It had the disappointing loss to Arizona, the tough loss to USC, and the team that had the Pac-12 and CFP there for the taking in early November closed with three losses in the last four games. It had more of its top guys compared to Pitt – with a huge advantage at quarterback – and still lost.

Even so, this was the program’s best season since 2014, but a ten-win campaign would’ve looked a lot nicer. The program still has yet to win a bowl game under Chip Kelly, and it has won one since the 2014 Alamo.

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Virginia allowing 14 points in 16 seconds is by far the worst opening to a football game all year

Virginia, c’mon.

Virginia got off to just about the worst possible start a football team could have on Saturday against Pittsburgh (-5.5).

On the first play of the game, Cavs quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw a pick-six to Panthers defensive back M.J. Devonshire to get Pitt on the board, 7-0.

Then, on the second play of the game, Armstrong, yes, threw another pick-six to Panthers defensive back Marquis Williams to put the game at 14-0 with a startling 14:44 left to go in the first quarter.

Within 16 seconds, Virginia tanked its momentum before it even had any and gave Pitt the kind of present that you’d expect to find under the tree at Christmas.

What? How does this happen? How do you throw two interceptions for touchdowns on your first two passes? How? It defies logic and reason.

Pitt went up 21-0 shortly after as the line moved to Panthers (-27.5) before the end of the first quarter.

The Cavs have been having a down year, but this had to be a new low for a team that is underperforming on expectations that came with offensive-minded head coach Tony Elliott coming over from Clemson.

This game was certainly offensive already, just not in the way Virginia was hoping for.

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North Carolina delivers statement win over Pitt in ACC showdown

North Carolina comes up big in the second half to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers 42-24.

The North Carolina Tar Heels extend their win streak to four straight with a 42-24 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers.

UNC vs. Pitt lived up to the hype with multiple questionable calls, player ejections, and spectacular touchdown catches. The game started in Pitts’s favor as they marched down the field 77-yards, capping it off with running back Israel Abanikanda’s 6-yard rushing touchdown. North Carolina’s offense started just as flat going three and out in under two minutes.

That lackluster start instantly changed with UNC’s defense forcing Pitt to a quick three and out, leading to a North Carolina points. Quarterback Drake Maye led the Heels to a 59-yard drive finishing it with a 16-yard one-handed touchdown catch by wide receiver Antoine Green.

Pitt retook the lead with Abanikanda finding the end-zone again on a 4-yard run. After forcing UNC to their third game punt, the Panthers followed up with a field goal, giving them the 17-7 lead. UNC answered the next drive with Maye finding red-shirt freshman wide receiver Kobe Paysour in the end-zone for an 8-yard touchdown.

After the touchdown, both teams got the ball twice, failing to muster up any points, giving Pitt the 17-14 lead at the half.

But it ended with UNC outscoring Pitt 28-0 and the Tar Heels’ defense holding the Panthers to just seven second-half points.

North Carolina got the ball to start the third quarter, but it was Pitt who got on the board first in the second half. North Carolina went three and out, and Pitt answered with Abanikanda finding the end-zone for a third time on a 22-yard rushing touchdown.

The game will only get more chippy as North Carolina begins jawing and matching the aggressive energy Pitt brought. UNC finally broke the goal line again, with Maye throwing his third touchdown pass, this time to Josh Downs.

North Carolina’s defense stepped up again, forcing Pitt into another punt. That led to more UNC points, with running back Elijah Green reaching the end-zone with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give the Tar Heels a 28-24 lead. And they held that for good.

The party did not stop there, as UNC’s defense came up stout again, forcing Pitt Abanikanda to fumble. Once again, leading to more North Carolina points, with Maye completing his fourth touchdown pass and Downs’ second of the day to give UNC a 35-24 lead.

After another Pitt punt, Maye tosses his fifth touchdown pass, with wide receiver Green finding the end-zone for the second time on a 13-yard grab.

North Carolina, now 7-1, is in a great position to lock up the ACC Coastal for a spot in the ACC championship game. This sort of statement win should also boost their status in the AP polls.

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Stephen A. Smith chooses Pitt over UNC

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went with the Pittsburgh Panthers over the North Carolina Tar Heels on College Game Day.

The 6-1 North Carolina Tar Heels are set to hit the field Saturday night to take on 4-3 Pitt, but Stephen A. Smith throws some shade their way before they do.

Despite UNC riding a three-game win streak and being ranked in the Associated Press Poll Top 25, Smith went with Pitt to win tonight on college game day. On the other hand, his reasoning came off more as a jab at Pitt, picking them comedically.

Smith, known for his loud sports takes, did not hold back on why he picked Pitt to win by saying, “Somebody in Pittsburgh has to win.”

Three points favor North Carolina in this ACC Coastal showdown as they look to continue their impressive season.

Kickoff is set for 8 pm in Chapel Hill as it’s a sold-out game for the Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

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UNC football defensive keys to the game vs Pitt

Taking a look at the defensive keys to the game for the UNC football program against Pitt.

The UNC football program looks to continue its winning streak and division lead as Pitt heads to Chapel Hill on Saturday.

The Tar Heels offense is going up against a good Pitt defense but will look to do what it does best — score and move the ball.

On the flip side, North Carolina’s defense continues to play better with each game and looks to take another step forward this weekend against a lackluster Pitt offense.

If UNC looks to come out on top and end the two-game losing streak against Pitt, there are a few key factors that it will need to do defensively.

Here are the defensive keys tot he game for the Tar Heels.

5 things to watch for in UNC football vs Pitt matchup

As North Carolina prepare to host Pitt this Saturday, we take a look at a few key things you should know before you watch.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have their eyes locked to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the ACC championship game and they can get closer with a win over Pitt.

UNC started this season looking like a completely different team from the previous one. They ended the narrative of not being able to win on the road, posting a 4-0 away record so far. To make things sweeter for North Carolina, despite losing quarterback Sam Howell to the NFL, red-shirt freshman Drake Maye has stepped up and kept the offense on pace with similar explosive plays from Howell’s reign.

North Carolina’s 38-35 win over the Duke Blue Devils finally pushed them into the Associated Press Top 25, and despite being on their bye week this past weekend due to other teams’ losses, they were able to move up a few more spots. A win against Pitt continues their momentum and should also boost them significantly in the AP Top 25.

This weekend UNC has a shot to go 4-0 in the conference, but to do so, they will need to be on point. As we await Saturday’s game, we look at five things to watch out for in this crucial matchup.

Pitt linebacker: ‘We are going to hit Drake Maye hard’

Pitt linebacker Tylar Wiltz may have provided some bulletin board material for the UNC football team and quarterback Drake Maye on Saturday.

The UNC football program returns from the bye week and faces a showdown against the Pitt Panthers on Saturday night in Chapel Hill. UNC is 3-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play while Pitt is off to a sluggish start at 1-2.

A win for UNC pretty much ends Pitt’s chances at winning the coastal division and gets the Tar Heels to 4-0. It’s safe to say this is a huge game for both teams.

One big factor in this game will be Drake Maye against the Pitt defense. And ahead of the game, a Pitt linebacker may have provided some bulletin board material for the Tar Heels.

Linebacker Tylar Wiltz spoke to the media ahead of the game and potentially revealed part of the game plan for the Panthers. Here is what Wiltz said via The Trib Live:

“We’re athletic, just like them. We work hard, just like them,” he said. “We’re going to hit (Maye) hard just like we hit Malik (Louisville’s Cunningham) and, if he doesn’t get up, that’s not our problem. We’re going to do what we do as a defense.

Those are some words.

If I’m UNC’s offensive line and I hear that, I take it personally. The quarterback needs to be protected and Maye is probably the single biggest key to victory for the Tar Heels.

Let’s hope Maye and this offense take the comments to heart and come out rolling over the Panthers on Saturday night.

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Pat Narduzzi on Mack Brown: ‘He’s a legend… He’s great for college football.’

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi had some high praise for UNC football head coach Mack Brown this week heading into Saturday’s matchup.

The UNC football program is preparing to extend its lead in the ACC Coastal division on Saturday as it takes on Pitt in Chapel Hill.

Ahead of the matchup, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke on his relationship with Tar Heels’ head coach Mack Brown and had some high praise.

“I just think he’s a legend. I love him. I just think he’s great for college football, period,” Narduzzi told reporters this week. “I’m glad he’s out of the media industry and back into college football because he’s good for college football. He gets it. He’s old school. Just listening to him in coaches’ meetings — hanging out with him in coaches’ meetings, he gets it and he’s old school, and that’s what I love about him. He does it the right way.”

Narduzzi comes into this weekend’s matchup 2-4 all-time as a head coach against North Carolina. Both wins have come in back-to-back seasons.

Pitt, sitting at 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference, is looking to get back on track after a 24-10 loss to Louisville last weekend. Its lone win in confidence came against Virginia Tech the week prior.

The Tar Heels on the other hand, are 6-1 and ranked No. 21 in the country. Its lone loss was against Notre Dame this season.

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North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Pitt schedule update

The North Carolina football program announces kick off time for the Pitt game on October 29th.

The UNC football program is going into the bye week at 6-1 overall and 3-0 in ACC play, fresh off a win over Duke. But awaiting the Tar Heels after the bye week is a home date with Pitt in a game that will have big coastal division implications.

And now we have the kickoff time set.

The two teams will meet in primetime on the ACC Network, the conference announced Monday setting an 8 p.m. ET kickoff for the game

UNC heads into this rivalry game riding a three-game win streak. They have a shot to distance themselves a little more with a win over Pitt and continue to control their own destiny.

Pitt has had their up and downs this season, competing to the end against Tennessee in their 34-27 overtime loss. Then two weeks later, they caught their second game loss against Georgia Tech 26-21.

After a loss at Pitt in overtime a year ago, UNC is hungry to get some revenge and a win would go a long ways.

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Pitt RB Izzy Abanikanda absolutely dominated Virginia Tech with record-breaking 6 (!!) TDs

Izzy Abanikanda had an absurdly awesome day for Pitt against Virginia Tech.

Izzy Abanikanda had a great day on the football field. Virginia Tech’s defense did not.

Pitt’s junior running back ran over and around the Hokies, scampering up and down the field at Acrisure Stadium in the Steel City on Saturday. When the dust settled, Abanikanda had racked up a bunch of impressive stats and wrote his name in the record books with a Sharpie – putting his name alongside incredible college football running backs such as Ricky Williams and Tony Dorsett.

Abanikanda totaled an eye-popping 320 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 36 carries. That’s an average of 8.9 yards per carry. That’s a spectacular performance regardless of the rest of the game.

Here’s are the marks Abanikanda set, or broke:

  • He’s the first player from a team in a Power 5 conference to rush for more than 300 yards and six touchdowns since Williams did for Texas in 1998.
  • He joined Willis McGahee of Miami as the only players to rush for more than five touchdowns against Virginia Tech.
  • He broke Dorsett’s single-game rushing record for a Pitt running back. Dorsett rushed for 303 yards against Notre Dame in 1975.
  • He set the ACC record for the most rushing touchdowns by a player in a single game. And Abanikanda was just 19 yards shy of the single game ACC record for rushing yards, set by Boston College’s Andre Williams in 2013.
  • It’s the most rushing yards Virginia Tech has given up to a single player in one game – ever. North Carolina’s Gio Bernard held the previous mark, with 262 rushing yards in 2012.

It was, indeed, an absurdly awesome day for Abanikanda. And for Pitt football too – which covered the 14.5-point spread in this game thanks to Abanikanda’s final touchdown run.

It’s worth taking another look at that scamper, and his other scores.

You might remember that Pitt had a prolific Kenny Pickett-powered passing attack last season that led the Panthers to their first ACC title.

In the offseason, prickly Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi chased former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple off to Nebraska and replaced him with Frank Cignetti Jr., formerly of Boston College. It’s clear that this version of Pitt isn’t all that interested in running an offense that relies on passing, as the Panthers are averaging just 167 yards through the air per game this season, compared to 337.4 passing yards per game last season under the direction of Pickett and Whipple.

Good thing is Pitt doesn’t have to worry about passing all that much with a running back like Abanikanda and an offensive line that can pave the way.

Pitt also clearly doesn’t have a problem scoring points either, as it blew past the over-under of 41.5 points set for this game all on its own. The Panthers are 3-2, and have scored 27 points or more in all but one game this season.

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