Tag: pittsburgh football

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 12

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 12

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 13 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the fourth time in five weeks, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to return to the Pinstripe Bowl. And, as he did after Week 10, the analyst has the Badgers facing Pittsburgh.

The Panthers, the No. 8 team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are on a three-game skid. At 7-3, Pittsburgh has fallen into the ‘receiving votes’ category in the latest installation of the AP top 25 poll.

Still, the Panthers have beaten Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California and Syracuse. Their recent losses have arrived against No. 13 SMU, No. 17 SMU and Virginia.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-5 after Week 12 after losing its most recent game against Oregon by three points in the fourth quarter. The Badgers also dropped their previous two games to No. 4 Penn State and Iowa by a combined 57 points.

Luke Fickell’s program also elected to fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo on Saturday. At No. 11 in the Big Ten, the organization appears to be amid an identity crisis.

If McMurphy’s prediction rings true, this will be the first time UW will participate in the Pinstripe Bowl since 2018 when it defeated Miami 35-3.

Four Big Ten teams are currently projected to land in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this winter. No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana are included in the AP’s top 5 ahead of Week 12.

Wisconsin in still search of its 23rd consecutive bowl game appearance. It needs a win over its final two games against Nebraska and Minnesota.

Dabo Swinney doesn’t ‘know what targeting is anymore’ after Sammy Brown’s ejection

What looked like a perfect hit resulted in targeting.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney didn’t hide his frustration after the Tigers’ 24-20 win over Pittsburgh, specifically addressing two controversial calls: a fourth-quarter personal foul on Dee Crayton and a second-quarter targeting call on freshman linebacker Sammy Brown.

Brown was ejected late in the first half after a hit on Pitt quarterback Nate Yarnell, which officials ruled as targeting and upheld upon review. Swinney felt the contact was clean and expressed his bewilderment. “I don’t know what targeting is anymore. I really don’t,” he said. “It changes every week. I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I just don’t know what it is.”

Swinney referenced another disputed targeting call from Miami’s win over Cal earlier this season to emphasize his point. “There was a targeting call in the Cal-Miami game earlier this year… I don’t know what targeting is anymore,” he added.

Brown’s ejection compounded issues for Clemson’s already depleted linebacker group, which was missing starter Wade Woodaz due to a practice injury. Despite the challenges, Clemson’s defense held Pitt to 20 points, with key contributions from several players.

Swinney ended on a lighter note, joking, “I’m going to have to go to a seminar in the offseason or something. Targeting anonymous. I don’t know. I have no idea.” His remarks highlighted the impact of officiating and injuries on his team’s hard-fought win.

Dabo Swinney on why Wade Woodaz didn’t play against Pitt

Swinney on Woodaz missing the Pitt game.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney shed light on the absence of linebacker Wade Woodaz in the Tigers’ narrow 24-20 win over Pitt on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Although Woodaz traveled with the team, he was sidelined due to a thigh bruise sustained during practice earlier in the week. Swinney did not provide a timeline for his return.

Woodaz, a key defensive leader, has been instrumental for Clemson this season, leading the team with 65 tackles, along with 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups, and nine quarterback pressures. His absence was felt on Saturday, particularly as the Tigers’ linebacker corps was stretched thin. Freshman Sammy Brown stepped in to start as a middle linebacker but was ejected late in the second quarter for targeting, leaving Clemson even more shorthanded.

The defensive challenges extended beyond linebacker depth. Injuries piled up throughout the game, with RJ Mickens exiting late in the fourth quarter and Sammy Brown’s ejection exacerbating the team’s difficulties. Yet, despite these setbacks, Clemson’s defense managed to hold Pitt in check when it mattered most, including a game-sealing interception by Khalil Barnes on Pitt’s final drive.

Clemson will look to regroup and get healthier as they prepare to host The Citadel next weekend. With Woodaz’s status uncertain, the Tigers’ depth will remain a concern as they push to stay in the ACC title race.

Pittsburgh starting quarterback Eli Holstein named a ‘game-time decision’ for Clemson game

Pitt could be without their starting quarterback against Clemson.

Pittburgh football’s quarterback situation remains uncertain ahead of Saturday’s game against No. 20 Clemson. Starter Eli Holstein, who left each of the past two games with a head injury, is listed as a game-time decision.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi confirmed on Thursday that Holstein has not practiced this week, with backup Nate Yarnell taking first-team reps in his place.

Holstein struggled in last week’s loss to Virginia, completing just 10 of 23 passes for 121 yards before exiting. Yarnell, stepping in, managed 4 of 12 passing for 44 yards with one touchdown but also threw two interceptions. On the season, Holstein has completed 62% of his passes for 2,177 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions, though he has failed to surpass 150 yards in three of his last four games. Yarnell has appeared in six games, throwing for 314 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions on 30-of-48 passing.

He was having an outstanding season before the difficult game.
The kickoff between Clemson and Pitt is scheduled for noon Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, and the game is airing on ESPN.

Clemson-Pitt football game gets ESPN’s best play-by-play announcer

Here’s who will be on the call for ESPN Saturday when the Clemson Tigers visit the Pitt Panthers.

One of the best and most widely-known college football broadcast crews will be on the call for this weekend’s pivotal ACC matchup between the No. 16 Clemson Tigers and Pitt Panthers.

ESPN’s No. 2 broadcast team of Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) will have the call of Clemson vs. Pitt Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, formerly Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Molly McGrath will handle sideline reporting duties.

Kickoff is set for noon ET. The game will be televised on ESPN, which announced its Week 12 college football commentator assignments on Monday.

For McDonough and McElroy, it will be the third time this season the pair will call a Clemson game. The duo also called the Tigers’ season-opening loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta, as well as their 59-35 romp over NC State in Death Valley in Week 4.

RELATED: Clemson football vs The Citadel kickoff time, TV info for Week 13 game

McDonough is one of the most decorated and respected play-by-play broadcasters in ESPN’s arsenal, consistently ranking high on annual year-end surveys by fans of their favorite announcers. In my opinion, he’s the best play-by-play voice at ESPN.

A New England native and Syracuse alum from the Newhouse School of Communications, McDonough has been with ESPN since 2000. In addition to his work with ESPN, he calls select Boston Red Sox games for the team’s vast radio network.

Radio coverage for Saturday’s Clemson game will be carried on SiriusXM Channel 81, featuring the Clemson Athletic Network crew of Don Munson, Tim Bourret and Reggie Merriweather.

Clemson (7-2) moved up one spot to No. 16 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll after a 24-17 victory over Virginia Tech. Pitt (7-2) fell out of the Top 25 polls after a 24-19 loss to Tony Elliott and the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. The Panthers have lost two straight.

Dabo Swinney’s Tigers trail the SMU Mustangs (8-1, 5-0) in the ACC standings entering the week. Clemson leads Miami (9-1, 5-1) by a half game in the standings but would need another Hurricanes loss to stay ahead of them. The Canes fell 28-23 at Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Contact/follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 10

Where Wisconsin lands in Action Network bowl projections after Week 10

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy released his bowl predictions ahead of Week 11 of the 2024 college football season on Monday.

For the third consecutive week, McMurphy predicts Wisconsin to return to the Pinstripe Bowl. Unlike what he predicted following Week 9, UW is now forecasted to play Pittsburgh instead of NC State.

The Panthers, another member of the American Athletic Conference, boast an impressive resume through eight games of the 2024 season. At 7-1, Pittsburgh holds the No. 23 ranking in the AP’s latest top 25 poll. The Panthers have vanquished Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California and Syracuse.

Only No.4 Miami, No. 13 SMU and No. 19 Clemson out of the ACC land ahead of Pittsburgh in the most recent AP poll.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is 5-4 after Week 10 after losing its most recent game against Iowa by 32 points. Luke Fickell’s program sits No. 9 in the Big Ten with a 3-3 conference record.

Still, Action Network currently considers Wisconsin a three-point favorite over Pittsburgh. If McMurphy’s prediction rings true, this will be the first time UW will participate in the Pinstripe Bowl since 2018 when it defeated Miami 35-3.

Four Big Ten teams are currently projected to land in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this winter. No. 1 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 8 Indiana and No. 10 Penn State are featured in the AP’s top 10 ahead of Week 11.

Wisconsin in search of its 23rd consecutive bowl game appearance.

Kickoff time, TV info announced for Clemson football vs. Pitt on Nov. 16

Kickoff time for Clemson vs. Pitt on Nov. 16 was announced Monday.

The ACC on Monday announced kickoff times for Week 12 conference games, including the Clemson Tigers‘ matchup against Eli Holstein and the Pitt Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 16.

The Tigers (6-2) and Panthers (7-1) will kick off at noon ET in Pittsburgh. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Cade Klubnik and the Tigers fell 33-21 to the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday night in Death Valley. Pitt dropped its first game of the season over the weekend, 48-25 to the SMU Mustangs in Dallas.

The Tigers fell nine spots to No. 17 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll after Saturday’s loss. Pitt fell six spots to No. 23.

RELATED: Dabo Swinney on Clemson fans throwing trash on the field during Louisville loss

This will mark the sixth all-time meeting between Clemson and Pitt. The Panthers lead the series, 3-2, and won the last matchup against the Tigers, 27-17 on Oct. 23, 2021 in Pittsburgh. Dabo Swinney is 2-2 against the Panthers, who began play in the ACC in 2013.

Clemson’s only loss during its 2016 national championship season was to Pitt, 43-42 on Nov. 12 that year. The Tigers defeated the Panthers, 42-10, in the 2018 ACC Championship Game en route to a 15-0 season and their second national championship in three years.

Here’s the full list of ACC kickoff times for Nov. 16, per the ACC’s press release Monday.

ACC Week 12 Kickoff Times, TV info

Saturday, November 16

Clemson at Pitt – Noon ET on ESPN

Syracuse at California – 3 p.m. ET on The CW

Boston College at SMU – 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Louisville at Stanford – 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network

Virginia at Notre Dame – 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC — as previously announced

Wake Forest at North Carolina – 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network

Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

ACC Announces Game Times and TV Networks for Week 9 Contests

Kickoff time for Week 9 ACC football games on Oct. 26 was announced Monday.

The Clemson Tigers (5-1 overall, 4-0 ACC) will have a bye week on the final weekend of October after their home game against the Virginia Cavaliers this Saturday (noon ET, ACC Network).

The ACC on Monday released start times and TV information for its Week 9 slate of games, including Miami vs. Florida State and others.

Below is a press release from the ACC office.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its television partners announced the following football game times and networks for Week 9, October 24-26.

Thursday, October 24

  • Syracuse at Pitt – 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN – previously announced

Friday, October 25

  • Louisville at Boston College – 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 – previously announced

Saturday, October 26

  • Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech – Noon ET on ACC Network
  • North Carolina at Virginia – Noon ET on The CW
  • Wake Forest at Stanford – 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network
  • Oregon State at California – 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2
  • Florida State at Miami – 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • SMU at Duke – 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network

Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

A Pittsburgh special teams disaster and a ricocheting football sparked the wackiest Kent State touchdown

Fans of Maction will not be disappointed.

Pittsburgh football was riding high in the first half of its season opener at home against Kent State, but Maction had other plans.

During one of the zaniest moments of the young season, Kent State scored as a inexplicable special teams touchdown as you’re going to see anytime soon.

As Kent State punted from deep into its own territory, Pittsburgh returner Konata Mumpfield unsuccessfully tried to field the punt and fumbled the ball for anyone to grab.

The ball ricocheted off a handful of Kent State players before cornerback Naim Muhammad scooped it up and ran it back for a Golden Eagles touchdown. Seriously, this was just wacky, but Kent State capitalized. 

https://twitter.com/MACSports/status/1829932271744307219

How’s that for some early-season Maction for you?

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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ACC starting quarterback rankings for 2024

Here are our ACC quarterback rankings for 2024, with projected starters.

We are still some time away from the start of the 2024 college football season, but that doesn’t stop us from looking ahead.

Today, we are looking at the ACC starting quarterbacks for 2024 and ranking them ahead of the season. This is just a preview, as it is still many months from the season, and things can change fast. While every team doesn’t have a starting quarterback on paper, we are making projections on these starters based on what we know right now.

The ACC is a bit different now, with the addition of new programs and new faces to the conference. Try not to get mad with these, they’re subjective! That said, here are our ACC starting quarterback rankings heading into the 2024 season.

– Updated 5/11