Tag: Pittsburgh Panthers

10 ‘epic matchups’ Penn State fans will want to see in an alliance with ACC and Pac-12

10 EPIC matchups Penn State should want to see on the schedule with the Big Ten forming an alliance with ACC and Pac-12

Though nothing has officially been mapped out yet, the commissioners of the Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 have jointly announced their commitment to working together on providing a path for the future of collegiate athletics in a groundbreaking moment. While the alliance has multiple goals in mind, there is much speculation about the future scheduling between the three conferences, leading Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren suggesting he hopes this leads to what he called “epic matchups to look forward to.

So let’s let our imaginations run a little wild, shall we? If Penn State is about to get a bunch of “epic matchups,” as Warren seems to suggest could be a possibility, what schools from the ACC and Pac-12 would make for the most interesting or hyped games for Penn State?

Before we jump into it, a reminder of what Penn State’s all-time records against the current memberships of the ACC and Pac-12 look like.

Ryan Jacoby transferring to Pittsburgh

It didn’t take long for Jacoby to find a new home! Good luck. Once a Buckeye …

Ryan Jacoby is headed to Pitt.

According to a tweet the 6-foot, 5-inches, 310-pound offensive lineman, he is looking for new beginnings in the Steel City. Despite being at Ohio State for three years, Jacoby still has four years of eligibility left. He entered the transfer portal last week, and it didn’t take long to go through the decision-making process.

Unfortunately, Jacoby missed the July 1 window to transfer without penalty, so he will more than likely have to sit out a year and not be eligible until the 2022 season. He could of course try and get a waiver but how the NCAA will treat those with the new deadlines in place because of the one-time transfer rule remains to be seen.

It was clear that Jacoby wasn’t going to be much of a factor in the two-deep depth chart at Ohio State. It makes sense that he goes somewhere where he can get out from underneath a slog of bodies in his way down the road at Pitt.

We wish nothing but the best of luck to Jacoby.

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Penn State’s all-time records against every ACC member

Penn State has a long and storied history with a number of teams from the ACC, although the vast majority of that history took place before many of those schools ever joined the conference. Realignment changes over the years have given Penn State …

Penn State has a long and storied history with a number of teams from the ACC, although the vast majority of that history took place before many of those schools ever joined the conference. Realignment changes over the years have given Penn State quite a history against the ACC’s membership without having too many experiences against the conference itself.

The ACC is home to many of Penn State’s longtime regional rivals such as Pittsburgh and Syracuse. It is also home to one of the teams that was the victim of Penn State’s second national championship, the Miami Hurricanes. Penn State and Boston College also have a little bit of history. With the ACC gobbling up many of the teams from the Big East, it seems fitting that Penn State would have the most history against the ACC today. Some Penn State fans would even prefer the Nittany Lions to be an ACC member instead of the Big Ten, but don’t hold your breath on Penn State leaving behind the Big Ten for a chance to join the ACC.

Here is a look at Penn State’s all-time records against each current member of the ACC. That includes schools like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, and Miami despite the majority of games played against those schools were played prior to their joining the ACC. Games played against longtime ACC member Maryland have been included in Penn State’s records vs. current Big Ten members.

All data referenced is credited to College Football Reference. Rankings referenced are AP Top 25 where available.

If you want more, check out Penn State’s all-time records against current members of the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC.

Note: Penn State has never faced Duke or Virginia Tech.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. 

Baseball: Notre Dame takes game 1 in Pittsburgh behind Kavadas’ HR

Game 1 belonged to the Irish

The season Notre Dame first baseman Niko Kavadas is having is one for the ages. The Irish slugger after connecting on yet another long ball, now has 11 homers on the season, good for the ACC lead and top-4 nationally. The long fly was one of two the Irish hit en-route to a 4-1 opening series road victory against Pittsburgh.

Back to Kavadas, the lefty is inside the top-10 nationally in slugging, has been on his game all year.

It’s not just about the deep fly’s, Kavadas is second on the team in on-base percentage, and runs while leading the team in RBI’s, total bases, slugging, walks and obviously home runs. As the Irish continue to be among the top teams in the country, more and more recognition will go to Notre Dame’s star.

Kavadas wasn’t the only player to have an impact yesterday, as the pitching trio of Will Mercer, Tanner Kohlhepp and Joe Sheridan combined for 7 strike-outs, three walks, five hits and just one run.

Offensively, Carter Putz put one over the fences as well.

The Irish get back on the field today for game 2 of the series, as they look to lock up the series.

2021 NFL draft: Pittsburgh safety Damar Hamlin could be Day 3 target for Chargers

Renaldo Hill could reunite with one of his former players.

Offensive line, cornerback and edge rusher are seen as the obvious positions that the Chargers must address this offseason. But safety is one that Los Angeles should elect to tamper with, as well.

Rayshawn Jenkins is a pending free agent. Derwin James has experienced major injuries the past two consecutive seasons. Nasir Adderley is coming off of a sophomore slump. Alohi Gilman’s sample size of playing time is small.

After addressing positions of need in the first two days of this year’s draft, the third day would be the most ideal time to deepen the secondary with a safety and one that could be a target is former Pittsburgh’s Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin, a four-star cornerback, came in as the highest-rated defensive player from the state of Pennsylvania. He was recruited by defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who served as the Panthers’ secondary coach at the time.

After dealing with injuries his first two seasons, Hamlin was moved from corner to safety in 2019, where he and Paris Ford, one of the top safety prospects, formed a solid tandem.

In 12 games, Hamlin amassed 84 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and ten passes defensed. He followed that up with another productive campaign, totaling 66 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed.

Hamlin, the 6-foot and 201 pounder, was one of two safeties in Pittsburgh’s defense which was a mixture of man and zone coverage. At times, he came into the box or played the single-high role when they would mix up their looks.

Hamlin is a diverse, tough, smart and well rounded defensive back who shows great coverage ability and ball skills, as well as excellent tackling in space and traffic. The former basketball and track athlete displays his athleticism when closing on pass-catchers.

For the Chargers, Hamlin would be a versatile player who can be a part of a two-high safety set, used in the box or lined up in the slot across from tight ends. His play speed, tackling ability and competitive nature would serve him well on special teams, too.

Overall, the need for safety depth and special teamers and familiarity with Hill should be selling points for Hamlin when Day 3 of the draft rolls around.

Brian Kelly: Notre Dame played best half of season vs UNC

Notre Dame’s head coach Brian Kelly believes the second half against North Carolina was the best two consecutive quarters the Irish have played all year.

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When Brian Kelly met with the media this morning, he led off with a very intriguing statement. After a second half against North Carolina that saw the Irish post a 14-0 win in the two quarters, Kelly was adamant that it was the best half the Irish played all year.

“But I think the most important thing for us is to carry on the play that we exhibited in the second half of the game against North Carolina… the style of play, one that I think was arguably our best two quarters of the season.”

It was a mix of a devastating defense with the offense was able to move the ball well enough to score two touchdowns. You can make an argument that the second half against Pittsburgh was in the same vein, a 17-0 surge that the Irish finished off an impressive 45-3 victory in.

You have to take into account the opponent however, as the Tar Heels are much better than the Panthers. Same can be said about the shutout against South Florida, a complete set of halves but the Bulls aren’t on the same level as UNC.

Kelly wants to use this momentum into this weekends contest against Syracuse and rightfully so. This team is playing with a determination that hasn’t been seen in more than a few years. Yes, 2018 was a great season, but Clemson showed the Irish weren’t quite there yet. Same goes for 2012 against Alabama.

Those demons have partially been erased, but a rematch against the Tigers in the ACC title game looks like the road the Irish will need to take. The good new is that with the initial win over Clemson, Notre Dame has a bit of a cushion going into the title game. That is the best win in all of college football this year, and the College Football Playoff committee knows it.

Notre Dame inches closer to No. 1 Alabama in latest Amway Coaches Poll

The updated Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports doesn’t see much change inside the top 10.

Notre Dame headed to Chapel Hill in what many called a trap game against former No. 23 North Carolina. That’s exactly what it wasn’t, as the Irish continued their impressive run of play, staying undefeated in winning 31-17 over the Tar Heels.

That win was enough to catch some attention in the latest Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports as the Irish didn’t move up, but garnered more votes than they did last week.

Around the ACC, No. 4 Clemson saw the return of all-world quarterback Trevor Lawrence and blew out Pittsburgh, 52-17. Miami, FL, the No. 9 team,  the only other conference team ranked inside the Amway Coaches Poll.

Nationally, No. 13 Northwestern was upended in East Lansing, falling the Michigan State 29-20, giving them their first loss of the year. Iowa State, ranked No. 15, continues it’s impressive run as they defeated No. 21Texas in Memorial Stadium, 23-20. Oregon State upended No. 11 Oregon in their unnamed rivalry game, 41-38 on Friday night. No. 1 Alabama blew out their rivals No. 19 Auburn, 42-13, with head coach Nick Saban watching from home as he tested positive for COVID-19 this week.

Former No. 3 Ohio State dropped one spot after having their game against Illinois canceled due to a spread of COVID-19 this week. It was Clemson’s gain here, as they now hold the same ranking in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Here is the updated Coaches Poll, with ACC teams in bold and last weeks ranking in parenthesis.

1 Alabama (1)

2 Notre Dame (2)

3 Clemson (4)

4 Ohio State (3)

5 Florida (5)

6 Texas A&M (6)

7 Cincinnati (7)

8 BYU (8)

9 Miami, FL (9)

10 Georgia (10)

11 Indiana (12)

12 Iowa State (15)

13 Oklahoma (14)

14 Coastal Carolina (17)

15 Marshall (16)

16 USC (18)

17 Northwestern (14)

18 Oklahoma St (22)

19 Wisconsin (20)

20 Oregon (11)

21 Louisiana-Lafayette (24)

22 Tulsa (25)

23 Washington (NR)

24 Iowa (NR)

25 Liberty (NR)

Dropped out: No. 19 Auburn, No. 21 Texas, No. 23 North Carolina

 

Watch: Notre Dame freshman tight end Mayer scores against Pitt

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame’s star freshman tight end, scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The hype is real for Notre Dame freshman Michael Mayer. The 5-Star recruit from Kentucky has lived up to his billing so far this season. He cashed in on this play from 14-yards out.

The touchdown for the freshman is the second of his career, expanding the Notre Dame lead to 38-3 in the third quarter.

Watch: Foskey block and recovers punt for TD against Pittsburgh

Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey comes up with a key block and scoop and score of a punt against the Pittsburgh Panthers to extend the lead.

Brian Kelly pushed the right buttons late in the first half. He knew the offense probably couldn’t score with just a few ticks left on the clock, so Kelly called a time-out and drew this up.

What an enormous play to end the half for the Irish. The special teams touchdown gives Notre Dame a 28-3 lead over Pittsburgh at the half.

(Photo courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics)

Notre Dame notes: Kelly’s Monday presser focuses on red zone, travel, and more

The highlights of Brian Kelly’s Monday meeting with the press include red zone issues, wide receiver rotation, Jahmir Smith leaving and more.

The Irish have been in a unique situation this season, they have yet to hit the road for a game this season. When their trip to Wake Forest was reschedule due to a rash of Irish football team members testing positive for COVID-19, the schedule just worked out that way. Well, Kelly addressed his team traveling to Pittsburgh this weekend, the issues in the red zone, a player leaving the program and more in his regularly scheduled Monday afternoon press conference. Here are some of the big topics Kelly touched on today.

-The red zone offense needs to be better as Kelly said “we’ve got to be better in that area moving forward.” That’s a huge understatement.

-Going to Pitt this weekend will be treated like a home game on Friday. The team will be very careful during their travels, no team meals, eating at Heinz Field concourses and Kelly wants to “create an atmosphere where we can control it the best we can.”

-Kelly might have pinpointed some issues with the wide receivers because “it has been a revolving door” at the position. With new faces and others working back from injuries, the Irish head coach thinks they may have pushed them too hard in practice. It’s obviously a “work in progress” as he stated.

-Kelly pointed out three players (Isaiah Foskey, Jack Kiser and Joe Wilkins) that need to play more. After Saturday’s win against Louisville, he had notes that said “how do we get them involved more.”

-Running back Jahmir Smith has left the team, Kelly said “he’s decided at this time he is not going to be playing football.”

-Kurt Hinish has been great this year and Kelly attributed it to a few factors, but mainly his high football IQ. “He (Hinish) knows what they’re (the offense) is trying to do scheme wise.”

-On the offense’s strengths and weakness, Kelly said “right now we’re so much better running it than throwing it. I want people to respect our ability to throw it.” The offense will keep at it, “we’re going to push the ball vertically down the field, we’re going to have to be better at it.” He knows there are some issues in “attacking defenses down the field in our passing game, were not there yet. We have to get going.”

-On Pitt’s defense: “game wreckers on defense, they’ll play physical and they’re well coached.”