Is the upcoming Pitt vs. Notre Dame game a 'must-win' for the Panthers? That's the question on everyone's mind, especially with ESPN College GameDay rolling into town. But hold on, because Pitt's head coach, Pat Narduzzi, has a different perspective, and it's surprisingly hilarious!
During a recent press conference, Narduzzi brushed aside the 'must-win' narrative, emphasizing the importance of winning ACC games. His response? Pure gold. He quipped that he'd gladly lose to Notre Dame by a score of 103-10, as long as the Panthers secured victories in their subsequent two ACC matchups.
But here's where it gets controversial... Narduzzi's playful jab wasn't random. It was a direct reference to Pitt's previous two losses against Notre Dame, where they were outscored by a combined total of 103-10. These defeats, one in 2023 (58-7) and another in 2020 (45-3), were under the leadership of coaches Marcus Freeman and Brian Kelly, respectively. And Narduzzi was at the helm for both of those games.
Historically, Narduzzi hasn't had much luck against Notre Dame, holding an 0-4 record since joining Pitt, with only one of those games being a close contest.
However, Narduzzi's stance isn't entirely off-base. With a current season record of 7-2 and a ranking of No. 24 in the initial CFP selection committee rankings, Pitt's path to the College Football Playoff is far from guaranteed, even with a win against Notre Dame. An at-large bid seems like a long shot.
And this is the part most people miss... The more realistic route for Pitt to reach the CFP is by winning the ACC. The challenge? There are currently five ACC teams with only one conference loss, including Pitt. With their only conference loss against Louisville, who has two conference losses, the Panthers are in a decent position. However, dropping another conference game could be detrimental.
Of course, Pitt would still love to defeat Notre Dame. It would effectively end the Irish's CFP hopes and provide a massive confidence boost heading into those crucial ACC games, including a significant road test at Georgia Tech and a home finale against Miami. The outcome of these games could significantly impact the ACC's championship race.
What do you think? Do you agree with Narduzzi's priorities, or do you believe the Notre Dame game is a 'must-win'? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
