2015 record: 8-5, 6-2 in the ACC (2nd in the Coastal Division)
Head coach: Pat Narduzzi (2nd season)
After finishing second in the ACC Coastal Division in Pat Narduzzi’s first year at the helm in 2015, expectations are high for the Panthers this season.
Pittsburgh returns most of its key offensive and defensive playmakers, in addition to the 2014 ACC Player of the Year in running back James Conner, who missed all of 2015 because of an MCL injury and a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Conner will join last year’s ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year Qadree Ollison to form one of the best running back tandems in the country for the Panthers.
Although Pittsburgh’s offense will feature a run-first attack, the Panthers will need starting quarterback Nate Peterman to keep opposing defenses honest. The redshirt senior finished second in the ACC in completion percentage and third in touchdown passes last season, but must find a new target to make up for the departure of the program's all-time leading receiver Tyler Boyd.
On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh has an aggressive defense with standouts at multiple positions. Up front, defensive end Ejuan Price will lead a veteran defensive line that ranked 16th nationally a year ago with 2.85 sacks per game. In the secondary, the Panthers will rely on 2015 ACC Rookie Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Whitehead—who led the team with 109 tackles last year—to make plays across the field.
After opening its season against in-state foe Villanova, Pittsburgh will face Penn State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina in consecutive weeks during what could be a season-defining stretch. Later in the season, Pittsburgh will have back-to-back road games at Miami and Clemson, making a fast start to the season all the more important.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.