Clemson Football: Most overrated and underrated ‘way too early’ teams in the ACC

Underrated: Pittsburgh Panthers

We are still in the ‘way too early’ phase for 2023 Clemson Football, but it hasn’t stopped the speculations about the teams that could challenge for the conference championship. While some teams are probably being overhyped a bit, some others are being overlooked by most fans.

The first team that comes to mind that is probably being underrated is Pitt. The Panthers finished the 2022 season with a 9-4 record and a win over UCLA in the Sun Bowl. They pushed the Tennessee Volunteers to overtime in the second game of the season before losing by a field goal.

The Panthers pulled off those victories and a decent season all while being unsettled at quarterback. Transfer Kedon Slovis didn’t produce the results offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr. was expecting.

This season the Panthers will be starting another transfer quarterback: Phil Jurkovec. Pitt will be his third team, following two seasons with Notre Dame and three seasons with Boston College. Jurkovec’s best season was in 2020 for the Eagles. He passed for 2,558 yards and 17 touchdowns. Injuries derailed his 2021 season.

What’s the reason to believe that Jurkovec’s arrival will boost the Panthers back into contention for an ACC title (which they won in 2021)?

Cignetti was the offensive coordinator for Boston College in 2020 when Jurkovec had a career year. He left BC for Pitt after the 2021 season.

Jurkovec had a decent 2022 campaign for Boston College (1,711 yards passing and 11 touchdowns) but it was well off the pace of his 2020 performance. Cignetti’s absence was one of the reasons for that dropoff.

It’s reasonable to believe a healthy Jurkovec with Cignetti as a playcaller along with the overall higher level of talent on Pittsburgh’s roster will mean success. The conference schedule breaks well for Pitt. Their most difficult road game is at Duke. They get Florida State and North Carolina in Pittsburgh.