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Clemson Football Oppo Research: Pittsburgh Panthers

Pat Narduzzi will be tested in 2024 as he attempts to rebuild Pittsburgh. Clemson Football will be looking for revenge for their last meeting with the Panthers.

By John Chancey

Sep 7, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Panthers mascot reaction the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Panthers mascot reaction the field before the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Clemson Football returns to Pittsburgh to seek avenge the 2021 loss to the Panthers that knocked them out of the ACC Championship hunt.

What: Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers

When: November 16th, time to be determined

Where: Accrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Series History: Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 3-2. Pitt won the last game 27-17 in 2021. Clemson’s last victory in the series was 52-17 in 2020 at Death Valley.

Pittsburgh 2023 Statistics

All stats per teamrankings.com against FBS competition only

Points per game: 17.9 (122nd)

Yards per game: 302.2 (120th)

Points allowed per game: 29.2 (80th)

Yards allowed per game: 384.2 (65th)

Panthers’ head coach Pat Narduzzi has had a very good run the last few years, including a league title in 2021. Last season did not go as expected for Pitt, to say the least.

Narduzzi brought in former Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec, but he didn’t have the career resurgence that was expected with offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who coached Jurkovec to big numbers in 2020 at BC. Jurkovec lost his starting job during the season, and Narduzzi moved on from Cignetti at the end of the season.

Junior Nate Yardell will return to the starting lineup this season and will attempt to improve an offense that was rated toward the bottom of the FBS. Pitt also brought in Eli Holstein from Alabama who is an option as the season progresses if Yardell doesn’t make the progressions they are hoping for.

New offensive coordinator Kade Bell brought a few transfers with him from his last stop, FCS Western Carolina, but nothing on the surface suggests a massive improvement is on hand for the Panthers.

Narduzzi’s expertise is defense. The Pitt D was better than the offense in 2023, but it still wasn’t anything to write home about. To add insult to injury, the Panthers only return two starters from last season.

On the intangibles side, the Tigers will be coming off a road trip to Virginia Tech. If the Hokies are competitive the way many expect, there is always a chance for a hangover for Clemson against Pittsburgh. This could be enhanced by playing in the road environment in November in Pennsylvania. Translation: it will be cold.

It would take a feeble effort from Clemson to drop this game, however. Pittsburgh is rebuilding in almost every way. 2024 could be a difficult year for Narduzzi and his program.

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