Pitt to open up ACC play against rival Syracuse

Thursday promised to be a big night at Acrisure Stadium as the Pitt Panthers opened up ACC play against Syracuse.

The Panthers were looking to move to 3-0 on the season, while the Orange came into the matchup at 1-1.

The two teams are very familiar with one another, but it’s been the Panthers who’ve had Syracuse’s number in the last two dozen meetings.

Pitt has won 20 of the last 24 matchups, including the last time they played on a Thursday night against the Orange in 2024.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has a 9-2 record against Syracuse in his coaching career with the Panthers.

He talked this week about the intensity when these two teams face off.

“It’s an old Big East rival,” Narduzzi said. “I mean, I think, you know, for sure, I mean, but it’s another game. It’s, you know, they’re all important. They all count as one, and obviously it’s an ACC game, so it makes it a little bit more important, but like, you know, we can’t attack it like it’s any different. You know, I don’t get into the emotions of a rivalry game.”

A recipe for success in these games for the Panthers recently has been turnovers. In the last two matchups, the Panthers forced eight turnovers combined.

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