How has Pitt Done Recently Against MAC Teams?
Pitt football is no stranger to playing teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Under head coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers have faced seven MAC schools, including six in the past six years. Pitt will welcome in another MAC program on Saturday when Central Michigan comes to Acrisure Stadium with the Panthers as 22.5-point favorites.
The MAC, a Group of Five conference, always has an upset or two up its sleeve against a Power Four opponent each season.
Pitt is too familiar with coming up on the short end against MAC teams with the most recent loss coming just eight months ago in December.
After losing five in a row to end the 2024 regular season, the Panthers faced Toledo in the GameAbove Bowl in Detroit, Mich. Pitt was favored in that game anywhere from -6.5 points to -9.5.
The Panthers started walk-on David Lynch, who threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. Once Pitt turned to true freshman quarterback Julian Dugger, he helped put the Panthers ahead 30-20 with just over 11 minutes to play. However, Toledo hit a game-tying field goal with 1:45 to go. Then, it took six overtimes and botched play calls before Toledo took home the victory.
Pitt’s other recent loss to a MAC school came against Western Michigan in 2021. The Panthers were multi-score favorites in that matchup and despite Kenny Pickett tossing six touchdown passes with the offense compiling 508 yards of total offense, the Broncos stunned the Panthers 44-41.
In a season that resulted in an ACC championship and 11 wins, the thought still lingers of “what could have been” if the Panthers handled Western Michigan easily in that matchup. Would Pitt have been an outside shot at the four-team College Football Playoff?
Since Narduzzi took over, the Panthers have gone 5-2 against MAC teams. However, the Panthers are 1-2 in one-score games.
In the most recent six contests, Pitt has scored 38.3 points per game, whereas MAC schools have averaged 28.2 points per game.
Pitt Game-by-Game Outcomes vs. MAC Teams
2015: Akron — W 24-7
2019: Ohio — W 20-10
2019: Eastern Michigan — W 34-30 (Quick Lane Bowl)
2021: Western Michigan — L 44-41
2022: @ Western Michigan — W 34-13
2024: Kent State — W 55-24
2024: Toledo — L 48-46 (6OT) (GameAbove Bowl)
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