Pat's Points: Pitt news and notes from 2025 ACC Football Kickoff

Pat Narduzzi spoke at the ACC Football Kickoff on Wednesday afternoon, addressing the conference as a whole in Charlotte, N.C., and he touched upon a number of topics leading up to the start of Pitt fall camp and the 2025 season.

New season, same goal

The list goes: Clemson, Clemson, Clemson, Clemson, Clemson, Clemson, Pitt, Florida State, Clemson.

What list? The last 10 ACC champions. And Narduzzi is very proud to be on that list – one of just three schools to reach the top, as he pointed out once again on Wednesday.

“That’s the goal every single year,” Narduzzi said. “I thought we could do it last year. I thought we could do it the year before, and I think we can do it now. We have a talented football team. Most of our weapons are back. We did not lose anybody that we wanted to keep in the transfer portal. We’ve enhanced our roster.”

Narduzzi pointed to his team retaining the entire coaching staff, all 10 coaches, as a reason why he’s excited for this season. But it’s also true that with the help of Alliance 412, the core of last season’s roster remains in place.

He believes that if his team can stay healthy (as the late slide was partially the result of Eli Holstein missing time due to multiple injuries), the Panthers will be a championship-level squad.

The message has been consistent: if we win the ACC championship, we’re going to the College Football Playoff.

“The overall goal is to win a championship,” Narduzzi said. “Our guys break down on ACC champs every day. I said yesterday, ‘Hey, when we break down on that, it’s July, we’re a week away from camp opening up, like, you’d better mean it.’ Just don’t say it to say it, it’s say it to mean it.”

Keeping rivalry games alive

It seems that Narduzzi is asked about either Penn State, West Virginia or both at every press conference he attends. And I suppose it makes sense, he’s good for a strong quote more often than not.

Narduzzi was asked about playing Penn State and WVU again on Wednesday, and he chose to focus on the Mountaineers since they’re on the schedule.

“Our players look forward to playing West Virginia every year,” Narduzzi said. “That’s a rivalry game that will end after this year. I think maybe in three years it picks back up. So, we do have a four-game stretch. If you guys have any power to see if we can get them in the next three years, we’re willing to make some movements in our schedule and try to get that done. I would love to play them every year.”

Narduzzi has been vocal in the past about playing teams like Penn State and WVU every year, and it makes sense. The Keystone Classic doesn’t seem to be coming back any time soon, but the Backyard Brawl?

It’s been a massive success since returning in the 2022 season.

It’s been two nail-biters with late action and huge swings (and one brutal performance at Milan Puskar Stadium under the lights), and the intrigue for the final Brawl until 2029 is building quickly.

WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez has spoken about it publicly at the Big 12 Media Days – and about Pitt in general since he returned to the position over the winter. His return to the Brawl on Sept. 13 (9/13) is a major plot line. As well as holding bragging rights for the next four years.

“To have at least one rivalry game, which is West Virginia right now, we’d love to have them on,” Narduzzi said. “Again, that’s what the game is all about. Those regional rivalries, it brings fans in. The fans love it. Our players love it. It’s intense. There’s no love lost. That’s what it’s all about. That’s college football.”

Eli Holstein is just fine

There was some surprise when Narduzzi opted to leave his starting quarterback back in Pittsburgh when flying down to the ACC Kickoff, but his reasoning is sound.

It’s nothing to worry about, he said. And after bringing Phil Jurkovec to Charlotte in 2023 and Nate Yarnell in 2024, neither ended the season as the starter. Holstein is also an underclassman, if that means anything.

Holstein is a leader of the offense, coming off a strong debut season, and Narduzzi is happy with where his quarterback stands entering fall camp.

“Eli Holstein had a great off-season,” Narduzzi said. “He had an incredible summer with our football team. He went through all of spring ball, got 15 days in. I can’t tell you he was completely healthy. He was still banged up from an injury during the season. Took him a little longer than we hoped. But he is back, 224 pounds, ripped up.”

Narduzzi talked about how he didn’t expect Holstein to immediately step in and take the reins, but as fall camp wore on, it was Holstein who impressed more and more.

Holstein took the starting job and didn’t look back. And now he has work cut out for him.

Injuries certainly took a toll, but defense also adjusted to his game and forced him to counter on the field. He struggled a bit, even when he was healthy, but he was also a first-year starter in the first year of a new offense.

Year 2 with both offensive coordinator Kade Bell and Holstein in the fold, and a revamped offensive line, is expected to be better. More complete.

“Again, I think year two with him under center or maybe behind center, I should say — we don’t go under center very often,” Narduzzi said. “But with him back there, it’s going to be even better. We’re excited about the future with him, and we’re excited about the other guys in that room, as well.

“We’ve got a couple of really good football players behind him. Mason Heintschel and Cole Gonzalez are two guys that are going to be competing, as well, in that room.”

The best linebacking corps in the nation?

Kyle Louis is undoubtedly one of the best linebackers in college football. The All-American is a playmaker who looks even bigger and stronger entering his second season as a full-time starter.

He’s joined by fellow All-ACC honoree Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace, which gives the Panthers a very strong group of playmakers. The positional versatility is intriguing, and the playmaking ability is a key to defensive success. And the group can be even better this season.

“We have two All-Americans up here today, and one of them is an All-American linebacker, Kyle Louis,” Narduzzi said. “On the other side of the field with him is Rasheem Biles; Heem, nickname. And then in the middle, Braylan Lovelace. So those three might be the three best linebackers – I’ll say that, the three best linebackers in the country on the field at the same time. They’ll be on the field every down.”

The starting trio is joined by Jeremiah Marcelin, who is going to play often in the third down Delta package, and Cam Lindsey and Jayden Bonsu give depth on the outside. There’s legitimate star power and depth in the room.

A lot of credit goes to linebackers coach Ryan Manalac, who has done a great job recruiting and developing talent in the room.