2025 Pitt Record Predictions
The 2025 Pitt football season is finally upon us as the Panthers will hit the field Saturday to take on crosstown foe Duquesne.
Before Pitt kicks off its 11th season under head coach Pat Narduzzi, the Pittsburgh Sports Now staff gives their regular season predictions for the year, along with an exciting list of local and national guest picks.
Mike Vukovcan– Pittsburgh Sports Now
The key to the 2025 Pitt Panthers will be whether or not the offensive line improves from last season and isn’t a liability. like they were last year. This team is built for success on both sides of the ball especially on defense. With the style of Kade Bell’s offense, if Eli Holstein is protected and Desmond Reid has room, the offense has the potential to be lethal. Can the offensive line be better?
I say yes and with a favorable schedule, and with some young players on defense that could turn into stars this season, I’m high on Pitt.
Prediction: 9-3
Alan Saunders — Pittsburgh Sports Now Columnist, Steelers Now Beat Writer
So much of what will happen with the Pitt football team this season will depend on what happens with starting quarterback Eli Holstein, and despite a very promising start to his 2024 season, the end of it leaves a lot of question marks in terms of how that might go.
If Holstein can just be the quarterback he was to start the season last year, it should be a good 2025 for the Panthers. If he can show improvement from where he was last September, look out, because this is a very forgiving schedule.
With an improved Holstein, I don’t see any reason Pitt can’t go 9-3, or maybe even better. Even with some struggles, I have a hard time seeing a way they don’t improve on last year’s 7-5 season. So we’ll land in the middle, with an 8-4 projection.
Prediction: 8-4
Nathan Breisinger — Pitt Football Beat Writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now
Pitt has the star power across its starting lineup to win more than seven games, but some similar issues will persist. Depth issues, especially on the offensive line and at running back are concerning. Linebacker depth injuries have not helped either. The secondary should be improved, but will have the ball thrown their way at a high volume, and it will come down to how they handle the work load.
The Panthers should win all the games they are supposed to. However, I foresee losses against Louisville, Notre Dame, on the road at Georgia Tech and Miami. Then a toss up ACC game will fall out of reach and I think that will be at Florida State.
Prediction: 7-5
Dorin Dickerson — Former Pitt All-American TE, Radio Host at 93.7 The Fan
Pitt figures out a way to avoid what happeded last year (epic collapse). They ride the coat tails of their star players; Kyle Louis and Desmond Reid, which will get them to an ACC championship game appearance in 2025.
The main character of this season outside of Reid and Louis is Eli Holstein. He proves himself this season. He stays healthy and shows major growth from Year 1 to Year 1 as the Starting QB for the Panthers.
Prediction: 9-3
Brett McMurphy — America’s College Football Insider at On3
Whether they can get to double-digit wins or end up hovering around .500, depends largely on how they fare on the road in ACC play. With 10 power conference opponents, there aren’t many gimmies on the schedule, so Pitt has to take advantage of the games it’s supposed to win and pull off a home upset (or two) in November vs. Notre Dame and Miami. The defense sprung a leak in the second half of last season, but with Pat Narduzzi, I don’t expect that happening in consecutive seasons. The offense will be solid again w/Desmond Reid and Eli Holstein back. If Pitt wins the Backyard Brawl, it legitimately could get off to a 5-0 start. If not, well, who knows.
Prediction: 8-4
Eric Mac Lain — Analyst for ACC Network
Beat who you are supposed to, and a couple that you weren’t. Win the bowl game and have great momentum going into ’26.
Prediction: 8-5
Bill Bender — Senior College Football Writer at the Sporting News
Pitt will be 2-0 when it heads to West Virginia for the Backyard Brawl, and that is the first chance to reverse a 2-8 record on the road the last two seasons. How many road games will the Panthers win out of Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford and Georgia Tech? That will determine whether a true playoff run is possible – and how much those November home games against Notre Dame and Miami matter. The Panthers have one of the most underrated backs in the country n Desmond Reid and a stellar group of linebackers led by Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace. Pitt will go 8-4 in the regular season and 5-3 in ACC play.
Prediction: 8-4
Rich Walsh: Sports Reporter at KDKA-TV
9 wins is reachable. I really like some of the weapons Eli has this year. Blue Hicks could add another big-time threat. I think they finish 8-4.
Prediction: 8-4
Bob Pompeani: Sports Director at KDKA-TV
I will say Eli Holstein is the big key. Needs to protect the ball better than last year or run the risk of being replaced. They have 18 freshmen on roster, so depth experience is a concern. But given their less than demanding schedule, I think 9 wins is possible, but I will go with 8-4.
Prediction: 8-4
Andrew Stockey: Sports Director at WTAE
I’m going to say 7-5 and that assumes a 3-0 start, which means a victory on the road at WVU.
Prediction: 7-5
Joey Starkey — Radio Host at 93.7 The Fan
Pitt will go 7-5. They might be slightly better than people think but I feel safe at 7-5. I mean, throw out their best and worst seasons and they have pretty much gone 7-5 for 40 years in a row, right.
Prediction: 7-5
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