Why Pat Narduzzi Believes the Notre Dame Clash Could Defy All Expectations for the Panthers

Pat Narduzzi just dropped a bomb on the buzz surrounding Pittsburgh’s upcoming face-off against Notre Dame—and it’s not your usual coach-speak. While everyone and their dog is calling Saturday’s game a must-win, Narduzzi? He’s outright chucking that notion out the window, practically daring the Irish to run up the score—as long as his Panthers nail the ACC games that actually count. It’s a bold stance, especially given Pitt’s rough history against Notre Dame the past few seasons. But here’s the kicker: the Panthers aren’t chasing hype; they’re chasing an ACC title and that golden ticket to the College Football Playoff. Is it controversial? Sure. Brilliant? Maybe. One thing’s for certain—you won’t find the Panthers sweating Notre Dame like the rest of us expect. Curious why Narduzzi’s laser focus is set elsewhere? LEARN MORE.

Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi raised eyebrows with a shocking take on Saturday’s Notre Dame showdown. While fans and media call it a must-win, Narduzzi dismissed that narrative entirely, prioritizing ACC games over the high-profile matchup.

During his Monday press conference, when asked if the No. 10 Notre Dame game was critical for the Panthers, Narduzzi gave a honest answer.

“Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game. I’m glad you brought that up. It’s not an ACC game. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110-10 in that game. They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that,” Narduzzi said, as per Tyler Horka of On3.

The Panthers sit 7-2 overall with a 5-1 ACC record, tied for the conference lead. After Saturday’s Notre Dame clash, Pitt faces two crucial ACC games: a road trip to Georgia Tech on November 22 and a home finale against Miami.

Can an ACC title guarantee a playoff spot?

Winning both conference games would secure a spot in the ACC Championship Game. More importantly, winning that title would give Pitt an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.

Currently, five ACC teams have just one conference loss, making the race extremely tight. Pitt’s only ACC loss came against Louisville, a team with two conference losses, putting the Panthers in a solid position.

An ACC championship is a guaranteed playoff ticket. Beating Notre Dame might boost Pitt’s resume, but an at-large CFP bid remains a long shot at No. 23 in the rankings.

Narduzzi’s “103 or 110-10” comment wasn’t random. Notre Dame has outscored Pitt 103-10 in their last two meetings, including a 58-7 thrashing in 2023 and a 45-3 beatdown in 2020. Narduzzi is 0-4 against the Irish since arriving at Pitt.

While Narduzzi would love to beat Notre Dame and finally gain confidence, his eyes are locked on the prize that actually matters: an ACC title and the playoff spot that comes with it.

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