It’s been an up-and-down season for ACC football which is an upgrade over previous seasons. We’ll talk more about that later. The conference did end up with a winning bowl record (5-4) for the first time since 2018, and it was clinched by the Pittsburgh Panthers in an improbable win against one best teams an ACC school defeated this year.
UCLA came into the game ranked #18 in the country with a 9-3 record and had defeated top 15 teams Utah and Washington.
Pittsburgh entered the contest with 5 starters out, and going with backup QB Nick Patti.
When Patti threw a pick 6 with just under 9 minutes left in the 3rd quarter to trail 28-14, it appeared as if Pitt was done.
The Panther’s defense though rose up and started turning UCLA over as Pitt took a 34-28 lead.
UCLA did take the lead in the final minute, and Pitt was left with under 35 seconds to drive for a game winning FG. That’s what QB Nick Patti did as Ben Sauls hit a 47 yarder to seal the win and a 9 win season for Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers.
In the past Pitt would have lost this game, especially after the opts outs, certainly after the pick 6, then definitly after making a comeback then falling behind again. That didn’t happen.
Pat Narduzzi arguably may have done a better job this year after losing NFL QB Kenny Pickett and WR Jordan Addison than last year when Pitt won the ACC.
The program that could win or lose to anyone they played now suddenly has won 20 games the last two seasons. Only one ACC team – Clemson has won more the last 2 years. It was Pitt’s best back to back seasons since the early 1980s.
Like they did against UCLA, Pittsburgh came back this season. After a 4-4 start they won their final 5 games to quietly finish as the ACC’s second hottest team after Florida State.
If you aren’t paying attention to what’s happening with Pitt football you should be.
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