Entering Pat Narduzzi’s first season as the Pitt Panthers head coach, no one really knows what to expect.
If Narduzzi can find a way to sure up the defense and the offense does what it is capable of, then Pitt very well could be a surprise in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
One thing that very well could help out the Panthers cause is a schedule that could be relatively soft, at least on paper.
The first AP Poll was released on Sunday with defending champion Ohio State a unanimous choice for the top team in the nation. The Buckeyes were followed by TCU, Alabama, Baylor and Narduzzi’s former school Michigan State.
The ACC was well represented in the initial AP Poll with six schools, plus Notre Dame, getting votes for the Top 25.
Four schools, No. 10 Florida State, No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 12 Clemson and No. 16 Georgia Tech, cracked the Top 25, while three other were in the others receiving votes category. Those schools were Virginia Tech, Louisville and North Carolina State.
While the Panthers didn’t receive any votes, that could change during the season if they take care of business on the field.
Their schedule could help them out.
Pitt plays only two ranked schools-Notre Dames and Georgia Tech- and also has only two other games against teams that received votes, Virginia Tech and Louisville.
I’m not a big fan of preseason polls, but judging by popular opinion in the media, the Panthers shouldn’t have the toughest go of it in 2015.
But that is only paper and Pitt has to go out and win football games.
That is something that has been easier said than done in the past, but we will find out shortly if things will be different under Narduzzi.
The opportunity certainly will be there to try and turn things around.
Photo Credit: Associated Press
