University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Football faces road test in ACC foe Miami this Saturday
10/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITT (5-3, 2-2 ACC) vs. MIAMI (4-4, 1-3 ACC)
November 5, 2016 • 12:30 p.m., ET
Hard Rock Stadium (65,285/Natural Grass) • Miami Gardens, Fla.
ACC Network (WTAE-TV) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB • #PITTvsMIAMI
LINK: Television Affiliates for Pitt-Miami
LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (vs. Miami)
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt eyes a sixth win on the season and bowl eligibility when it visits Miami on Saturday. Both teams are coming off narrow defeats. The Panthers lost 39-36 to nationally ranked Virginia Tech, while the Hurricanes fell on a late field goal at Notre Dame, 30-27.
- The Panthers' three losses have been by a combined 11 points (3.7 points per game). Each of Pitt's defeats have been to teams currently ranked in the Top 25: No. 18/17 North Carolina, No. 22 Oklahoma State and No. 23/21 Virginia Tech.
- Pitt averages 38.1 points per game to rank as the ACC's second highest scoring offense. Pitt has scored at least 36 points in seven consecutive games, the longest active streak among FBS teams.
- Pitt's high-scoring offense will be challenged by a Miami defense that yields just 18.9 points per game (third in ACC, 16th in FBS). The Hurricanes have held six of their eight opponents to 21 points or less this season.
- Ejuan Price is making a strong case for All-America and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The senior defensive end ranks first in the nation in tackles for loss (2.0 per game) and second in sacks (1.13 per game).
- Half of Ejuan Price's 32 tackles this season have been behind the line of scrimmage. He has 16 TFLs, nine quarterback sacks and three forced fumbles, staking a claim as college football's most disruptive defensive lineman.
- Junior running back James Conner continues to amaze in his comeback season. Conner rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia Tech's stingy defense. It was perhaps his strongest game to date after overcoming a knee injury and cancer during the past 12 months.
- James Conner has scored 12 total touchdowns this season, second only to Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson among ACC players.
SERIES NOTES
This is the 36th meeting between Pitt and Miami in a series that dates back to 1950...it is the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference game between the two schools...the Panthers and Hurricanes meet annually as members of the ACC's Coastal Division...Miami leads the all-time series, 24-10-1...the Panthers are 5-10-1 against the Hurricanes on the road and 5-14 in games played in Pittsburgh...last season, Miami defeated Pitt, 29-24, at Heinz Field...in 2014, Pitt snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series with a 35-23 triumph in Miami Gardens...it was Pitt's first win over Miami since 1997 and the Panthers' first road win in the series since 1963...in 1997, the Panthers defeated the No. 21 Hurricanes, 21-17, at Pitt Stadium in front of a Thursday night ESPN television audience...prior to the '97 encounter, the Panthers had not defeated Miami since a 36-19 win in Pitt Stadium in 1976, the year Pitt stormed to a 12-0 record and the national title.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1950
Series Overall: Miami leads 24-10-1
ACC Series: Miami leads 2-1
At Pittsburgh: Miami leads 14-5
At Miami: Miami leads 10-5-1
At Neutral Sites: DNA
Last Meeting: Nov. 27, 2015 (Miami 29, Pitt 24)
Last Meeting at Miami: Nov. 29, 2014 (Pitt 35, Miami 23)
Current Series Win Streak: Miami has won 1 (2015)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (twice)
Longest Miami Series Win Streak: 8 games (twice)
Largest Pitt Margin of Victory: 17 points (36-19, 1976)
Largest Miami Margin of Victory: 58 points (58-0, 1967)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ACC Network (WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh)
Evan Lepler, play-by-play
Takeo Spikes, analyst
Amanda Kuhl, reporter
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Bill Osborn, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Internet Channel 972
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
