Game Week: Pitt Returns Home for Key Coastal Clash with Duke

Game Notes (PDF): Pitt vs. Duke

PITT (3-4, 2-1 ACC) vs. DUKE (5-2, 1-2 ACC)
October 27, 2018 • 3:30 p.m., ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
RSN (AT&T SportsNet) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network

Game Storylines
• Pitt opens the final stretch of the 2018 season by hosting Duke for a crucial ACC Coastal Division encounter. The Panthers are 2-1 in ACC play and looking to keep pace with Virginia Tech, which enters the week atop the Coastal at 3-0. Pitt finishes the season with five consecutive ACC games.

• Duke also remains a viable contender in the Coastal race despite last week's 28-14 setback to Virginia. The Blue Devils are 5-2 overall and 1-2 in ACC play. Duke has gone bowling five of the past six years under David Cutcliffe.

• Since 2013, the Panthers own a 4-1 series advantage over Duke in ACC play. (Pitt leads the overall series, 13-9.) Three of the five ACC games have been decided by single digits, including Pitt's 24-17 victory in Durham last year.

• The Blue Devils' last win in the series occurred in 2014, a 51-48 double-overtime triumph at Heinz Field that came despite a 263-yard rushing day by the Panthers' James Conner.

• With 646 total rushing yards this season, Qadree Ollison ranks third among ACC ball carriers. (His average of 92.3 yards per game ranks second.) Ollison is striving to become only the sixth player in Pitt history to achieve multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

• The Panthers boast one of college football's most dangerous return men in junior Maurice Ffrench. Named a "Midseason All-American" by multiple outlets, Ffrench is tied for the national lead with two kickoff return touchdowns.

• Maurice Ffrench also ranks second nationally (first in the ACC) with a 33.8-yard kickoff return average. Duke is yielding just 17.82 yards per kickoff return, the third lowest in the ACC.

• During the Pat Narduzzi era (since 2015), Pitt ranks second nationally and first among ACC teams in total kick return touchdowns with 12 (seven on kickoffs and five via punt).

Series in Brief
Series Began: 1929
Series Overall: Pitt leads 13-9
ACC Series: Pitt leads 4-1
At Pittsburgh: Series tied 5-5
At Duke: Pitt leads 7-4
At Neutral Sites: Pitt leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2017 (Pitt 24, Duke 17)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Nov. 19, 2016 (Pitt 56, Duke 14)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 3 (2015-17)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 4 (1969, 1975-76, 2013)
Longest Duke Series Win Streak: 5 (1940-42, 1950-51)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 45 points (52-7, 1929)
Largest Duke Victory Margin: 28 points (28-0, 1942)

Broadcast Information
Television • RSN (AT&T SportsNet in Pittsburgh)
Wes Durham (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst), Rebecca Kaple (reporter)

Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Larry Richert (reporter)

SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 98, XM Channel 193, Internet Channel 955

WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM

Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com
Pitt Panthers Gameday App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)

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Game Week: Pitt Returns Home for Key Coastal Clash with Duke

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Players Mentioned

James Conner

Maurice Ffrench

Qadree Ollison