Game Week: Pitt Faces No. 21 North Carolina in Primetime

PITT (4-3, 1-2 ACC) at #21/21 NORTH CAROLINA (6-1, 3-0 ACC)
October 29, 2022 • 8 p.m. (ET)
Kenan Stadium (50,500/Synthetic Grass) • Chapel Hill, N.C.
ACC Network • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network

Game Storylines
• Pitt visits Chapel Hill for a key Coastal Division encounter against nationally ranked North Carolina. The Tar Heels are atop the Coastal with a 3-0 mark.

• Pitt has defeated at least one Top 25 team in each of the past six seasons under Coach Pat Narduzzi.

• Pitt has won two consecutive games against North Carolina. Each of those contests were played in Pittsburgh and went to overtime.

• Narrow margins have ruled this series. Twelve of the 15 games have been decided by single digits. The average margin of victory over the past 10 games is a mere 4.5 points.

• Pitt is winless in six all-time visits to UNC, most recently dropping a 38-35 decision in 2018, when the Panthers won their first Coastal title.

• Pitt is 7-1 over its last eight road contests dating back to the 2020 season. The Panthers' setback at Louisville last week snapped a seven-game road winning streak, their longest since 1980-82.

• Israel Abanikanda has established himself as a highly viable candidate for the Doak Walker Award and ACC Player of the Year.

• Abanikanda leads the entire country with an average of 185.14 all-purpose yards per contest.

• He additionally paces the nation in rushing touchdowns (13), total TDs (14) and total points (84).

• Since 2015, Pat Narduzzi has directed Pitt to 37 victories in ACC play, the third-highest win total during that span. The Panthers trail only Clemson (58) and Miami (38).

Series in Brief
Series Began: 1974
Series Overall: UNC leads 10-5
ACC Series: UNC leads 6-2
At Pittsburgh: Series tied 4-4
At UNC: UNC leads 6-0
At Neutral Sites: Pitt leads 1-0
Last Meeting at Pitt: Nov. 11, 2021 (Pitt 30, UNC 23 in OT)
Last Meeting at UNC: Sept. 22, 2018 (UNC 38, Pitt 35)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 2 (2019, 2021)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (2019, 2021)
Longest UNC Series Win Streak: 6 games (2013-18)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 7 points (twice)
Largest UNC Victory Margin: 19 points (29-10, 1998)

Coaching Matchup
Pitt's Chris Bickell '97 Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 57-40 (eighth)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. UNC: 2-4

North Carolina Coach Mack Brown
Overall (season): 271-140-1 (34th)
At UNC (season): 96-64-1 (14th)
Alma Mater: Florida State, 1974
Record vs. Pitt: 0-2

Broadcast Information
Television • ACC Network
Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), Kelsey Riggs (reporter)

Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & Pitt Panthers Radio Network
Jeff Hathhorn (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)

SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM Channel 134 or 194, SXM App Channel 956

WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM

Online Audio
937thefan.radio.com

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Game Week: Pitt Faces No. 21 North Carolina in Primetime

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Players Mentioned

Israel Abanikanda