Game Week: Pitt Hosts No. 14 Louisville for Homecoming

PITT (1-4, 0-2 ACC) vs. #14/15 LOUISVILLE (6-0, 3-0 ACC)
October 14, 2023 • 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Acrisure Stadium (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
The CW (WPNT-TV, Channel 22) • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Radio Network

Pitt FB 23 Louisville Game Week

Game Storylines

• The Panthers return to action by hosting undefeated Louisville, which shares the ACC lead (with Florida State) with a 3-0 conference mark.

• Pitt has won six of its past eight encounters with Louisville. The Panthers, however, dropped a 24-10 decision to the host Cardinals last season.

• Since 2015, Pat Narduzzi has directed Pitt to 41 victories in ACC play, the second-highest win total during that span. Pitt trails only Clemson (62).

• Pitt is one of just six teams that will play 11 "Power Conference" opponents in 2023, joining Colorado, Louisville, Purdue, Utah and West Virginia.

• Pitt's remaining seven opponents have a combined record of 30-10, a winning percentage of .750. In this week's Top 25 polls, no fewer than five Pitt opponents are ranked.

• Pitt has defeated at least one Top 25 team in each of the past seven seasons (2016-22) under Pat Narduzzi.

• Pitt is surrendering 301.6 yards per contest, ranking 20th nationally and fourth in the ACC in total defense.

• The Panthers will be challenged by a Louisville offense that averages 467.3 yards, which ranks 20th nationally and third in the ACC.

• Defensive end Bam Brima has an ACC-high (tied) two fumble recoveries, which ranks third among all FBS players.

• Freshman linebacker Rasheem Biles is tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks.

• Freshman Kenny Johnson is averaging 35.5 yards per kickoff return, the third-highest average among all FBS players and second in the ACC.

Series in Brief

Series Began: 1976
Series Overall: Pitt leads 10-9
ACC Series: Pitt leads 2-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 7-5
At Louisville: UL leads 4-3
At Neutral Sites: DNA
Last Meeting (at Louisville): Oct. 22, 2022 (UL 24, Pitt 10)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Sept. 26, 2020 (Pitt 23, UL 20)
Current Series Streak: UL has won 1 (2022)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 4 games (twice: 1976-83; 2008-11)
Longest UL Series Win Streak: 7 games (1990-2007)
Largest Pitt Margin of Victory: 49 points (63-14, 1982)
Largest UL Margin of Victory: 24 points (48-24, 2006)

Coaching Matchup

Pitt's Chris Bickell '97 Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 63-45 (ninth)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. Louisville: 2-1

Louisville Coach Jeff Brohm
Overall (season): 72-44 (10th)
At Louisville (season): 6-0 (first)
Alma Mater: Louisville, 1994
Record vs. Pitt: 0-0

Broadcast Information

Television • The CW (WPNT-TV, Channel 22 in Pittsburgh)
Tom Werme (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst), Treavor Scales (reporter)

93.7 The Fan & Pitt Radio Network (937thefan.radio.com)
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)

SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM channels 146 or 205 and on the SiriusXM App

WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM

Game Week Media Sessions

Head Coach Pat Narduzzi - Monday, October 9

Offensive Line Coach Dave Borbely - Tuesday, October 10

Defensive Coordinator Randy Bates - Tuesday, October 10

LB #35 Braylan Lovelace - Tuesday, October 10

OL #78 Branson Taylor - Wednesday, October 11

LB #23 Solomon DeShields - Wednesday, October 11

QB #11 Christian Veilleux - Wednesday, October 11

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