Pitt’s Oct. 10 meeting with North Carolina now has a start time, and the ACC has set it for noon.
That matchup gives the Panthers a chance to welcome the Tar Heels back to Pittsburgh for the first time since a 41-24 Pitt loss in 2023. The teams met again the next season in Chapel Hill, where Pitt left with a 34-24 win.
North Carolina comes into the game at 2-1 after beating TCU and ETSU and falling in a close one at Clemson. The Tar Heels’ date with Pitt will be only their second ACC game of the year, with Notre Dame coming to Chapel Hill on Oct. 3.
The Tar Heels had a rough 2025 season, finishing 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the ACC, but they have looked better so far this year. Their matchup with Notre Dame should provide another clearer read on where they stand.
Even with the uneven results, North Carolina has been hard to ignore. This will be Pitt’s first crack at the Tar Heels since they brought in Bill Belichick as head coach.
Pitt, meanwhile, has opened the season in strong shape, even if the path has been a little smoother. The Panthers are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in ACC play after a win over Syracuse and a comfortable victory against Bucknell.
Before the Tar Heels come to town, Pitt has a major test ahead. The Panthers head to Blacksburg on Oct. 2 to face Virginia Tech, their first road game of the season.
Virginia Tech is also 4-0 and has matched Pitt in the standings so far, with one ACC win and two wins over Power Four opponents, counting the conference victory. The Hokies have beaten Maryland and Boston College in their last two games, both away from home. Now they return to Blacksburg for a sellout crowd against Pitt.
ACC play is starting to sort itself out, but not by much. Miami looks like the league’s top team, while SMU and Louisville have already taken losses.
Miami, Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia Tech and Virginia are the only ACC teams still unbeaten in conference play. That changes after this weekend, with Pitt-Virginia Tech and Miami-Clemson set to hand two of those teams their first league loss.
In Other News...
Pitts Undefeated Start Faces A Real Test Against Virginia Tech
An unbeaten start has the Panthers in a spot they have earned but not yet fully tested, and Virginia Tech brings the kind of matchup that can quickly change the tone around a season. Both teams come in at 4-0, which means Saturdays meeting is less about building momentum and more about seeing which record was real all along. Pittsburgh has separated itself with a defense that stacks up well in the key numbers, and that edge figures to matter against a Hokies attack that has leaned on running back Jeffrey Overton Jr., who has been productive enough to force defenders to stay honest.
From Pittsburghs perspective, this is the first game on the schedule where the margin for error feels thin. The betting market has already turned the spotlight onto whether the Panthers can keep control of the line of scrimmage and protect their unbeaten status, and the answer may come down to whether their defense can keep Virginia Tech from turning the game into a grind. If Pittsburghs front and tackling hold up, the Panthers could leave with a statement win. If not, the perfect start suddenly looks a lot more fragile. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt May Have Found Another Young Receiver It Cannot Ignore
Demetrice McCray gave Pitt another reason to keep looking down its depth chart after the freshman receiver turned a lopsided win over Bucknell into a breakout moment. He finished with 73 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers 59-0 rout, and the performance was enough to earn ACC Rookie of the Week honors, Pitts second such award already this season.
Pat Narduzzi singled out McCrays speed and his ability to win contested catches, two traits that can make a young receiver hard to keep off the field. For a Pitt offense still sorting out which young players can help right away, McCrays rise adds another intriguing name to watch as the Panthers move deeper into conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Freshman Wideout Just Gave Panthers Fans A Reason To Watch Friday
Demetrice McCray gave Pitt a fresh spark in the easiest kind of showcase, and the freshman wide receiver earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors after making the most of a 59-0 win over Bucknell. He finished with three catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns, a line that stood out even in a lopsided result and hinted at why the Panthers have reason to keep watching his role grow.
McCray also made a little program history, becoming the first Pitt freshman wide receiver since 2013 to post a multi-touchdown game. The timing matters, too, with Virginia Tech next on a Friday night stage that should offer a far clearer test of how much of this early production can travel when the competition ramps up. [Read more 🡒]