Pitt Fans Just Got An Early Look At The Seasons Biggest Dates

Find out where and when to catch all the action as Pitt Men's Basketball reveals their 2026-27 schedule and broadcast partners.

Pitt men’s basketball now has its 2026-27 road map.

In conjunction with the ACC and ESPN, the Panthers announced game times and television designations for the upcoming season, with 28 of their 32 regular-season games set to appear on ESPN-owned platforms. That group includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, SEC Network and ACCNX. Pitt’s other games will air on CBS, FS1, FS2 and Peacock.

The schedule is heavy on home dates to start, and every one of Pitt’s four November games at Petersen Events Center is set for 7 p.m. The Panthers open Nov. 2 against Rider, then host Buffalo on Nov.

5, Villanova on Nov. 17 and Central Michigan on Nov. 20.

The Villanova game will be shown on ACC Network.

Pitt’s early nonconference slate also includes a pair of notable road and neutral-site matchups. The Panthers visit Penn State on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 at The Palestra in Philadelphia, then head to Butler on Nov. 13 for a 6:30 p.m. tip on Peacock. Later in the month, Pitt plays in the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off, meeting Oklahoma on Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. on FS2 and DePaul on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. on FS1.

December begins with the ACC/SEC Challenge at Missouri. Pitt will play there on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. on SEC Network.

After that, the Panthers return home for Tarleton State on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m., then take on West Virginia in the Hope Gas Backyard Basketball Classic at PPG Paints Arena on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. The nonconference schedule wraps with three straight home games against Drexel on Dec.

15, Georgia State on Dec. 18 and Cleveland State on Dec. 21, all at 7 p.m.

ACC play starts Jan. 2 with Miami visiting Pittsburgh for a 2 p.m. game on ESPN or ESPN2. From there, Pitt goes to NC State on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU, plays at Duke on Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. on CBS, then comes back to host Syracuse on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU and Clemson on Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2. The Panthers then travel to Notre Dame on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU, host Boston College on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network, welcome Virginia Tech on Jan. 27 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU, and close the month at Florida State on Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. on ACC Network.

February brings three home games at Petersen Events Center: Virginia on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network, California on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network and Georgia Tech on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Pitt’s road trips that month include Louisville on Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2, Wake Forest on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. on ACC Network, Syracuse on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. on ACC Network and Miami on Feb. 27 on ESPN or ESPN2.

The regular season finishes with North Carolina at home on March 2 at 9 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2, followed by a trip to SMU on March 6 at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

Season ticket renewals for 2026-27 are now available. Pitt said fans can renew by signing into their account, clicking “Season Ticket Renewals” and selecting “2026-27 Men's Basketball Season Ticket Application.” The Dec. 9 game against West Virginia at PPG Paints Arena will be included in all season ticket purchases.

In Other News...

Pitt's Post-Heintschel Test Just Got Real Against Belichick

Pitts offense is about to find out what life looks like without Mason Heintschel for a full game, and the timing could hardly be tougher. The Panthers visit North Carolina on Oct. 10 in what will be their first full test since the quarterback went down, and fifth-year transfer Holden Geriner is set to make his first career start after helping spark a recent win over Virginia Tech.

North Carolinas defense, now coached by Bill Belichick, adds another layer to a pretty significant early-season checkpoint for Pitt. The Panthers have already shown they can navigate adversity, but this matchup will say a lot more about how the offense functions when the ball is in Geriners hands from the opening snap rather than in relief. [Read more 🡒]

CJ Bailey Just Entered A Bigger ACC Conversation

Week 5 across the ACC turned into a reminder of how quickly the quarterback picture can change, and Pitt was right in the middle of it. Mason Heintschels emergence had helped shape the conversation around the league early in the season, but the Panthers also watched the wider conference carousel spin after injuries and shakeups forced teams to adjust on the fly. Syracuses Amari Odom stepped in for Steve Angeli and helped deliver an overtime win, while other quarterbacks around the league, including Lincoln Kienholz, Gio Lopez and Ashton Daniels, also made their mark.

For Pitt, the bigger ripple may be how the ACC pecking order looks now that another young passer has pushed himself into the discussion. CJ Baileys performance adds another layer to a Week 6 slate that already has several quarterback matchups worth watching closely. With so many teams still sorting out their answer under center, the leagues early-season story is becoming less about settled depth charts and more about who can seize control when the spotlight gets brighter. [Read more 🡒]

Jeremiah Smith Just Drew A Wild Comparison Ohio State Fans Will Debate

Jeremiah Smiths rise at Ohio State has already turned him into one of the most talked-about players in the sport, and the latest buzz around him only adds to the noise. The freshman has put together a strong season and drawn rave reviews from football voices who have been willing to put his talent in lofty company, a sign of just how quickly he has forced his way into the national conversation.

LeSean McCoy took that conversation into even wilder territory, praising Smith in terms that will surely keep fans arguing long after the comments settle in. For a player still building his college rsum, being mentioned alongside the best receivers in the game is one thing, but the debate now is how far those comparisons should go and whether Smith is already ahead of the curve in a way that even seasoned observers did not expect. [Read more 🡒]