Pitt Football Takes Center Stage At ACC Kickoff Friday

Get ready to dive into Pitt Football's journey as they take center stage at the ACC Football Kickoff, with exclusive live updates from key coaches and players.

Pitt football will be front and center at the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff on Friday, July 17, with head coach Pat Narduzzi joined in Charlotte by student-athletes Mason Heintschel, Braylan Lovelace and Ryan Baer as the Panthers wrap up the league’s annual preseason media event.

The ACC Football Kickoff runs as the conference’s main preseason showcase, bringing together all 17 head coaches and more than 50 student-athletes to preview the college football season ahead. ACC Network will carry live coverage across the three-day event, and ESPN platforms will add special programming along with live press conferences.

For Pitt, Friday’s schedule is packed from morning to afternoon. Narduzzi is set to appear live on SiriusXM College Sports Radio at 9:40 a.m.

ET, followed by Heintschel, Lovelace and Baer at 10:00 a.m. ET on the same platform.

The Panthers’ press conference comes at 11:00 a.m. ET and will feature Narduzzi, Heintschel, Lovelace and Baer streaming live on ACCNX.

Narduzzi then returns to ACC Network at 11:30 a.m. ET, with Baer scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

ET and Heintschel and Lovelace appearing together at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Fans can also keep up with the Panthers throughout the day on social media via @Pitt_FB and @Pitt_ATHLETICS, which will provide behind-the-scenes coverage, highlights and updates from Charlotte as Pitt continues preparing for the 2026 season.

ACC Network’s Day 3 coverage is set for Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, while the ACC Huddle: Kickoff Special airs Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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Pitt is headed to Charlotte for the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff with Pat Narduzzi and a small group of players set to help frame the conversation around what comes next. The spotlight figures to land on Mason Heintschel, who is moving into his second season as the starting quarterback, along with Ryan Baer and Braylan Lovelace, two pieces tied closely to the Panthers effort to stabilize and elevate the roster around him.

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