Pitt’s season opener against Miami (OH) will also serve as the first look at a wave of transfer additions who have already worked their way onto the depth chart.
The Panthers open at Acrisure Stadium with a familiar setup in one key respect: every returning starter from the 2025 roster kept his job in the first depth chart of the year. But alongside that continuity comes a long list of newcomers ready to step in right away.
That matters against a Miami (OH) team that has been a strong MAC program for the last few years and represents a tougher opener than Pitt’s last three season-opening opponents. The RedHawks are also dealing with a quarterback situation of their own, with Kansas transfer David McComb set to start because Thomas Gotkowski is injured. McComb has not taken a snap in his college career.
Pitt’s new faces are spread all over the roster, starting on defense. Purdue transfer Alex Sanford Jr. won the starting money linebacker job over returning player Cameron Lindsey, while Memphis transfer DeMarco Ward is listed as the backup star linebacker and could see the field as well. Senior Braylan Lovelace leads the rest of the linebacker group.
At cornerback, Auburn transfer Raion Strader claimed one of the two starting spots and will line up with returning player Shawn Lee Jr. The defensive line could also feature a pair of debutants, with Tulane transfer Eliyt Nairne and Illinois transfer Jeremiah Warren both listed as backups.
On offense, Pitt turned to the portal to stabilize a unit that was inconsistent at times last season. Penn transfer Netinho Olivieri won the starting job at left tackle, a notable rise from the Ivy League to the Power Four.
At wide receiver, Western Carolina transfer Malik Knight is one of two players listed for a starting spot. Pitt has had success with Western Carolina transfers before, and Knight now gets a chance to follow that path.
The tight end spot also features a newcomer in the first unit. Oklahoma transfer Carson Kent is the starter, with UAB transfer Elijah Lagg behind him. Kent caught three passes for 26 yards in his lone season with the Sooners, but he appeared in all 13 games, including the College Football Playoff game.
Behind returning sophomore running back Ja'Kyrian Turner is Western Kentucky transfer La'Vell Wright. Boosie Turner had a standout season for Pitt last year, but the Panthers are clearly looking to keep the workload balanced at a position that absorbs plenty of punishment.
Special teams will have a new look as well. Western Illinois kicker Antonio Chadha beat out NAU transfer Sam Hunsaker for the kicking job. Idaho State transfer Gabe Russo is the new punter, while Purdue transfer Justin Schmidt will handle long-snapping duties.
Pitt is also giving redshirt freshman Cam Sapp the returner role on both kickoffs and punts. The Panthers will wear their traditional gold-blue-gold combination for the opener, a look they used in every home game but one last season.
In Other News...
Pitt Opens With A Test That Could Reveal Plenty Fast
Pitts 2026 opener will offer an immediate look at where the Panthers stand, with Miami RedHawks coming to Acrisure Stadium for a 12:30 kickoff. The matchup has enough intrigue on its own because Chuck Martins program has been one of the MACs most reliable teams in recent seasons, a veteran opponent that should give Pitt a good early read on its own roster, tempo and readiness right out of the gate.
Miami enters with the kind of consistency that usually makes September games feel more meaningful than nonconference dates normally do. The RedHawks were picked near the top of the MAC preseason poll and have been a steady contender under Martin, which adds some real edge to an opener that will also have broadcast details and a full scouting backdrop attached to it. For Pitt, it is the sort of first game that can reveal a lot before the calendar even turns to the heart of the season. [Read more 🡒]