PITT HOSTS ACC FOE MIAMI HURRICANES IN HEINZ FIELD FINALE

Nov. 23, 2015

PITT (8-3, 6-1 ACC) vs. MIAMI (7-4, 4-3)
November 27, 2015 • Noon, ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
ESPN2 • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @GoPittFootball • #MIAvsPITT

LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (vs. Miami)

GAME STORYLINES

Pitt closes the regular season when it hosts ACC foe Miami on Friday for an ESPN2 national TV game at Heinz Field. Owning an 8-3 record, the Panthers are looking to further elevate their postseason prospects with a win over the Hurricanes.
A victory over Miami would give Pitt its ninth win, something it has not achieved in the regular season since 2009. The Panthers are also looking to break back into the nation's Top 25 after placing 27th in this week's AP poll and 30th in the coaches poll.
The Panthers' three losses this season are to a trio of highly ranked teams with a combined 31-2 record: No. 3 Iowa (11-0), No. 4 Notre Dame (10-1) and No. 11 North Carolina (10-1).
Under interim coach Larry Scott, Miami has won three of its past four games. The Hurricanes bring a 7-4 overall mark to Heinz Field following a 38-21 rout of Georgia Tech last week.
Pitt will counter Miami's potent air attack (283.8 yards per game) with one of the top pass rushes in the country. The Panthers average 3.36 sacks per contest to rank first in the ACC and fifth nationally. Defensive end Ejuan Price paces Pitt with an ACC-best 11.5 sacks. His average of 1.05 sacks per game ranks fourth in the nation.
A backup when the year began, Qadree Ollison has become only the fifth freshman in Pitt history to rush for 1,000 yards. Ollison has 1,011 yards and 10 TDs on the season and should be considered an ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
On the other side of the ball, freshman safety Jordan Whitehead is a strong Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in the ACC. In addition to leading Pitt in tackles (88), Whitehead has also been an offensive playmaker the past three games, averaging 7.9 yards per rush (10 for 79) with two touchdowns.

SERIES NOTES
This is the 35th meeting between Pitt and Miami in a series that dates back to 1950...it is the third Atlantic Coast Conference game between the two schools...the Panthers and Hurricanes meet annually as members of the ACC's Coastal Division...Miami leads the all-time series, 23-10-1...in 2014, the Panthers snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series with a 35-23 triumph at Sun Life Stadium...it was Pitt's first win over Miami since 1997 and the Panthers' first road win in the series since 1963...in 1997, the Panthers defeated the No. 21 Hurricanes, 21-17, at Pitt Stadium in front of a Thursday night ESPN television audience...prior to the ‘97 encounter, the Panthers had not defeated Miami since a 36-19 win in Pitt Stadium in 1976, the year Pitt stormed to a 12-0 record and the national title...the Panthers are 5-13 against Miami in games played in Pittsburgh and 5-10-1 on the road...Pitt is seeking back-to-back victories in the series for the first time since winning the 1970 and 1976 games.

SERIES IN BRIEF

Series Began: 1950

Series Overall: Miami leads 23-10-1

ACC Series: Series tied 1-1

At Pittsburgh: Miami leads 13-5

At Miami: Miami leads 10-5-1

At Neutral Sites: DNA

Last Meeting at Miami: Nov. 29, 2014 (Pitt 35, Miami 23)

Last Meeting at Pitt: Nov. 29, 2013 (Miami 41, Pitt 31)

Current Series Win Streak: Pitt has won 1 (2014)

Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (twice)

Longest Miami Series Win Streak: 8 games (twice)