Football hosts Orange in Heinz Field finale
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITT (7-4, 4-3 ACC) vs. SYRACUSE (4-7, 2-5 ACC)
November 26, 2016 • 12:30 p.m., ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
ACC Network (WTAE-TV) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB • #CUSEvsPITT
LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (vs. Syracuse)
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt closes the regular season by hosting longtime rival Syracuse at Heinz Field. The Panthers are looking for a third consecutive win after defeating Clemson (43-42) and Duke (56-14) the past two weeks.
- A win over the Orange would give Pitt eight regular-season wins for the second consecutive year, something the Panthers have not achieved since 2008-09. An eighth victory would also bolster Pitt's postseason résumé.
- The Panthers have victories over two teams ranked in the Top 10 of this week's polls: No. 4/3 Clemson (43-42) and No. 8/8 Penn State (42-39). Pitt was edged by Oklahoma State, No. 10 in both polls this week, 45-38.
- Pitt and Syracuse have played every year since 1955, when both schools were independents. Pitt has won 12 of the past 14 games in the series but tight games have been the rule. Three of the last four games have been decided by three points or less.
- James Conner, who overcame both a knee injury and Hodgkin lymphoma during the past 12 months, continues to amaze in his comeback season. Conner needs just 55 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season. Through 11 games, he has 945 yards on 189 carries (5.0 avg.).
- Running for two scores in Pitt's victory over Duke, James Conner is the ACC's newly minted career record holder for rushing touchdowns (50) and total touchdowns (53).
- The Panthers boast the nation's No. 4 defense against the run. Pitt is limiting opponents to just 98.1 yards on the ground.
- More than half of Ejuan Price's 36 tackles this season have been for a loss. The senior defensive end has compiled 19 TFLs and 11 sacks on the year.
- The Syracuse game will mark the final Heinz Field appearance for 19 Pitt seniors.
SERIES NOTES
Pitt and Syracuse have met every year since 1955…Pitt holds a 37-31-3 advantage in the all-time series, which began in 1916...the Panthers have won 10 of the past 11 games against the Orange and 12 of the past 14...Pitt won last year in the Carrier Dome, 23-20, on a 25-yard Chris Blewitt field goal as time expired...in the last game played at Heinz Field, the Panthers routed the Orange, 30-7, in 2014...Syracuse's last win in the series was in 2012, a 14-13 decision in the Dome, which snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Panthers...the 2012 encounter marked the final Big East game between the two schools...Pitt and Syracuse met 20 times as Big East members from 1993-2012 and the Orange owned an 11-9 edge in those contests...Pitt has won all three ACC meetings (2013-15)...since 1972 (44 seasons), 19 games have been decided by single digits (excluding a 20-20 tie in 1990)...the teams have played two double-overtime games and Syracuse won both (24-17 in 2000 and 38-31 in 2004)...both overtime contests were played in the Carrier Dome...Pitt is 21-11 against Syracuse in Pittsburgh...that record includes a 6-1 mark at Heinz Field...the Orange's only victory at Heinz came in the stadium's inaugural season, a 42-10 decision in 2001...the Orange hold an 18-16-3 advantage in games played in Syracuse...the Orange is also 2-0 against Pitt in neutral site games (the last coming at Shea Stadium in 1965)...Pitt is 8-10-1 all-time in the Carrier Dome, which opened in 1980...however, the Panthers have won six times in their last eight visits to the Dome.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1916
Series Overall: Pitt leads 37-31-3
ACC Series: Pitt leads 3-0
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 21-11
At Syracuse: SU leads 18-16-3
At Neutral Sites: SU leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 24, 2015 (Pitt 23, Syracuse 20)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Nov. 22, 2014 (Pitt 30, Syracuse 7)
Current Series Win Streak: Pitt has won three (2013-15)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 11 games (1973-83)
Longest SU Series Win Streak: 11 games (1991-2001)
Largest Pitt Margin of Victory: 38 points (38-0, 1975)
Largest SU Margin of Victory: 48 points (55-7, 1996)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ACC Network (WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh)
Tom Werme, play-by-play
Dave Archer, analyst
Roddy Jones, reporter
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Bill Osborn, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 118, Internet Channel 956
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
