Pitt
North Carolina
Game Week: Pitt Kicks Off Conference Play at Chapel Hill
9/30/2024 11:55:00 AM | Football
PITT vs. NORTH CAROLINA
October 5, 2024 • Noon
Kenan Stadium (50,500/Synthetic Grass) • Chapel Hill, N.C.
ESPN2 • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt is 4-0 for the first time since 2000. A win at North Carolina would give the Panthers their first 5-0 start since 1991.
- A win over the Tar Heels would also boost Pitt's Top 25 credentials. The Panthers placed No. 27 in this week's US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 28 in the Associated Press Poll.
- Through their opening four contests, the Panthers are averaging 48.5 points to rank fifth nationally.
- Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein has established himself as an early leader for ACC Rookie of the Year accolades.
- A four-time ACC Rookie of the Week, Holstein has completed 67% of his passes for 1,186 yards and 12 TDs with two INTs. He is Pitt's second-leading rusher with 189 yards.
- Running back Desmond Reid, an All-American at Western Carolina last year, leads Pitt in rushing yards (319), all-purpose yards (564) and total touchdowns (five).
- Reid ranks second nationally and first in the ACC with an average of 188.0 all-purpose yards per game.
- Kicker Ben Sauls is perfect on 29 placements (7-7 FG, 22-22 PAT) for a team-high 43 points.
- Narrow margins have largely ruled the Pitt-North Carolina series. Twelve of the 17 games have been decided by single digits.
- The average margin of victory over the course of the series is 7.4 points.
- Pitt is winless in seven all-time visits to Chapel Hill, most recently dropping a 42-24 decision in 2022.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1974
Series Overall: UNC leads 12-5
ACC Series: UNC leads 8-2
At Pittsburgh: UNC leads 5-4
At UNC: UNC leads 7-0
At Neutral Sites: Pitt leads 1-0
Last Meeting (at Pitt): Sept. 23, 2023 (UNC 41, Pitt 24)
Last Meeting at UNC: Oct. 29, 2022 (UNC 42, Pitt 24)
Current Series Streak: UNC has won 2 (2022-23)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak:2 games (2019, 2021)
Longest UNC Series Win Streak: 6 games (2013-18)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin:7 points (twice)
Largest UNC Victory Margin: 19 points (29-10, 1998)
COACHING MATCHUP
Pitt Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 69-50 (10th)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. UNC: 2-6
North Carolina Coach Mack Brown
Overall (season): 285-151-1 (36th)
At UNC (season): 110-75-1 (16th)
Alma Mater: Florida State, 1974
Record vs. Pitt: 2-2
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ESPN2
Roy Philpott (play-by-play)
Sam Acho (analyst)
Taylor Davis (reporter)
93.7 The Fan & Pitt Radio Network (937thefan.radio.com)
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
Pat Bostick (analyst)
Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM 381 and on the SiriusXM App
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
Head Coach Pat Narduzzi - Monday, September 30
Assistant Head Coach, Secondary/Safeties Coach Cory Sanders - Tuesday, October 1
Offensive Line Coach Jeremy Darveau - Tuesday, October 1
#11 WR Censere Lee - Tuesday, October 1
#31 LB Rasheem Biles - Tuesday, October 1
#12 DB Cruce Brookins - Tuesday, October 1
#56 OL Lyndon Cooper - Tuesday, October 1
