University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Virginia Tech
Game Week: Panthers Face First Road Test at Virginia Tech
9/28/2026 11:55:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH – Pitt (4-0, 1-0 ACC) opens its road schedule at Virginia Tech (4-0, 1-0 ACC) this Friday night at 7 PM on ESPN.
The Panthers and Hokies join Duke and Miami as the conference's four remaining unbeaten teams.
Pitt and Virginia Tech meet for the 24th time in a series that dates to 1993. Pitt leads 6-5 in ACC meetings and has won three of the past four matchups. The Panthers' most recent victory at Lane Stadium was a 28-7 decision in 2021.
Pitt enters the game following a 59-0 victory over Bucknell that featured school records for total offense (766 yards), passing yards (574) and touchdown passes (eight). The eight touchdown passes also tied the ACC team record.
PITT at VIRGINIA TECH
October 2, 2026 • 7 PM
Lane Stadium (65,632/Natural Grass) • Blacksburg, Va.
ESPN • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB
GAME STORYLINES
- Sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel threw for 403 yards and six touchdowns without an interception against Bucknell. He became the first quarterback in ACC history to throw at least six touchdown passes in multiple games in a season and the first FBS player to accomplish the feat since 2021.
- Heintschel has completed 88-of-130 passes (67.7%) for 1,191 yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception. He ranks second in the ACC in touchdown passes, third in passing yards per game (297.8) and fourth in passing efficiency (176.11).
- Pitt's receiving depth was on display against Bucknell, with 13 Panthers catching passes and five scoring touchdowns. Censere Lee caught a career-high three touchdown passes, while Demetrice McCray became Pitt's first freshman with multiple touchdown receptions in a game since Tyler Boyd in 2013.
- True freshman Damon Ferguson Jr. leads Pitt with 239 rushing yards and 312 all-purpose yards. The Panthers enter their road opener averaging 176.5 rushing yards and 347.3 passing yards per game, ranking third in the ACC in total offense at 523.8 yards per contest.
- Friday's matchup pairs Pitt's ACC-leading scoring defense (8.5 points per game) with Virginia Tech's offense, which ranks second in the conference in scoring (43.3). The Panthers have held every opponent to 14 points or fewer and have not allowed a point in either the first or third quarter.
- Pitt ranks second in the ACC in total defense (244.5 yards per game) and rushing defense (53.3). The Panthers limited Bucknell to 136 total yards—the fourth-lowest opponent total under Pat Narduzzi—in recording their first shutout since 2020.
- Narduzzi owns an 84-61 overall record and a 53-38 mark in ACC play. Friday will mark his school-record 146th game as Pitt's head coach and a return to the site of his first ACC victory, a 17-13 win at Virginia Tech in 2015.
- Pitt has won four consecutive road games, scoring at least 30 points in each while sweeping its 2025 trips to Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford and Georgia Tech. Scoring 30 points at Virginia Tech would give the Panthers five consecutive road games reaching that mark for the first time since a six-game stretch spanning 1976-77.
- The Panthers have won four consecutive Friday games and own a 4-1 Friday record under Narduzzi, including a 2-0 mark on the road. Pitt's most recent Friday appearance was a 37-35 victory over UCLA in the 2022 Sun Bowl.
- Kicker Antonio Chadha remains perfect on the season, converting all five field-goal attempts and all 18 extra-point attempts. He has made a field goal in every game, and his Pitt-record-tying 58-yarder against Miami (Ohio) remains the longest by an ACC player this season.
WHERE TO WATCH
National Television • ESPN
Mike Monaco (play-by-play)
Jordan Rodgers (analyst)
Dana Boyle (sideline reporter)
TUNE IN TO THE PANTHERS RADIO NETWORK
93.7 The Fan & Pitt Radio Network (937thefan.radio.com)
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
Pat Bostick (analyst)
Dorin Dickerson (sideline reporter)
OTHER BROADCAST INFORMATION
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM 169 and on the SiriusXM App
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Game Week Media Sessions
Head Coach Pat Narduzzi - Monday, September 28
