Game Week: Panthers Host UCF for Second Time in School History

PITTSBURGH – Pitt continues its 137th season of football this Saturday against UCF. The Panthers and Knights will meet for the fourth time, with Pitt owning a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.

In their most recent meeting in 2019, the Panthers used the Pitt Special to earn a top-15 win over the Knights. On fourth down from the UCF three-yard line, wide receiver Aaron Matthews hit quarterback Kenny Pickett in the endzone for the go-ahead score with 56 seconds remaining.

Pitt enters this Saturday's contest following a 59-14 season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio) last week. The Panthers amassed an ACC-leading 646 yards of total offense, including a conference-best 480 passing yards, and averaged 8.61 yards per play against the RedHawks.

UCF Game Week Graphic

PITT vs. UCF

September 12, 2026 • 3:30 PM

Acrisure Stadium (51,416/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.

ESPN2 • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network

PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB

GAME STORYLINES

Quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 31 of 41 passes for 453 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions against Miami (Ohio). His seven touchdown passes tied Pitt's single-game record and established a new ACC single-game mark. His 453 passing yards were the third-most in a game by a Pitt quarterback.
Heintschel became the first FBS quarterback to pass for at least 450 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception since LSU's Joe Burrow in 2019. He led all ACC quarterbacks during Week 1 in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense per game, producing 476 total yards with 453 passing and 23 rushing.
Heintschel's seven touchdown passes went to seven different players. Based on available records dating to 1996, Pitt had never previously had six or more players catch a touchdown pass in the same game. The Panthers became the first FBS team with seven touchdown receivers in a game since Western Kentucky against Charlotte on Nov. 5, 2022.
Hicks, Lee and Knight led a balanced Pitt receiving corps against Miami (Ohio), combining for 15 receptions, 253 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Ja'Kyrian Turner produced 108 yards from scrimmage in the opener, rushing for 39 yards and catching four passes for 69 yards and a TD.
Pitt's defense carried its success against the run into the season opener, limiting Miami (Ohio) to 28 rushing yards on 21 attempts, an average of 1.3 yards per carry.
The Panthers held Miami (Ohio) to 289 total yards, 14 first downs and a 3-of-13 conversion rate on third down. Pitt surrendered only 15 yards and no first downs during the opening quarter while building a 21-0 lead, then shut out the RedHawks in the second half.
Kicker Antonio Chadha connected on a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the first half against Miami (Ohio), tying the Pitt record shared by Ben Sauls and Alex Kessman. Chadha also converted all seven of his extra-point attempts.
Pitt selected Heintschel, offensive lineman Ryan Baer, Lovelace and defensive back Cruce Brookinsas its captains for the 2026 season. Heintschel is believed to be Pitt's first true sophomore captain in the modern era; the program's other known sophomore captains, Alex Van Pelt, Lousaka Polite and Tyler Palko, were each redshirt sophomores.
The 2026 campaign marks Pat Narduzzi's 12th season as Pitt's head coach. Since his arrival in 2015, Narduzzi has directed the Panthers to 52 ACC victories, the third-highest total in the conference during that span. Only Clemson (75) and Miami (56) have more.

WHERE TO WATCH

National Television • ESPN2

Lowell Galindo (play-by-play)

Kirk Morrison (analyst)

Dawn Davenport (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 reporters)

OTHER BROADCAST INFORMATION

SiriusXM Satellite Radio

SiriusXM 121 or 236 and on the SiriusXM App

WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM

TICKET INFORMATION

Season tickets, mini-plans and single-game tickets for the 2026 Pitt football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting PittsburghPanthers.com.