Pitt Football Unveils A Challenging 2016 Schedule
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - The Pitt football team will have one tough road ahead of them in 2016 as the schedule for next year was just released.
The biggest highlight of the schedule was already known, a home meeting with Penn State on Sept. 10 that is the first time the rivals will have met since they played during the 2000 season, a game the Panthers won 12-0.
The Panthers will play a total of seven home games this year.
Their biggest test of the season though will likely come on the road though as they head to Clemson to take on the defending ACC Champion and 2015 national runner-up.
All but one game will be played on a Saturday this year except for a Thursday night Coastal Division matchup at Heinz Field when the Panthers take on Virginia Tech on Oct. 27.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi and Athletic Director Scott Barnes released statements through a university press release on the schedule.
"As a competitor, you want to be challenged by playing the best," Narduzzi said. "Our 2016 opponents will certainly present us with that opportunity. Whether you are a Pitt player, coach or fan, you can't help but be fired up when looking at this schedule. It definitely provides our team with a ton of focus and motivation as we prepare for the upcoming fall."
"Even prior to today's schedule announcement, we've had tremendous activity in our ticket office in anticipation of the 2016 season," Athletic Director Scott Barnes said. "Fans are energized by what is happening with Pitt football under Coach Narduzzi's leadership. We're very encouraged by the response from not only our current season-ticket holders but also the new interest we've received.
"Our 2016 schedule has a great mix of traditional rivalries and compelling new opponents. We're pleased that we get to play four of our first six games at home before mid-October. It is really going to be a fun fall at Heinz Field this year."
The full schedule is as follows:
September 3 vs Villanova
September 10 vs Penn State
September 17 at Oklahoma State
September 24 at North Carolina
October 1 vs Marshall
October 8 vs Georgia Tech
October 15 at Virginia
October 27 vs Virginia Tech
November 5 at Miami
November 12 at Clemson
November 19 vs Duke
November 26 vs Syracuse
Start times for the games will be announced at a later date.
The Starkey and Mueller Show was on the air on 93.7 The FAN when the schedule was released and shared their initial thoughts on the tough road ahead for the Panthers.
