The Wild Card: Out of the AP Poll but Still a Playoff Factor
Heading into Week 11, Pittsburgh may be unranked in the AP Poll, but the Panthers are far from irrelevant. Sitting 24th in the College Football Playoff rankings, Pitt still has a chance at the ACC title and a College Football Playoff appearance. With three games remaining, each matchup has huge implications not just for Pitt but its opponents as well. As the end of the season nears, Pitt will be a team to watch coming out of the ACC.
The Panthers are currently third in the ACC, in contention for a conference title. Their remaining schedule is nowhere near easy. Hosting 10th 10th-ranked Notre Dame on Nov. 15th, followed by a road trip to face 16th-ranked Georgia Tech, and finishing the season off with 18th-ranked Miami at home. All three teams are also competing for a spot in the playoffs, meaning these matchups are critical for all teams. The outcomes of these games could drastically change the ACC standings and the playoff landscape.
A win against Miami or Georgia Tech would not only boost Pitt’s overall ranking but also position the Panthers as strong contenders in the ACC title race. The Week 12 matchup with Notre Dame is significant. Although Notre Dame is not in the ACC, this game carries major playoff implications for both teams. A win for Pitt would improve their ranking and show they can compete with elite competition while most likely knocking Notre Dame out of the playoff conversation.
Defensively, the Panthers have been dominant. Pitt ranks sixth nationally in run defense, allowing just 80.9 yards per game. Pitt will look for this performance to continue heading into the grueling final month of the season. The Panthers will be tested, and a spot in the ACC Championship and a potential College Football Playoff run are on the line. These final three games will define Pitt’s season, and with so much at stake for both Pitt and its ranked opponents, the college football world should watch closely to see if this wild card team can shake up the playoff race. With the playoffs slowly approaching, every play will affect the playoff landscape.
