2021 season: 11-3, 7-1 in the ACC (1st in Coastal Division)
Head coach: Pat Narduzzi (8th season)
First-round quarterback Kenny Pickett and, Biletnikoff Award winner, awarded to the nation’s best receiver, Jordan Addison, are both gone this season—with the latter swapped for former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis. Though the new roster may not replicate the ridiculous pass game Pickett and company manufactured a year ago, the Panthers are still projected to finish in the top of the ACC Coastal.
Pittsburgh returns its leading rusher Israel Abanikanda, as well as second-leading receiver Jared Wayne to the Slovis-era offensive unit.
Slovis hadn’t quite been himself with the Trojans following a record-setting completion rate by a freshman and earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2019. He still earned first team all-conference honors his sophomore year, but he struggled as the Trojans went 4-8 in 2021. Capable of producing big numbers, it’s only a matter of time before we can see for sure if the Frank Cignetti Jr.-run offense can bring Slovis to the level former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple did with Slovis’ predecessor in blue and gold.
On the defensive side, Pittsburgh returns Habakkuk Baldonado—a 6-foot-5, 260-pound force who led the Panthers in sacks and recorded 11.5 tackles for loss. Also returning are Calijah Kancey, SirVocea Dennis, Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett II, who each helped the Panthers’ defensive unit stifle the run and force an average of 1.6 turnovers per game. The aforementioned returners will certainly help boost an otherwise okay defense to a great one while the offense may take a minor step back as Slovis adjusts to his new team.
The hype surrounding Pittsburgh football from last year—it dominated the ACC championship game—is certain to extend into this fall as Narduzzi looks to continue a strong run in the ACC.
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Micah Hurewitz is a Trinity senior and was previously a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume.