Seven months from kickoff, Pitt’s 2023 schedule already is shaping up as a challenge from start to finish — with 11 Power 5 opponents.
After playing four Power 5 opponents in September, Pitt will visit foreign soil for four of its final six games. Overall, Pitt will play eight of 12 opponents that appeared in bowl games last season. Florida State (No. 4), Notre Dame (No. 14) and North Carolina (No. 21) are listed in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” Top 25.
The season opens Sept. 2 at Acrisure Stadium against FCS foe Wofford, a South Carolina school coached by former Pitt offensive coordinator Shawn Watson. Wofford is Pitt’s only nonconference foe outside of the Power 5.
The second game is also at home, against Cincinnati. The Bearcats move into the Big 12 from the AAC after advancing to the 2021 College Football Playoff. Pitt and Cincinnati were annual Big East foes from 2005-12 and met in one of the most memorable games in Pitt history, a 45-44 shootout won by Cincinnati in 2009.
The road opener is Sept. 16 at long-time rival West Virginia, Pitt’s first venture into Morgantown since 2011. When Pitt and West Virginia renewed the Backyard Brawl last year, it attracted 3.15 million viewers to ESPN and a record attendance of 70,622 — any venue, any sporting event — to Acrisure.
The rest of the schedule:
Sept. 23, North Carolina — Pitt won its past two home games against the Tar Heels (2019 and 2021), both in overtime
Sept. 30, at Virginia Tech — The Hokies have lost three in a row to Pitt.
Oct. 7 — Off
Oct. 14, Louisville — Jeff Brohm, a record-setting Louisville quarterback, returns as the Cardinals’ coach after six seasons at Purdue.
Oct. 21, at Wake Forest — This is a rematch of the 2021 ACC Championship Game, won by Pitt, 45-21.
Oct. 28, at Notre Dame — Pitt hasn’t won in South Bend, Ind., since a 36-33 four-overtime marathon in 2008.
Nov. 4, Florida State — The Seminoles visit Pittsburgh for the first time since Pitt’s first ACC game in 2013.
Nov. 11, at Syracuse (Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.) — Syracuse defeated Pitt, 3-0, in Yankee Stadium on Oct. 23, 1923.
Nov. 16, Boston College — On a short work week, Pitt will meet Boston College on a Thursday night for the first time since a 20-13 Pitt victory Oct. 31, 1996.
Nov. 25, at Duke — ACC Coach of the Year Mike Elko led Duke to nine victories last season.
This season will be the first without the two divisions — Coastal and Atlantic. The top two finishers in the 14-team standings will play in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 2. Under the new scheduling format, each team will play three primary opponents annually — for Pitt, that’s Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech — and face the other 10 teams twice during a four-year cycle, once at home and once on the road.
Pitt’s annual Blue-Gold Spring Game will be at 1 p.m. April 15 at Acrisure Stadium.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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Pitt football will face difficult schedule in 2023 - TribLIVE
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