Pitt shakes off some rust in 1st post-spring break practice
Pat Narduzzi knows that when it comes to evaluating one of Pitt’s practices, the naked eye goes only so far. There’s simply too much happening simultaneously at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for Narduzzi to properly assess in real time. That’s what after-practice film reviews are for. After the Panthers resumed...
Pitt’s annual spring football game to be closed to the public
Amid NFL Draft construction and preparation happening in and around Acrisure Stadium, Pitt announced Monday that its annual Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 11 will be closed to the public. Pittsburgh is preparing to host the 2026 NFL Draft from April 23-25. Due to ongoing preparations for the 2026 NFL...
Pitt opts to retain men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel
Long before Pitt’s season came to an end, athletic director Allen Greene knew he had a major decision to make regarding the stewardship of the men’s basketball program. Despite the disappointment of coach Jeff Capel’s eighth year in charge, which saw Pitt go 13-20 (5-13 ACC), as well as mounting...
Tim Benz: Coaching for an A-10 title in Pittsburgh will be special in many ways for Pitt alum Ricardo Greer
Shortly after Davidson’s R.J. Greer checked into a game at Dayton on Feb. 15, he rotated toward the opposing bench during an offensive sequence. One of the Dayton coaches was quick to yell out to his players on defense to track him into the corner. The Flyers’ coach didn’t need...
Pitt’s season comes to close after loss to N.C. State in ACC Tournament 2nd round
Pitt got hot late in the season and looked to continue carrying momentum throughout the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. Though the No. 15 Panthers notched a thrilling first-round upset of No. 10 Stanford on Tuesday, their run came to an end Wednesday against seventh-seeded N.C. State. In a high-scoring...
Damarco Minor’s last-second tip-in lifts Pitt over Stanford in 1st round of ACC TournamentVideo
It’s abundantly clear Pitt doesn’t want its season to end. After an overtime victory in the Panthers’ regular-season finale earned them the 15th and final seed in the ACC Tournament, they pulled off another dramatic win Tuesday against 10th-seeded Stanford. Damarco Minor scored the winning basket on a tip-in with...
First Call: Kenny Pickett leaves Raiders; Patrick Queen may go to an NFC team
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest destination for former Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett. Some NFC East teams are showing interest in Patrick Queen. The Penguins face the best in the Metropolitan Division. And we look at the odds for Pitt and Duquesne to stay alive in the postseason. Pickett on...
Pitt gears up for rematch with Stanford, Ebuka Okorie in ACC TournamentVideo
On the last day of the regular season, by the skin of its nose, Pitt kept its men’s basketball season going and qualified for the ACC Tournament. That came via topping Syracuse on the road in overtime, 71-69, on Saturday. Following the game, coach Jeff Capel commended his team’s effort....
Revenue-sharing era reshapes recruiting, strategy at Pitt, Duquesne
College coaches are cutting to the chase when courting student-athletes, centering their recruiting pitches around revenue-sharing compensation. Behind the scenes, administrators scramble to ensure their institutions are competitively positioned to pay players, while those involved with sports other than football and men’s basketball ponder their place — and existence —...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Pitt, Duquesne, RMU fight back, inject a little life into hoops scene
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less This was shaping up as a horrific year for men’s college hoops around here. It still might not be great, but things are momentarily looking up after a wildly entertaining and unexpected stretch of basketball. Pitt was tracking to...
Pitt triumphs at Syracuse in overtime, punching ticket to ACC Tournament
Pitt’s players could have checked out weeks ago, as a disappointing season approached its conclusion. But inside the Panthers’ locker room, with a trip to the ACC Tournament still within grasp leading into Saturday’s regular-season finale at Syracuse, players vowed to keep battling until the end. “We’re not going to...
Pitt players don pads for 1st time at spring practice
At the conclusion of Friday’s practice, Pitt football is now one week through spring ball, having completed three of 15 sessions that will lead into the annual Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 11. Friday marked the first time the Panthers were in shoulder pads this spring, allowing coach Pat Narduzzi...
Win and get in: Making ACC Tournament hinges on Pitt beating Syracuse in finale
The math is now simple for Pitt with regards to securing a spot in the ACC Tournament. With a win Saturday at Syracuse in the regular-season finale, the Panthers are in. A loss would disqualify Pitt by virtue of Boston College and Notre Dame facing each other to complete the...
Pitt’s Ryan Baer looks to be catalyst for improved offensive line play
As a redshirt senior preparing for his fifth and final season at Pitt, Ryan Baer can attest to the overall performance of the offensive line over the years. Baer first started for Pitt in 2023 and, next fall, is the bettor’s choice to be Pitt’s primary right tackle, a position...
Pitt rally comes up just short on senior night as Florida State escapes
It’s anyone’s guess as to the nature of coach Jeff Capel’s postgame message to players following Pitt’s wild 75-74 loss to Florida State on Wednesday night. On senior night at Petersen Events Center, Pitt trailed by 16 at halftime and 24 early into the second half before a furious comeback...
Pat Narduzzi, dismissing low transfer class rankings, trusts Pitt’s evaluation of players
Pat Narduzzi is aware of the discourse surrounding Pitt’s latest class of transfers. After losing key players such as linebacker Rasheem Biles, receiver Kenny Johnson, defensive lineman Francis Brewu, kicker Trey Butkowski and others, the Panthers brought in 16 new players from the portal. But once the dust settled, assessments...
Pitt rides one of its best performances of season into home finale vs. Florida State
There’s a short list for the top moment of the season for Pitt men’s basketball. It would be hard to top Damarco Minor’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Pitt over Ohio State at home Nov. 28. Similarly, the Panthers’ 34-point thrashing of Penn State on Dec. 21 in Hershey was impressive....
Pitt QB Mason Heintschel, LB Braylan Lovelace seek out larger leadership roles
Mason Heintschel’s rise last season from third-string quarterback to starter to becoming arguably the most important player on Pitt’s roster was nothing short of meteoric. Heintschel, a true freshman who took over under center in Week 5 of the 2025 campaign, handled things well, going 6-3 as starter. But as...
Pitt fires women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi
In the immediate aftermath of a third straight disappointing season, Pitt fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday morning, athletic director Allen Greene announced. The Panthers went 8-23 (1-17 ACC) this season, finishing second-last in the league while tying for the second-fewest conference wins in program history. “After a...
First Call: Steelers alumni pile on reports of bad NFLPA grades; Maxx Crosby to Baltimore?
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some validation for those bad NFLPA grades for the Steelers, and it’s coming from some alumni of the team. Also, a fierce AFC pass rusher may wind up in the Steelers’ division. Pitt’s former athletic director, Heather Lyke, is wrapped up in a negative story at...
Pat Narduzzi takes stock of new group, coaches as Pitt opens spring practiceVideo
With the first of 15 spring practices complete, Pitt took the opening step toward coalescing as a team months ahead the 2026 football season. After Monday’s session, the Panthers will continue practicing over the next month-plus, culminating in the annual Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 15. For coach Pat Narduzzi,...
Pitt leads for entire game, tops Cal by double digits on the road
Playing a team dominant on its home court and hungry to solidify its NCAA Tournament credentials presented Pitt with a tall task Saturday at Cal. The Bears, squarely on the March Madness bubble and 16-3 at Haas Pavilion entering tipoff, had a lot to play for. But Pitt came out...
New Pitt tight ends coach Brent Davis seeks versatility among his position groupVideo
By hiring Army’s former longtime offensive coordinator, are Pat Narduzzi and Kade Bell planning to implement the triple option at Pitt in 2026? Not exactly. But if they ever change their minds, Brent Davis would be happy to run them through the basics of the flexbone. Davis, Army’s play-caller from...
Pitt visits Cal for 1st time to complete West Coast swing
Increased cross-country travel is a reality for collegiate programs across sports these days owing to conference realignment. As a result, coaches frequently lean into narratives surrounding the challenges of being ready to play far from home. Pitt is undertaking such a journey. After the Panthers lost at Stanford on Wednesday,...
On Sports: Penguins prepare to run gauntlet; where will Pitt’s Kyle Louis fit on an NFL roster?Video
Thursday’s “On Sports” takes a look at the challenge currently in front of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who begin a difficult final month-and-a-half of the regular season minus captain Sidney Crosby. At the NFL Combine, former Pitt standout linebacker Kyle Louis looks to further showcase his next-level potential, while Paul Skenes...
