Pitt transfer RB La’Vell Wright looks to carve out role in backfield
The 2026 campaign is far into the distance, but Pitt already has a good idea who will begin the year atop the depth chart at running back. That would be Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner, who, along with Mason Heintschel, emerged as one of the Panthers’ top performers last fall during an...
Pitt freshmen QBs Angelo Renda, Corey Dailey adjust to college life
This winter, with a storm dumping more than a foot of snow in late January, coupled with sub-freezing daily temperatures for two weeks straight, has tested even the most mentally tough Pittsburghers. Of course, Steel City natives are better equipped to deal with such conditions, even if Pittsburgh navigates what...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
Mark Madden: Remember when Pittsburgh was a basketball town?
Pittsburgh used to be a basketball town, kind of. Hard to believe. I know. I was there. Even harder to believe. Amazon Prime is premiering a new documentary called, “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association.” The iconic “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, appeared on satellite radio to mark...
Pitt starts hot, hangs tough with No. 4 Duke, but Blue Devils pull away for rout
A few minutes into Tuesday’s game between Pitt and No. 4 Duke, the Panthers were reacquainted with an advantage unseen for quite some time at Petersen Events Center: energetic cheering from a large crowd. The 10,804-strong sea of fans, the largest by far Pitt has attracted for a home men’s...
Pitt women’s basketball coach sued by former players alleging hostile environment
Six women who previously played basketball at Pitt are suing coach Tory Verdi and the school, alleging he created a hostile environment, abused players psychologically and retaliated against them after they complained. The individual lawsuits were filed Friday in federal court in Pittsburgh. They include claims for violations of Title...
‘Loaded for bear’: Jeff Capel expects tough task from Duke, freshman phenom Cameron Boozer
Over the weekend, when Jeff Capel sat down to begin preparing for Duke’s Tuesday evening visit to Petersen Events Center, it marked the first time he had watched the Blue Devils at length this season. As a Duke alumni himself and a coach in the ACC, Capel was doubtless aware...
Short-handed Pitt can’t hang with SMU in 2nd half, drops to 2-9 in ACC
Trailing Southern Methodist by two at halftime was hardly a bad spot to be in for Pitt on Saturday afternoon. But when play resumed in the second half, the Panthers’ competitiveness all but evaporated. From the first possession, Pitt had few defensive answers for an SMU squad that hit 70%...
WPIAL alums Lincoln Hoke, Reston Lehman begin work on Pitt’s defensive line
Pitt bringing in WPIAL talent is nothing new. Last December, football coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t hesitate to advertise Pitt’s bona fides when it comes to recruiting and developing homegrown talent. “I don’t think anybody takes more players and develops more players from the WPIAL than the University of Pittsburgh,” Narduzzi...
Jeff Capel continues to utilize Pitt freshmen Macari Moore, Kieran Mullen in short bursts
Within Pitt’s Jan. 31 loss to No. 22 Clemson was a prime example of the ongoing development of freshman center Kieran Mullen. The 7-footer from North Vancouver, British Columbia, scored four points on a pair of first-half layups. It was a modest total, to be sure, but still one shy...
Larry Fitzgerald to become 11th Pitt player enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
Larry Fitzgerald once wore a gold helmet, but now he’s getting a gold jacket. The former record-setting receiver at Pitt will be enshrined this summer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame following a legendary 17-year NFL career that left no doubt he’d someday reach Canton. Ultimately, he got there...
Defensive linemen Eliyt Nairne, Jeremiah Warren bring different kinds of experience to Pitt
The two interior defensive linemen Pitt brought in through the transfer portal in January had formative experiences at their previous colleges. For Eliyt Nairne, who spent 2025 at Tulane, that was competing in the College Football Playoff. Jeremiah Warren, who played three years at Illinois before joining Pitt, was mentored...
Following retirement of coordinator Randy Bates, Cory Sanders begins planning Pitt’s approach
More so than the exact moment he was informed by coach Pat Narduzzi that he’d be Pitt’s new defensive coordinator, Cory Sanders recalled the feeling. Sanders, who coached in Pitt’s secondary for eight prior years beginning in 2018, was named Dec. 28 as successor to Randy Bates, who retired following...
Pitt can’t keep pace with No. 18 Virginia, as Panthers drop 2nd ranked road game in a row
Tough sledding remains ahead for Pitt, with last weekend’s contest at No. 22 Clemson the first of four games against ranked teams in a five-game span. Following that defeat, Pitt traveled to John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville for a game Tuesday vs. No. 18 Virginia. Not since Feb. 13,...
Poor ball movement another of many recurring issues for Pitt
No shortage of recurring issues have plagued Pitt in a men’s basketball season that has been all but irretrievably compromised before the midway point of ACC play. Most prominent has been an inability to finish close to the rim, leading to plenty of missed layups, as well as countless points...
First Call: Goalie fight in NHL outdoor game; Pitt’s Alex Van Pelt lands new coaching job
Monday’s “First Call” sees a familiar Pittsburgh name getting a coaching job in the NFL. But it’s not on the Steelers staff under Mike McCarthy. There was a goalie fight in Tampa Bay’s Stadium Series game against Boston. Former Penguin Colby Armstrong sees his longtime NHL record tumble. And the...
Late rally not enough to overcome sluggish start as Pitt falls at No. 22 Clemson
It’s been well over a decade since Pitt has beaten Clemson in basketball. That stretch continued Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum in South Carolina, as the Panthers fell 63-52 to the No. 22 Tigers, the Panthers’ 15th straight loss to Clemson. Pitt (9-13, 2-7 ACC) was unable to overcome a season-low...
‘He’s just continuing to get better’: Pitt’s Roman Siulepa developing into impact performer
Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes might not have been intimately familiar with Pitt freshman forward Roman Siulepa beyond his team’s routine scouting report. But how he described him after Pitt’s overtime win over the Demon Deacons on Tuesday at Petersen Events Center made perfect sense, if Forbes was, indeed, aware...
Athletic director Allen Greene shares strategic plan for Pitt athletics
Allen Greene has opted to keep a lower profile throughout his 15-month tenure as Pitt’s athletic director. As the Panthers and athletic departments across the country grapple with the demands of revenue-sharing and NIL, Greene has kept his cards close to the vest as to Pitt’s strategic plan for the...
Pitt announces resizing of Acrisure Stadium capacity for football starting this fall
Pitt announced a strategy Wednesday that will significantly alter the atmosphere and capacity for football games at Acrisure Stadium. Starting this fall, the stadium’s upper east and west sides will be unavailable, reducing capacity from 68,400 to 51,416. The announcement corresponded with the launch of football season ticket sales Wednesday....
Omari Witherspoon’s jumper goes for game-winner as Pitt prevails in overtime to top Wake Forest
More often than not this season, Pitt has been a team adept at finding ways to lose basketball games. Falling behind early, missing free throws, sputtering offense — the list goes on as to how the Panthers endured a rocky nonconference schedule before dropping six of their seven ACC games...
Pitt’s 2026 football schedule unveiled, including matchups with James Franklin, Bill Belichick, both Miamis
The ACC revealed its 2026 football schedule Monday evening, including Pitt’s full 12-game slate, which includes nine league contests. The Panthers begin the season Sept. 5 against Miami (Ohio) and host Central Florida on Sept. 12 in Week 2. Nonconference play concludes Sept. 26 at home against Bucknell. Miami (Ohio),...
Jeff Capel content to rotate Pitt’s 5th starter
Pitt men’s basketball settled into deploying a mostly consistent starting lineup through 20 games. Seniors Damarco Minor and Cam Corhen have started all 20, as has freshman Roman Siulepa. After finding his stride over the first few weeks of the season, South Alabama transfer Barry Dunning Jr. has started 14...
‘Expect to get booed’: Pitt’s Jeff Capel addresses fan frustration, heckling
With about a minute to play Saturday at Petersen Events Center, things were looking bleak for Pitt. A third straight ACC loss — the Panthers’ sixth in seven tries in league play — was about to become official, and the modest crowd of 5,572 wasn’t pleased. As the remaining time...
N.C. State pulls away late as Pitt suffers 6th ACC loss in 7 games
As Pitt’s inability to finish close to the rim or convert free throws have remained recurring issues this season, coach Jeff Capel has fluctuated between frustration and exasperation. On Saturday at Petersen Events Center, when those woes contributed mightily to a 81-72 defeat to N.C. State, Capel’s vexation may have...
