Pat Narduzzi, Pitt players set high expectations for 2025 after disappointing finish last year

Pitt’s 2024 campaign was one few Panthers fans will likely forget because of its extreme peaks and valleys.

After compiling a 7-0 record through the end of October — the best start in program history since 1982 — five straight losses followed to conclude the regular season.

Then came the final gut punch in the form of a disappointing six-overtime GameAbove Sports Bowl defeat to Toledo of the Mid-American Conference.

As coach Pat Narduzzi and a handful of his returning players reflected on last season during the annual multi-day ACC Football Kickoff event Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C., a consensus seemed to emerge.

Will fall camp nearing, all things 2024 can formally be left in the past, the lessons learned from a year ago must be absorbed and applied to good measure in 2025.

“You’ve got to move past it but learn from the mistakes so you don’t make them again,” redshirt senior safety Javon McIntyre said. “We want to stay on the same (winning) streak, but this time stay on the same streak for the whole year. … We’re going to know what we did wrong, we’re going to know what to do and we’re going to know what to do to not go down the same road again.”

Linebacker Kyle Louis, a redshirt junior coming off an All-American campaign, had a front-row seat to the Panthers’ collapse beginning last November.

But he, along with McIntyre, quarterback Eli Holstein, center Lyndon Cooper and tailback Desmond Reid, is back for the Panthers this season, along with several other returners plus transfer portal reinforcements and new recruits.

“I think it was a privilege to have all those wins and all those losses right after,” Louis said. “We experienced both sides of college football. Definitely just experiencing that and still having the people that you lost and won with in the same locker room, too — not a lot of teams can do that. We definitely took this offseason to rebuild even more and keep building up.”

Narduzzi also pointed to Pitt’s retooled roster, centered around returning players and bolstered by additional pieces.

Whereas Narduzzi was encouraged to have been able to largely keep his roster intact, heading into fall camp, the 11th-year coach believes his squad is capable of greatness.

“We have a talented football team,” Narduzzi said. “Most of our weapons are back. We did not lose anybody that we wanted to keep in the transfer portal. We’ve enhanced our roster. We stay healthy, I think we have an opportunity to win a championship, period. That’s the goal.”

Nell Redmond | ACC

Pitt running back Desmond Reid speaks to the media at the 2025 ACC Kickoff on Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.

After the strong start, it didn’t take long for whispers to emerge that Holstein would transfer away at the earliest opportunity.

Though Holstein’s first year with the Panthers was cut short because of injury, he still threw for 2,228 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 62% of his passes.

The anticipated poaching attempts from programs across the nation did ensue during the offseason, but Holstein opted to stay at Pitt, making his intentions clear back in February while never entering the transfer portal.

Now, headed into his sophomore season as Pitt’s starting quarterback, Holstein’s ability to execute second-year coordinator Kade Bell’s offense better than a year ago will be critical to the team’s success.

“Eli Holstein had a great offseason,” Narduzzi said. “He had an incredible summer with our football team. … He is back, 224 pounds, ripped up. We’re excited about Round 2 with him. We didn’t expect — last year, I sat at this podium talking about a different guy and did not expect (Holstein) to take the reins like he did a year ago.

“He is the ultimate competitor. I think, when gameday comes around, that’s his deal. Then when it comes down to the fourth quarter, when the game’s on the line, that’s a guy you want taking every snap and touching that ball when it counts. We’ve got a ton of respect for him.”

The Panthers are one week away from commencing preseason camp, with practice No. 1 slated for July 30.

For Narduzzi, his coaches and players, plenty of work remains to be done between now and Aug. 30, when the Panthers host Duquesne at Acrisure Stadium to begin the season.

And from there, the work will really begin to achieve the team’s stated goal — an ACC championship — and Narduzzi is satisfied expectations have been set and understood.

“In all but two games last year, I felt like we were in every game,” Narduzzi said. “When you put Pitt football on, you’re going to see a football game. Win or lose, people are going to get hit in the mouth. It’s going to be physical, they’re going to walk out of there and respect the University of Pittsburgh.”