2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football
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ACC champion ACC Coastal Division champion
ACC Championship Game, W 45–21 vs. Wake Forest
Peach Bowl, L 21–31 vs. Michigan State
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 13
AP	No. 13
Record	11–3 (7–1 ACC)
Head coach	Pat Narduzzi (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mark Whipple (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Randy Bates (4th season)
Home stadium	Heinz Field (capacity: 68,400)

2021 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 15 Wake Forest xy		7	–	1					11	–	3
No. 20 NC State		6	–	2					9	–	3
No. 14 Clemson		6	–	2					10	–	3
Louisville		4	–	4					6	–	7
Florida State		4	–	4					5	–	7
Syracuse		2	–	6					5	–	7
Boston College		2	–	6					6	–	6
Coastal Division
No. 13 Pittsburgh xy$		7	–	1					11	–	3
Miami (FL)		5	–	3					7	–	5
Virginia Tech		4	–	4					6	–	7
Virginia		4	–	4					6	–	6
North Carolina		3	–	5					6	–	7
Georgia Tech		2	–	6					3	–	9
Duke		0	–	8					3	–	9
Championship: Pittsburgh 45, Wake Forest 21
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by seventh-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's ninth season as a member of the ACC. The Panthers won the ACC Championship with a record of 11–2 and a 45–21 victory over Wake Forest in the 2021 ACC Championship Game, becoming the first school other than Clemson or Florida State to win the conference championship since Virginia Tech in 2010.

Roster

2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 2 Israel Abanikanda So WR 3 Jordan Addison So WR 4 Malquise Stovall  Sr WR 5 Jared Wayne Jr WR 6 Tre Tipton  Sr TE 7 Lucas Krull  Sr QB 8 Kenny Pickett  Sr RB 9 Rodney Hammond Jr. Fr WR 10 Jaylon Barden So WR 11 Taysir Mack  Sr QB 12 Nick Patti  Jr QB 16 Joey Yellen  So QB 17 Davis Beville  So QB 18 Eli Kosanovich  So QB 19 Nate Yarnell Fr WR 20 Myles Alston Fr RB 22 Vincent Davis Jr TE 25 Kaymar Mimes  Jr QB 26 Jake Frantl Fr WR 27 Luke Delgaudio Fr TE 28 Kyi Wright  So WR 29 Josh Junko  So WR 35 Isaiah Stewart  So RB 37 Angelo Priore  Fr RB 40 Daniel Carter  So TE 41 Jake Zilinskas  Sr TE 43 Cole Mitchell Fr WR 46 Peter Vardzel Fr OL 50 Jason Collier Jr.  So OL 53 Jake Kradel  Jr OL 54 Trey Andersen Fr OL 55 Marcus Minor  Sr OL 57 Gabe Houy  Sr OL 58 Terrence Moore Fr OL 60 Owen Drexel  Sr OL 61 Ryan Jacoby  So OL 62 Dakota Peters  Jr OL 63 Matt Altsman  Fr OL 66 George French II  Fr OL 68 Blake Zubovic  Jr OL 69 Matt Metrosky Fr OL 72 Jake Cortes  Jr OL 74 Terrence Enos Jr. Fr OL 74 Kelvin Wilson  Sr OL 76 Matt Goncalves  So OL 77 Carter Warren  Sr OL 78 Branson Taylor  Fr WR 81 Jaden Bradley Fr WR 82 Gavin Thomson  So TE 84 Grant Carrigan  Sr WR 84 Jake McConnachie  Fr WR 85 Garrett Bickhart  Sr TE 86 Gavin Bartholomew Fr TE 88 Jake Renda Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 0 John Petrishen  Sr DL 2 David Green  Jr DB 3 Khalil Anderson Fr DL 4 Nahki Johnson Fr DL 5 Deslin Alexandre  Sr DL 6 John Morgan III  Jr LB 7 SirVocea Dennis Jr DL 8 Calijah Kancey  So DB 9 Brandon Hill  So DL 10 Keyshon Camp  Sr LB 11 Bengally Kamara So DB 12 M. J. Devonshire  So DB 14 Marquis Williams  Jr DB 15 Rashad Battle So DL 16 Nate Temple  So DB 19 Jahvontae Royal  Fr DB 20 Javon McIntyre Fr DB 21 Damarri Mathis  Sr DB 22 P. J. O'Brien Fr LB 24 Phil Campbell III  Sr DB 24 Tamarion Crumpley Fr DB 25 A. J. Woods Jr DB 26 Judson Tallandier II  Jr DB 27 Buddy Mack III So DB 28 Noah Biglow Fr LB 30 Brandon George Jr DB 31 Erick Hallett II  Jr LB 34 Solomon DeShields So DB 35 Hudson Primus  So LB 36 Chase Pine  Sr DB 37 Stephon Hall Fr DB 39 Myles Canton  Sr DL 40 JoJo Belgrave  Fr DB 41 Jehvonn Lewis  Fr DB 43 Anthony Scott-Naji  Sr DB 44 Taelen Brooks Fr DB 45 Dante Caputo  So DL 45 Noah Palmer  Jr DL 46 Sam Williams  Fr LB 47 Aydin Henningham So LB 48 Jackson Henry  Jr DB 49 Ak'Bar Shabazz II Fr DL 50 Dayon Hayes So LB 51 Preston Lavant Fr LB 53 Dorien Ford Fr LB 54 Dylan Bennett Fr DL 56 Will King IV  Fr DL 57 Bam Brima  So LB 59 Nick Lapi Fr DL 87 Habakkuk Baldonado  Jr DL 90 DeAndre Jules  So DL 92 Tyler Bentley  Jr DL 94 Elliot Donald Fr DL 95 Devin Danielson  Jr DL 96 Chris Maloney  Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 49 Byron Floyd  Fr K 90 Ben Sauls  Fr K 91 Sam Scarton  So P 92 Cam Guess  Fr LS 93 James Fineran Fr LS 94 Cal Adomitis  Sr K/P 95 Caleb Junko Fr P 98 Kirk Christodoulou  Sr	Head coach Pat Narduzzi Coordinators/assistant coaches Charlie Partridge – Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line Mark Whipple – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Randy Bates – Defensive Coordinator Andre Powell – Special Teams Coordinator / Running Backs Dave Borbely – Offensive Line Archie Collins – Defensive Backs Ryan Manalac – Linebackers Brennan Marion – Wide Receivers Tim Salem – Tight Ends Cory Sanders – Safeties Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Rankings

Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	NR	NR	RV	NR	NR	RV	RV	23	17	RV	25	20	20	17	13	13
Coaches'	RV	RV	RV	NR	NR	RV	RV	23	19	25	22	19	17	15	12	13
CFP	Not released									25	21	18	17	15	12	Not released

Game summaries

UMass

See also: 2021 UMass Minutemen football team

UMass Minutemen at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
UMass Minutemen	0	0	0	7	7
Pittsburgh Panthers	13	10	14	14	51

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: September 4th, 2021
• Game time: 4:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 41,486
• Referee: Jerr Magallanes
• TV: ACCN

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP UMass PITT 1 4:56 8 60 3:07 PITT Lucas Krull 5-yard touchdown reception from Kenny Pickett, Sam Scarton kick good 0 7 1 1:31 6 74 1:54 PITT Jordan Addison 12-yard touchdown reception from Kenny Pickett, Sam Scarton kick no good 0 13 2 5:37 9 44 2:55 PITT 35-yard field goal by Sam Scarton 0 16 2 0:36 9 92 2:39 PITT A.J. Davis 18-yard touchdown run, Sam Scarton kick good 0 23 3 10:45 7 38 2:34 PITT Vincent Davis 6-yard touchdown run, Sam Scarton kick good 0 30 3 6:42 11 61 3:32 PITT Is Abanikanda 12-yard touchdown run, Sam Scarton kick good 0 37 4 13:50 8 74 3:21 UMass Tyler Lytle 1-yard touchdown run, Cameron Carson kick good 7 37 4 11:48 5 53 1:52 PITT Nick Patti 9-yard touchdown run, Ben Sauls kick good 7 44 4 2:44 7 80 2:11 PITT Daniel Carter 6-yard touchdown run, Ben Sauls kick good 7 51 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 7 51

at Tennessee

See also: 2021 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Pittsburgh Panthers at Tennessee Volunteers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh Panthers	0	27	7	7	41
Tennessee Volunteers	10	10	7	7	34

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

• Date: September 11th, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 82,203
• Referee: Stuart Mullins
• TV: ESPN

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT TEN 1 13:34 1 2 0:03 TENN Jabari Small 2-yard touchdown run, Chase McGrath kick good 0 7 1 4:44 10 31 2:53 TENN 37-yard field goal by Chase McGrath 0 10 2 14:53 11 92 4:45 PITT Melquise Stovall 11-yard touchdown reception from Kenny Pickett, Sam Scarton kick good 7 10 2 11:16 8 44 3:37 TENN 48-yard field goal by Chase McGrath 7 13 2 9:25 5 75 1:51 PITT Lucas Krull 16-yard touchdown reception from Jared Wayne, Sam Scarton kick good 14 13 2 8:34 4 -2 0:39 PITT 38-yard field goal by Sam Scarton 17 13 2 3:53 9 39 3:50 PITT 27-yard field goal by Sam Scarton 20 13 2 2:16 4 68 1:28 TENN Jimmy Calloway 44-yard touchdown reception from Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath kick good 20 20 2 0:19 9 75 1:57 PITT Vincent Davis 2-yard touchdown run, Sam Scarton kick good 27 20 3 4:49 11 60 5:14 PITT Kenny Pickett 1-yard touchdown run, Sam Scarton kick good 34 20 3 2:32 6 63 2:10 TENN Jacob Warren 8-yard touchdown reception from Hendon Hooker, Chase McGrath kick good 34 27 4 12:22 6 75 2:31 PITT Jordan Addison 8-yard touchdown reception from Hendon Hooker, Sam Scarton kick good 41 27 4 10:09 7 61 2:06 TENN Jaylan Wright 1-yard touchdown run, Chase McGrath kick good 41 34 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 41 34

Western Michigan

See also: 2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Western Michigan Broncos at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan Broncos	14	13	7	10	44
Pittsburgh Panthers	7	20	7	7	41

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: September 18th, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
• Game attendance: 40,581
• Referee: Tim O'Dey
• TV: ACCRSN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP West Michigan PIT "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

No. 21 (FCS) New Hampshire

See also: 2021 New Hampshire Wildcats football team

(FCS) New Hampshire Wildcats at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 (FCS) New Hampshire Wildcats	0	7	0	0	7
Pittsburgh Panthers	28	21	21	7	77

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: September 25th, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C)
• Game attendance: 41,048
• Referee: Ricky Johnson
• TV: ACCNX/ESPN+

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP New Hampshire PIT "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

at Georgia Tech

See also: 2021 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Pittsburgh Panthers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh Panthers	21	21	7	3	52
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	7	7	7	0	21

at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta GA

• Date: October 2nd, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 75 °F (24 °C)
• Game attendance: 36,383
• Referee: Stuart Mullins
• TV: ACCN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT Georgia Tech "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

at Virginia Tech

See also: 2021 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Pittsburgh Panthers at Virginia Tech Hokies

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh Panthers	7	14	7	0	28
Virginia Tech Hokies	0	0	7	0	7

at Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

• Date: October 16th, 2021
• Game time: 3:30 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 56 °F (13 °C)
• Game attendance: 58,314
• Referee: Stuart Mullins
• TV: ESPN2

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT Virginia Tech "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

Clemson

See also: 2021 Clemson Tigers football team

Clemson Tigers at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Clemson Tigers	7	0	3	7	17
No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers	0	14	10	3	27

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: October 23rd, 2021
• Game time: 3:30 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 52 °F (11 °C)
• Game attendance: 60,594
• Referee: Jeff Flanagan
• TV: ESPN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT CLEM "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

Miami (FL)

See also: 2021 Miami Hurricanes football team

Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (FL) Hurricanes	21	10	7	0	38
No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers	10	7	14	3	34

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: October 30th, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 53 °F (12 °C)
• Game attendance: 46,977
• Referee: Jeff Heaser
• TV: ACCN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Miami (FL) PIT "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

at Duke

See also: 2021 Duke Blue Devils football team

Pittsburgh Panthers at Duke Blue Devils

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers	7	23	14	10	54
Duke Blue Devils	12	7	3	7	29

at Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

• Date: November 6th, 2021
• Game time: 12:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 57 °F (14 °C)
• Game attendance: 20,693
• Referee: Marcus Woods
• TV: ACCN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT Duke "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

North Carolina

See also: 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

North Carolina Tar Heels at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
North Carolina Tar Heels	0	7	6	10	0	23
No. 21 Pittsburgh Panthers	17	6	0	0	7	30

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: Template:Dow tooltip
• Game time: 7:30 PM EST
• Game weather: Cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C)
• Game attendance: 41,687
• Referee: Jerry Maggallanes
• TV: ESPN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP North Carolina PIT "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

Virginia

See also: 2021 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Virginia Cavaliers at Pittsburgh Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia Cavaliers	7	14	10	7	38
No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers	0	24	10	14	48

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: November 20th, 2021
• Game time: 3:30 PM EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 49 °F (9 °C)
• Game attendance: 45,183
• Referee: Mike Roche
• TV: ESPN2

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia PIT "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

at Syracuse

See also: 2021 Syracuse Orange football team and Pittsburgh-Syracuse football rivalry

Pittsburgh Panthers at Syracuse Orange

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers	0	14	14	3	31
Syrancuse Orange	7	0	7	0	14

at Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY

• Date: November 27th, 2021
• Game time: 7:30 PM EST
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 27,939
• Referee: Riley Johnson
• TV: ACCN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT Syracuse "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

vs. No. 16 Wake Forest

See also: 2021 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team and 2021 ACC Championship Game

2021 ACC Championship Game: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Pittsburgh Panthers	14	10	7	14	45
No. 16 Wake Forest Demon Deacons	21	0	0	0	21

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

• Date: December 4th, 2021
• Game time: 8:00 PM EST
• Game weather: Sunny, 61 °F (16 °C)
• Game attendance: 57,856
• Referee: Gary Patterson
• TV: ABC

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PITT WAKE "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

vs. No. 10 Michigan State

See also: 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team and 2021 Peach Bowl (December)

2021 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Michigan State Spartans

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
No. 10 Michigan State Spartans	0	0	0	0	0

at Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

• Date: Template:Dow tooltip
• Game time: 7:00 PM EST
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• TV: ESPN

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PITT MSU "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 0

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
1	20	Kenny Pickett	QB	Pittsburgh Steelers
4	115	Damarri Mathis	CB	Denver Broncos