Inside The Panthers

247Sports Puts Pitt Ninth in ACC Power Rankings

247Sports' Grant Hughes is not optimistic the Pitt Panthers will be able to overcome offseason losses.
Stephen Thompson|
247Sports Puts Pitt Ninth in ACC Power Rankings
247Sports Puts Pitt Ninth in ACC Power Rankings

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- Major turnover on both sides of the ball have left at least one national college football analysts pessimistic about the Pitt Panthers' odds of contending in the ACC.

247Sports' Grant Hughes released his preseason ACC power rankings this week and he has the Panthers pegged as the No. 9 team in the conference. 

Hughes' write up about Pitt reflects little confidence in new starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who will be back with the offensive coordinator that coached him through the best season of his college career at Boston College.  

"New quarterback Phil Jurkovec hasn't looked the part of a top-tier ACC quarterback since his first year at Boston College in 2020 but could return to form as he reunites with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti in Pittsburgh," Hughes said. "The Panthers' offense lost two of its best playmakers to the NFL this offseason in running back Israel Abanikanda and wide receiver Jared Wayne."

Adding that the losses of leading tackler SirVocea Dennis and 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Calijah Kancey will make life more difficult for the defense, Hughes has another reason for optimism: head coach Pat Narduzzi's track record. 

He gave Narduzzi lots of credit for what he's been able to build over his nine seasons at Pitt, but still believes it will be difficult to keep the Panthers at the same level they've been at for the past two seasons. 

"Pat Narduzzi is one of the best coaches in the league," Hughes said. "But this may be one of his toughest tests to date."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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