Pitt Football: 2025 Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions

The Pitt Panthers head into the 2025 college football season with an interesting schedule, making predictions difficult. The team will look to improve after a rollercoaster of a season last year where they had a 7-game winning streak followed by a 6-game losing streak to end the season. It was a brutal collapse that left fans wondering if Pat Narduzzi really is the right head coach for the team.

However their 2025 schedule is more favorable than most people think. Can the panthers bounce back and compete for their first ACC title birth since 2021? Here are my predictions.

Pitt Football: 2025 Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions

August 30: vs. Duquesne Dukes

Pitt opens their schedule with the rare football “city game”. More commonly known for playing each other in basketball, this will be the first time Pitt and Duquesne match up since 1939. The Panthers lead the all time series 4-2.

Duquesne had a strong season in 2024, finishing 8-3 and second in the NEC. Quarterback Darius Perrantes graduated, which leaves major question marks for the Dukes offense heading into 2025. Pitt should realistically have their starters sitting by the end of the third quarter. I don’t think this should be much of a game.

Prediction: Win (1-0)

September 6: vs. Central Michigan Chippewas

Central Michigan was picked ninth in the MAC preseason coaches poll. Coming off of a 4-8 season, they travel to Acrisure Stadium for a Week 2 matchup with the Panthers. This is another game where Pitt could be favored by multiple touchdowns, but it also is a game they could lose if they aren’t careful.

Central Michigan had multiple close losses last year, including a 27-25 loss at Ohio who finished 11-3 and conference champions. I still think Pitt controls this game and wins, but we have seen them lose very similar matchups in the past.

Prediction: Win (2-0)

September 13: at West Virginia Mountaineers

The final iteration of this Backyard Brawl four-game series takes place in Week 3 in Morgantown. Since the rivalry was brought back in 2022, the home team has won each time. Pitt had two miraculous comebacks in 2022 and 2024, while West Virginia had a dominant defensive performance in 2023.

This year, I believe the trend of the home team winning changes.

2025 will be a very different year for West Virginia football. They fired head coach Neal Brown after six seasons, and posted a 6-6 record in 2024. They then hired former head coach Rich Rodriguez, who was with the team from 2001-2007.

On top of the change at head coach, the Mountaineers lost their starting quarterback and running back. Garrett Greene went to the NFL, and CJ Donaldson to Ohio State. Donaldson had been a nightmare for Pitt in the previous three matchups.

With these question marks, I see a more experienced and veteran Pitt team taking this game by double digits in Morgantown.

Prediction: Win (3-0)

September 27: vs. Louisville Cardinals

This will be the first test for the Panthers as Louisville travels to Pittsburgh to open ACC play. The Cardinals are coming off a successful 9-4 season in 2024, and have re-loaded to make another push for 10+ wins and a possible ACC title game appearance.

After losing QB Tyler Shough to the NFL, head coach Jeff Brohm brought in USC transfer Miller Moss to fill the role. Moss played in nine games in 2024 throwing for over 2500 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Pitt is going to have a tough time with this Louisville offense. The sophomore running back duo of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson is as good a backfield as you’ll find in the ACC. But the duo of Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles at linebacker for Pitt is a pretty good defense system.

With these two fast paced offenses I see a total nearing 70 points, but Pitt’s defense will make more big plays to squeak out a win.

Prediction: Win (4-0)

October 4: vs. Boston College Eagles

A loss to Boston College was one of six to end Pitt’s 2024 season, and now the Eagles come to Pittsburgh for a date in early October.

Pitt was a broken team heading into Boston last year, with injuries across the board. This time they should be healthy, and ready to play.

Boston College lost QB Thomas Castellanos to Florida State in the off season, after he was dismissed from the team late in the year. Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan will be the starter this year.

With a ton of roster turnover for Boston College, I don’t see them coming in and beating Pitt at home.

Prediction: Win (5-0)

October 11: at Florida State Seminoles

After a disastrous 2024 season Florida State revamped its coaching staff, but not how you would think. They retained Mike Norvell after a 2-10 season, and hired Gus Malzahn for their offensive coordinator, and Tony White as their defensive coordinator.

With the addition of QB Thomas Castellanos from Boston College, the Seminoles are poised for a bounce-back in 2025. They may not return to their 2023 form, but the coaching and personnel changes will be enough to get them 8-9 wins.

In a tough atmosphere, I see Pitt dropping their first game with the offense struggling.

Prediction: Loss (5-1)

October 18: at Syracuse Orange

If my predictions hold true up to this point, then it would be gut check time for Pitt heading into this one. This is a game that could lead you to 9-10 wins, or another 7-win season with a late year collapse.

In his second year at the helm, head coach Fran Brown has already built a winning culture at Syracuse. He was embarrassed in Pittsburgh last year, when Kyle McCord threw threw interceptions and Pitt romped the Orange 41-13. You know he has this game circled on his calendar.

Unfortunately for Syracuse, I think the transition from McCord to Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli will be tough, and the offense will struggle at times because of it. This could be especially true against an experienced defense like Pitt.

If the Panthers can put together a couple good drives in the first half, it should set them up to control the game with Reid in the second half, and let their defense win the game.

Prediction: Win (6-1)

October 25: vs. NC State Wolfpack

The Wolfpack are right with Pitt in the middle of the pack in the ACC preseason polls. They are a young team lead by sophomore QB CJ Bailey, who is looking to build off an impressive freshman year.

Pitt is the more talented team, and they get the Wolfpack at Acrisure Stadium as well. If this game was in Raleigh, I would probably lean NC State. However, with a depleted secondary, I see Eli Holstein throwing 30+ times and Pitt’s offense controlling this game.

Prediction: Win (7-1)

November 1: at Stanford Cardinal

Coming off a 3-9 year in 2024, Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor in March of 2025. After multiple complaints came in about his behavior toward female staff members. This then lead to the hiring of interim head coach Frank Reich, who was the Colts head coach from 2018-2022, and Carolina Panthers head coach in 2023.

Pitt should be a heavy favorite in this one as the Cardinal are just looking to keep their heads above water in 2025. I would be shocked if this game is close.

Prediction: Win (8-1)

November 15: vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

If Pitt is 8-1 heading into this game it could be a blockbuster matchup. Notre Dame is poised to have another great year and contend for a national championship. Returning is Heisman candidate Jeremiyah Love and lockdown corner Leonard Moore, along with many other contributors.

The only question mark for the Irish is starting QB CJ Carr, who will be taking over for Riley Leonard. If Carr can steady the ship for Notre Dame and not make mistakes, I see the Irish coming into Pittsburgh and taking care of business.

There are just too many mismatches across the board for Pitt to win without Notre Dame beating themselves.

Prediction: Loss (8-2)

November 22: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

I don’t know if the rest of the ACC knows this or not, but the Yellow Jackets could be in Charlotte when early December rolls around. Returning a backfield of Haynes King and Jamal Haynes immediately puts Georgia Tech right near the top for offenses in the conference.

But I see this game a lot like I see the Louisville game in Week 4. Pitt has the linebacker corps to stop the option look that King and Haynes give you. And if Haynes King isn’t running effectively, this offense is not the same at all.

The game will be decided in the trenches. I see a couple big plays for Pitt’s offense being the difference in this one, as Kyle Louis gives Haynes King fits all day.

Prediction: Win (9-2)

November 29: vs. Miami Hurricanes

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, I see the Miami Hurricanes struggling in 2025. Ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Poll, many analysts and coaches believe they are strong ACC and playoff contenders. However, I could not disagree more.

I do not believe in the Carson Beck hype. He was underwhelming last year, and now goes into another high pressure role in taking over the Miami starting job.

Miami will obviously have talent, and should still win around eight games. However I do not view them as conference or playoff contenders. I see Pitt’s defense swarming Beck and forcing a couple turnovers to win the season finale.

Prediction: Win (10-2)

Pitt Football: Final Thoughts and Predictions on the 2025 Schedule

10-2 is definitely one of the more bold predictions for the Pitt football team’s schedule in 2025. And, there is an easy way for this to go downhill fast.

Pitt will need to respond after that first loss and prove to the world that they can fight through adversity and put a full season together. The time is now for this roster to legitimately compete in the ACC.

Desmond Reid and Kyle Louis are on their way out, and it is up to Eli Holstein to take that next step in his sophomore year. He must become the leader that Coach Narduzzi thinks he can be. As long as important pieces stay healthy, I see a 7-win floor for this team, with the ability to go all the way to the ACC title game if things go well.

The season will be decided between Louisville, Syracuse, and Georgia Tech. All games I predict Pitt to win, but also all games that could come down to one play being the difference. Those three games are the difference between 10-2 and 7-5. And, there’s a feeling that a win against Louisville in Week 4 can give Pitt the confidence they need the rest of the season.