Pitt vs. Notre Dame 2025 Preview: Whose Winning Streak Ends?

It’s a massive Week 12 showdown as the Pitt Panthers host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 12. Pitt and Notre Dame both enter the contest on big winning streaks. For the Irish, they have a seven-game streak rolling. Meanwhile, Pitt has won five straight games under true freshman Mason Heintschel.

Ironically, this week is also the first time College Gameday has come to Pittsburgh since 2005, when these two teams met. Both programs are red hot, and Pitt is coming off a much needed bye week with multiple key players returning from injury. The stage is set for a great matchup between two teams fighting for a CFP birth. Let’s dive into this Pitt vs. Notre Dame 2025 college football preview.

Pitt Panthers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2025 College Football Preview

Pitt vs. Notre Dame: Matchup History

Pitt and Notre Dame have a long history that goes all the way back to their first matchup in 1930. The Irish lead the all time series by over 20 games. More recently, Notre Dame is 7-1 since 2010. Pitt got their lone win in 2013 when Tom Savage led a 4-4 Pitt team in an upset of the No. 23-ranked Irish.

Pitt will look to change the narrative and take down the Irish on Saturday.

Keys to the Game and Predictions

Key Players for Pitt

Pitt will be getting back some very important pieces this week. Running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Rasheem Biles were both out of action in the win over Stanford two weeks ago. Biles’s return will be a huge key for Pitt to stop Notre Dame’s rushing attack.

Wide receiver Poppi Williams may also be be heavily involved on Saturday. Notre Dame’s pass defense has struggled this year, and Pitt is one of the most pass-heavy teams in the country. Williams is having a stellar year with 36 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns. Expect Pitt to use the quick pass game early trying to keep Notre Dame’s pass rush away. Williams is more of an intermediate receiver, so expect him to see plenty of targets.

Freshman cornerback Shawn Lee has been the biggest surprise of the season for Pitt so far. Lee has been a stud on the outside all year, and is the highest graded true freshman cornerback in the country, according to PFF. Notre Dame is known for their rushing attack, but the key to them winning will be CJ Carr taking the top off of the defense. Lee and the secondary will need to do just as much as the front line of the Panthers defense.

Key Players for Notre Dame

The Irish are led by Heisman hopeful running back Jeremiyah Love. Love was quiet early in the year, but has been on fire for the last seven weeks. He has 154 carries for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns, with 254 receiving yards and three scores. Love has given freshman quarterback CJ Carr a steady ground game to lean on. Pitt is ranked third nationally in stopping the run, so it should be a great matchup between Love and the Pitt defensive line.

If you thought Love was a lot to handle, Notre Dame has another back who would start on many teams. Junior Jadarian Price has over 500 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Love and Price have had the team on their backs at times this year, and they are facing a great challenge in Pat Narduzzi’s run defense.

Game Prediction

This is the most anticipated Pitt game since they played Clemson in 2021. For the Irish, it’s another Saturday in November. Notre Dame comes in as a 12.5 point favorite, and analysts across the board are picking them to win this game.

This should be a wire-to-wire war for four quarters in a low-scoring affair. Notre Dame wants to run the ball and keep Pitt’s offense off the field. That being said, this could turn into a shootout quickly if Pitt takes the lead early.

It’s unlikely Pitt flops at home. However, Notre Dame will prove to be too much in the end. They outlast Pitt even with all the buzz around this great game.

Score Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Pitt 21