Thursday nights are not just for the NFL at this point of the season. Alongside the NFL, college football is providing one of the better matchups of its Week 9 slate on Thursday, October 24. The upstart Syracuse Orange, coming off of a narrow victory against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, travel to the Steel City to face the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers, who are undefeated and are No. 19 in the country, continue their ACC slate after a narrow victory over the California Golden Bears.
It will be a game that could decide a good amount in what has become a very competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.
Can the Pittsburgh Panthers continue their amazing start to the season? Or will they falter against a tough ACC opponent? Follow along as we preview the Thursday night matchup between the Panthers and the Orange!
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Syracuse Orange Game History
In the long and storied history, the Panthers have the advantage over the Orange.
Heading into their 80th all-time matchup, Pitt leads the series with a record of 43-33-3. Their longest winning streak in the matchup was 11 games, starting in 1973 and ending in 1983. On the other hand, their longest losing streak was also 11 games, starting in 1991 and ending in 2001.
In the past four matchups, Pitt is 3-1 against Syracuse. Their latest victory was in 2022 when the Panthers won by a score of 19-9. However, they lost the last matchup in 2023 by a score of 28-13.
Game Quotes
Ahead of Thursday’s matchup, University of Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi praised Fran Brown and the Syracuse football program.
“He’s done an incredible job. He’s got ten transfers on defense and six on offense. The Fadil Diggs kid, defensive end, is phenomenal, the guy you better know where he is every snap, and they move him around. And then, obviously, that one transfer quarterback, Kyle McCord, is a tremendous football player. If you’re not a Pitt fan, if you’re not a Syracuse fan, but you’re a quarterback fan, you should get your tickets now because that guy will play in the National Football League.
He’s transformed that football team. I think they’re elite. He also has Jeff Nixon, offensive coordinator, who came from the pedigree of NFL teams but was with the Carolina Panthers last. He worked with Baylor. And, again, he’s coached, I don’t know, 15 years in the National Football League, and the offense looks like a pro-style offense. He’s got excellent personnel on offense. It’s a whole new deal up there, and I’m happy for Fran. He’s done a tremendous job, and it will be a big battle between a 6-0 and a 5-1 football team on Thursday night. So get your tickets,” said Narduzzi.
Narduzzi also spoke about starting 6-0 in the 2024 regular season.
“Nothing shocks me. We could have been sitting here last October 18th and been 6-0 as well, in my mind, because you’re always positive, and I loved our kids last year. But this team has a different resilience. And you love the team week by week by what they do. You go, wow, you did it again. Oh, you did it again. You came back, you hung in there,” said Narduzzi.
“So it’s every week; it’s how they play, respond to adversity, and even succeed. But that’s in the past, and we’re working on — I’m not surprised. I’m never surprised at anything in this world, but we need to respond. We had three great days of practice and preparation already, and we’ll get back up on Sunday and have another one on Monday and Tuesday and get ready for the game.”
Additionally, the Panthers’ tight end coach got his players crowbars this week to “pry the defensive ends open” against the Orange.
Pitt's tight end coach got his players crowbars this week to symbolize how they'll need to "pry the defensive ends open" against Syracuse.
That's the kind of grit and toughness @CoachDuzzPittFB wants his players to play with 😤 pic.twitter.com/3sBmrwOzC7
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 23, 2024
Impact Players: Pitt Panthers
- Kyle Louis & Javon McIntyre, Linebacker and Safety: For the Syracuse Orange, their main and best target is tight end Oronde Gadsden II. Gadsden II has 32 receptions for 433 yards and three touchdowns in six games played. Syracuse has other great targets in wideout Jackson Meeks, wideout Trebor Pena, and running back LeQuint Allen. Yet, Gadsden will likely be the centerpiece of how the Orange want to attack the Panthers. As a result, two main players need to step up. Linebacker Kyle Louis and safety Javon McIntyre are arguably the best middle-of-the-field defenders for the Panthers. Louis has two interceptions and one pass breakup, while McIntyre is second on the team in pass breakups and PFF coverage grade. Both players need to be at their best to shut down Gadsden.
- Konata Mumpfield, Wide Receiver: On the flip side, the Pittsburgh Panthers will need their WR1 to continue to produce for their upstart offense. Syracuse has not been torched in the passing game, but they have given up 229.2 passing yards per game. Konata Mumpfield will likely draw Clarence Lewis or Jayden Bellamy throughout the game. If he can overcome the talented duo, Pitt will be in a great position to win the game.
- Desmond Reid, Running Back: A strong run game will be necessary for a balanced offense like the Panthers. As a result, Desmond Reid needs to produce against an average Syracuse front. Redi has averaged 6.3 yards per carry and 493 yards so far in 2024. He is shifty and strong through contact, having 16 missed tackles forced and 230 yards after contact. In a battle between similar teams, Reid’s performance looks to be a major difference-maker on Thursday.
Impact Players: Syracuse Orange
- Kyle McCord, Quarterback: Against the Panthers, the former Ohio State Buckeye needs to make a big impact. Pitt is ranked sixth in the country with 23.5 points allowed per game. However, they are a bit of a pass-funnel defense, allowing just under 245 passing yards and two passing touchdowns per game on average. With various weapons at his disposal, McCord needs to elevate the Syracuse offense. If he plays like the NFL prospect he has become in 2024, the Orange should be in a great position.
- Oronde Gadsden II, Tight End: Directly linked to McCord is Gadsden II. The most talented pass catcher on the Orange, the tight end provides a matchup nightmare for the Panthers on Thursday night. Syracuse needs to get the ball in his hands and let him do damage. Otherwise, the Orange will not have their best shot to win.
- Clarence Lewis, Cornerback: Lewis, according to various metrics, is one of the best coverage players for Syracuse. He has an interception and four pass breakups on the season, helping him earn a very good 73.4 PFF coverage grade. He will need to stop Mumpfield, among others, if the Orange want to secure a victory.
Pitt Panthers Keys to Victory
For the Panthers to seal a victory, here are their primary keys to the game
- Start aggressive on offense: The Pittsburgh Panthers have shown an ability to do whatever the game asks of them. Against poor passing defenses, Pitt has been able to carve with its receivers and tight ends. Against poor run defenses, the Panthers has been able to run the ball at will. Syracuse’s defense will have moments where it can be exploited. If the Panthers start aggressively and look for weaknesses, they have a great shot at jumping out to an early lead.
- Bend, don’t break: Syracuse is going to get their points. Led by McCord, the Orange have not scored under 24 points this season. They will put points up on the board, but Pitt’s defense has the talent to limit their production. If they keep Syracuse around 20 points, they should be able to win this one.
- Win the turnover battle: It sounds cliche, but the turnover battle is highly significant in a game of two upper-tier teams. If Pitt can force Syracuse into a mistake or two, they will likely win. However, if they lose the turnover battle, Pitt’s undefeated season will likely go up in smoke.
