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Burdened by injuries, 2-game losing streak, Pitt's Pat Narduzzi running out of options

Burdened by injuries, 2-game losing streak, Pitt's Pat Narduzzi running out of options

2-game losing streak

Coming off a 2-0 ACC start, Pittsburgh has now suffered back-to-back defeats. A 45-24 loss to Georgia Tech was followed by a 28-10 loss at Louisville. Pitt is now 2-2 overall and 0-1 in ACC play. The Panthers have been outscored 73-34 in their two losses.

Injury woes

The Panthers have been hit hard by injuries this season losing players on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Kedon Slovis missed the second half of the game against Georgia Tech with a shoulder injury. Running back Israel Abanikanda has been dealing with an ankle injury. Wide receiver Jared Wayne has been out with a foot injury. And defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado is out for the season with a knee injury.

Narduzzi running out of options

With the injuries piling up, Narduzzi is running out of options. He has been forced to start true freshman quarterback Nick Patti, who has struggled in his first two career starts. The Panthers have also struggled to run the ball, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. On defense, Pitt has been unable to generate pressure on the quarterback, with just four sacks in four games.

Narduzzi's job on the line

Narduzzi's job is likely on the line. He is in his seventh season at Pitt, and the Panthers have not won an ACC Championship since he took over. The Panthers have also not won a bowl game since 2019. If Pitt continues to struggle, Narduzzi could be fired at the end of the season.

Pitt's remaining schedule

Pitt has a tough remaining schedule, with games against Tennessee, North Carolina, and Miami still to come. The Panthers will need to find a way to win some of these games if they want to make a bowl game.