What Is 2013 Pitt Panthers football team

Overview

The 2013 Pitt Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coastal Division, the team was led by head coach Paul Chryst in his second year at the helm.

The Panthers played their home games at Heinz Field, a downtown Pittsburgh stadium shared with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite high expectations, the team struggled with consistency, finishing the regular season with a 6–6 record before becoming bowl-eligible.

• Final record: The team finished with a 7–6 overall record after winning the 2013 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against North Carolina.
• ACC performance: In conference play, Pitt went 3–5, placing fifth in the seven-team ACC Coastal Division.
• Head coach: Paul Chryst served as head coach, overseeing offensive strategy and team development throughout the season.
• Home stadium: All home games were held at Heinz Field, which has a seating capacity of approximately 68,400.
• Key player: Quarterback Tom Savage started most games, throwing for 2,510 yards and 18 touchdowns during the season.

Season Performance

The 2013 campaign featured a mix of strong defensive efforts and inconsistent offensive execution. The Panthers opened the season with a win over Syracuse but suffered mid-season losses to Virginia Tech and Miami.

• September results: Pitt began 3–1, including a 28–6 victory over No. 15 Notre Dame, marking their first win over a top-15 team since 2009.
• Midseason struggles: The team lost four of five games from October to November, including a 45–21 defeat to No. 5 Florida State.
• Defensive strength: The defense ranked 22nd nationally in total defense, allowing just 334.8 yards per game on average.
• Offensive inconsistency: The offense averaged 27.5 points per game but turned the ball over 23 times during the season.
• Bowl eligibility: A 34–13 win over Syracuse in November secured bowl eligibility for the second consecutive year.
• Pizza Bowl victory: Pitt defeated North Carolina 34–27 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, marking their first bowl win since 2010.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2013 season to recent Pitt football campaigns highlights trends in performance and competitiveness.

The table shows that the 2013 season mirrored the 2012 campaign in record and bowl outcome, though ACC performance dipped slightly. While the team maintained a consistent bowl presence, national rankings remained out of reach. The back-to-back Pizza Bowl wins signaled modest progress under Chryst’s leadership.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a transitional year that reflected both potential and limitations in Pitt’s football program during its early ACC years. It helped shape future recruiting and coaching decisions as the university aimed for greater conference competitiveness.

• Program stability: Back-to-back 7–6 seasons under Chryst provided continuity after the turbulent end of the Dave Wannstedt era.
• Recruiting impact: Success against Notre Dame and in the bowl game helped attract higher-rated recruits in subsequent classes.
• ACC integration: Continued participation in the ACC strengthened Pitt’s national profile and scheduling prestige.
• Player development: Quarterback Tom Savage and linebacker Aaron Donald gained national attention, with Donald winning the Outland Trophy in 2013.
• Coaching trajectory: Chryst’s steady leadership kept expectations grounded while building toward long-term improvement.
• Bowl momentum: Winning consecutive bowl games boosted fan engagement and season-ticket sales for future campaigns.

The 2013 Pitt Panthers may not have achieved breakout success, but their season played a role in stabilizing the program during a critical phase of ACC integration and national repositioning.