What Is 2014 Pitt Panthers football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2014 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 6–7 record under head coach Paul Chryst and playing in the Military Bowl, where they lost to Navy 34–44.

Key Facts

Finished the 2014 season with a 6–7 overall record
Paul Chryst was head coach until December 2014
Played in the Military Bowl against Navy on December 27, 2014
Lost the Military Bowl 34–44
James Conner rushed for 1,000+ yards and 17 touchdowns

Overview

The 2014 Pittsburgh Panthers football team competed in the NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), representing the University of Pittsburgh. Led by head coach Paul Chryst, the team played its home games at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finished the regular season with a 6–6 record, qualifying for a bowl game.

The Panthers showed flashes of offensive strength, particularly through running back James Conner, who emerged as a breakout star. Despite inconsistent results, the team secured a bid to the Military Bowl, marking their third consecutive bowl appearance under Chryst’s leadership.

Record: The team finished with a 6–7 overall record, including a 4–4 mark in ACC play, placing fifth in the Coastal Division.
Head coach:Paul Chryst led the Panthers for the final time in 2014 before leaving to become the head coach at Wisconsin in January 2015.
Bowl game: The Panthers played in the Military Bowl on December 27, 2014, facing the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
Key player: Running back James Conner rushed for 1,092 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season, earning ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Final game: Pittsburgh lost to Navy 34–44 in the Military Bowl, finishing the season on a three-game losing streak.

Season Performance

The 2014 campaign was marked by offensive improvement but defensive struggles, with the team averaging 28.5 points per game while allowing 29.6. The Panthers opened the season with a win over Florida International but suffered key losses to ACC rivals like Duke and Georgia Tech.

Early success: The Panthers started 3–1, including a strong 34–19 win over in-state rival Penn State in Beaver Stadium.
ACC competition: They went 4–4 in conference play, defeating Virginia, Syracuse, Miami (FL), and Duke while losing to Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Clemson.
James Conner: Conner became the first Pitt freshman to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since Tony Dorsett in 1973.
Quarterback play: Starting QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. was replaced mid-season; Chad Voytik and Nathan Peterman split time, combining for 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Defensive stats: The defense allowed an average of 29.6 points per game, ranking 84th nationally in scoring defense.
Home field: The Panthers went 5–2 at Heinz Field but struggled on the road with a 1–5 record away from Pittsburgh.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 2014 Pitt Panthers to the previous season and the ACC Coastal Division standings:

Category	2014 Pitt	2013 Pitt	ACC Coastal Winner (2014)
Overall Record	6–7	7–6	Virginia Tech (7–5)
ACC Record	4–4	3–5	7–1
Points Scored	371 (28.5 per game)	343 (26.4 per game)	Virginia Tech: 392
Points Allowed	385 (29.6 per game)	335 (25.8 per game)	Virginia Tech: 310
Bowl Result	Lost Military Bowl 34–44	Lost Little Caesars Bowl 21–28	N/A

The 2014 season showed modest improvement in scoring offense compared to 2013, but defensive decline contributed to a losing record. Despite a strong performance against Penn State and a 1,000-yard season from Conner, the team failed to build consistency. The loss in the Military Bowl capped a transitional year, especially with Chryst’s departure to Wisconsin, leading to the hiring of offensive coordinator Chris Blewitt as interim head coach for the bowl game.

Why It Matters

The 2014 season was a pivotal transition year for the Pitt football program, highlighting both emerging talent and organizational instability. While James Conner’s breakout performance gave fans hope for the future, the coaching change signaled a shift in program direction.

Player development: James Conner’s 17 rushing touchdowns set a freshman record for Pitt and earned him national recognition.
Coaching change: Paul Chryst’s departure to Wisconsin led to Chris Blewitt being named interim head coach, though he was not retained.
Recruiting impact: The season helped solidify future recruiting classes, especially in-state talent drawn to Conner’s success.
Bowl eligibility: The Panthers remained bowl-eligible for the third straight year, maintaining program stability despite losing records.
ACC relevance: The team remained competitive in the ACC Coastal, showing potential to challenge for the division title in future seasons.
Program momentum: Despite the losing record, the emergence of young talent laid the foundation for future success under new leadership.

The 2014 season ultimately served as a bridge between eras, combining the end of the Chryst era with the beginning of a rebuilding phase that would culminate in the hiring of Pat Narduzzi in 2015.