What Is 2019 Pitt Panthers football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Pitt Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 8-5 record under head coach Pat Narduzzi. They played their home games at Heinz Field and competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Key Facts

The 2019 Pitt Panthers finished with an 8-5 overall record and 5-3 in ACC play.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi led the team during his fifth season at Pitt.
Pitt played home games at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Panthers defeated UCF 35-34 in the 2019 Armed Forces Bowl.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett started 10 games, throwing for 2,405 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Overview

The 2019 Pitt Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coastal Division, the team was led by head coach Pat Narduzzi in his fifth year at the helm.

The Panthers posted a solid 8-5 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in conference play. Their season concluded with a dramatic 35-34 victory over UCF in the 2019 Armed Forces Bowl, marking their first bowl win since 2016.

Record: The team finished with an 8-5 overall record, their best win total since 2016, showing marked improvement under Narduzzi’s leadership.
ACC Performance: Pitt went 5-3 in ACC play, placing second in the Coastal Division behind Virginia, which finished 5-3 but held the tiebreaker.
Home Field: All home games were played at Heinz Field, the NFL stadium of the Pittsburgh Steelers, located in downtown Pittsburgh.
Key Player: Quarterback Kenny Pickett started 10 games, throwing for 2,405 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, emerging as a team leader.
Bowl Game: The Panthers defeated the UCF Knights 35-34 in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas, in a high-scoring showdown.

How It Works

The 2019 season followed the standard NCAA FBS football structure, with Pitt competing in a 12-game regular season followed by a bowl game. The team’s schedule combined non-conference matchups and ACC competition to determine postseason eligibility.

Season Format: NCAA FBS teams play a 12-game regular season; Pitt played nine regular opponents and three conference foes to open ACC play.
ACC Structure: The Atlantic Coast Conference is divided into two divisions; Pitt competes in the Coastal Division alongside teams like Virginia and Miami.
Coaching Staff: Head coach Pat Narduzzi oversaw defensive strategy, while offensive coordinator Mark Whipple directed the passing attack and play-calling.
Roster Composition: The team featured 105 scholarship athletes, including 85 on defense and special teams, reflecting Narduzzi’s defensive philosophy.
Recruiting Impact: The 2019 recruiting class included 19 signees, with four rated as four-star prospects by 247Sports Composite rankings.
Bowl Eligibility: Teams must win at least six games to be bowl-eligible; Pitt reached that threshold by defeating Miami 14-13 in November.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 Pitt Panthers compared to key rivals and conference peers in win-loss records and key statistics:

Team	Overall Record	ACC Record	Bowl Result	Points Scored
Pitt	8-5	5-3	W 35-34 vs UCF	305
Virginia	9-5	5-3	W 20-14 vs Florida	288
Miami	6-7	4-4	L 35-38 vs LSU	271
Virginia Tech	8-5	5-3	W 30-10 vs Kentucky	283
North Carolina	7-6	4-4	W 55-13 vs Temple	355

The Panthers ranked second in the Coastal Division by winning percentage, just behind Virginia. Their 305 total points scored ranked fourth in the division. The Armed Forces Bowl win improved Pitt’s all-time bowl record to 28-20-1. Despite a strong finish, the team did not win the division due to tiebreaker rules. The offense showed growth under Pickett, but consistency remained an issue early in the season.

Why It Matters

The 2019 season marked a turning point for the Pitt football program, signaling progress under Pat Narduzzi after several subpar seasons. The bowl victory and improved record boosted morale and recruiting momentum heading into 2020.

Program Momentum: The 8-5 record was Pitt’s best since 2016, helping restore confidence in the program’s trajectory under Narduzzi.
Quarterback Development: Kenny Pickett’s emergence gave Pitt a reliable starter heading into 2020, eventually leading to his NFL draft selection.
Bowl Drought Ended: The win over UCF snapped a two-year bowl losing streak, improving team culture and postseason preparation.
Recruiting Boost: A winning season helped secure commitments from top Pennsylvania and regional prospects in the 2020 class.
ACC Relevance: Pitt remained competitive in the Coastal Division, staying in contention for the conference title late into the season.
Stadium Legacy: Playing at Heinz Field reinforced Pitt’s identity and connection to the city of Pittsburgh and its NFL team.

The 2019 campaign laid the foundation for future success, including a 2021 ACC Championship Game appearance. It demonstrated that sustained improvement was possible even in a competitive conference, making it a pivotal season in modern Pitt football history.