Pitt Football: Panthers, Florida State to open ACC season
By Matt Shetler
Many are excited to see how Pitt’s first season as a member of the ACC plays out and at the minimum, things have gotten better for the Panthers already.
Pitt will open league ACC play on Labor Day against Florida State at Heinz Field, in a nationally televised game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) between two programs that haven’t met in 30 years. The Seminoles’ last trip to Pittsburgh was in 1983.
December 1, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Rushel Shell (4) runs with the ball against the South Florida Bulls during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
While Pitt will be double-digit underdogs in their season opener, the national exposure the Panthers will receive from this game alone is more than they have gotten in may years playing in the Big East.
In addition the the prime time matchup against Florid State, Pitt will have another nationally televised contest against former Big East foe Miami.
That game will take place the Friday after Thanksgiving, also at Heinz Field, and will be televised by ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, with the game time to be determined.
The complete Panthers recently announced 2013 schedule is as follows (ACC conference games marked with an asterisk):
Sept. 2 (Mon.) – vs. Florida State* (ESPN), 8 p.m.
Sept. 14 – vs. New Mexico
Sept. 21 – at Duke*
Sept. 28 – Virginia*
Oct. 12 – at Virginia Tech*
Oct. 19 – Old Dominion
Oct. 26 – at Navy
Nov. 2 – at Georgia Tech*
Nov. 9 – Notre Dame
Nov. 16 – North Carolina*
Nov. 23 – at Syracuse*
Nov. 29 (Fri.) – Miami*
As for the ACC slate, Pitt and Florida State will kickoff what will without a doubt be the largest and most difficult conference season in conference history.