There are two ways to win a football game. Either outwork your opponent or out-think him. This week, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi seems to be betting on the latter. The timing couldn’t be more fitting. For the first time since 2005, the College GameDay broadcast returns to the Steel City as the Panthers get set to host No. 10 Notre Dame. While the playoff math says this is huge, Narduzzi is trying to convince everyone it isn’t.

When asked if the meeting with Notre Dame was a must-win, Narduzzi brushed it off entirely. “Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game,” he said in a post-game presser. “I’m glad you brought that up. It’s not an ACC game. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to10 in that game. They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.” Well, the comment does sound dismissive, but it may not be as casual as it seems. Whether Narduzzi’s aim is to remove pressure from his own players or to lull Notre Dame into overconfidence, his timing seems deliberate.

Notre Dame enters as a 10.5-point favorite, and with Marcus Freeman’s team boasting a 50-21-1 all-time record in the series, there’s no question who’s expected to win. Still, Narduzzi’s comments can shift the narrative. By downplaying the game’s importance, he not only relieves pressure on his players but also risks planting overconfidence in the Irish locker room. If the Irish take the bait and let their guard down, Pitt might finally find an opening to snap that 0-4 drought against Notre Dame.

Beyond the talk, Pitt’s position in the ACC race justifies his focus. The Panthers sit at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, clinging to championship hopes. Wins over Georgia Tech and Miami would strengthen their path to the ACC title game, while a non-conference victory over Notre Dame would boost national credibility. But for Narduzzi, the conference grind clearly comes first.

The Panthers took a brutal 58-7 loss in 2023 against ND and a similar 45-3 loss in 2020. The Fighting Irish shouldn’t be taken lightly at this point. They have recovered from consecutive losses to Miami and Texas A&M with dominant wins, each by double digits. The Irish sit among the nation’s top 10 in rushing touchdowns (26) and average 5.2 yards per carry. Running back Jeremiyah Love ranks fifth nationally with 988 rushing yards and third in touchdowns (13), while quarterback CJ Carr has been efficient, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,275 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Narduzzi knows the gap between the two programs, which is likely why he’s leaning into the underdog narrative. And his later comments somehow show it: “Again, our focus is on Notre Dame and getting as many wins as we can, one at a time.”

But this isn’t the first time Pat Narduzzi has made headlines with his bold comments.

Pat Narduzzi’s subtle shots at Mike Norvell

Pat Narduzzi loves to turn up the heat, and his fiery, subtle digs at Mike Norvell’s Florida State prove it. Now that the team is preparing to take down Notre Dame, he declares them to be the best team. As “by far the most athletic team across the board in all three phases,” Pitt has faced.

And this is coming from the same coach who praised NC State weeks back, saying it was “the most talented” team. Well, knowing the fact that Norvell lost against Narduzzi, his comments on other teams leaving Florida State out of his “most talented” team pool are a subtle hint.

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Now, everyone knows that after an impressive win against Alabama, Mike Norvell’s team is looking for consistency. But despite such indirect shots, Norvell is focusing on his team: “I’m frustrated with the results. Ultimately we got to get it fixed. We got to go make it better and show the potential of what this team is, you know, on a consistent basis.”

Now, after talking down Notre Dame’s game, let’s wait and see if Pat Narduzzi’s team comes up strong against them or not!