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The 2024 Panthers are off to a rare 6-0 start

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The 2024 Panthers are off to a rare 6-0 start

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Reminiscent of the days of Dan Marino, Pittsburgh Panthers football is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing surprise teams of the 2024 college football season.

Pitt beat Cal 17-15 in ACC play on Saturday and is now off to its best start to a season (6-0) since 1982, when Marino played quarterback and led the Panthers to a 9-3 record. They entered the U.S. LBM Coaches' Poll earlier this week at No. 24 and look set to move higher after another narrow win.

Pitt's undefeated record is more a reflection of his resilience and survival skills than an indication of his current dominance. The Panthers outscored Cincinnati 27-6 late in the third quarter in Week 2 and won 28-27. They trailed West Virginia 34-24 with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter and won in Week 3. Last week, they were tied with North Carolina early in the fourth quarter before pulling out a victory.

Pitt's defense then endured a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Cal on Saturday and was stopped with less than a minute left in regulation after the Golden Bears got the ball with a chance to drive down the field and score a field goal .

Everything is falling into place during this remarkable turnaround for the program, which finished the 2023 season with a 3-9 record. The Panthers are bowl eligible in coach Pat Narduzzi's 10th season and their offense, led by quarterback Eli Holstein, moved into the top 10 in the country in yards and points this week. There's suddenly an unexpected threat looming at the top of the ACC for Miami and Clemson.

Here's what you need to know about Pitt football's best starts over the years, the Panthers' best seasons and Narduzzi's coaching record:

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Best starts for Pitt Panthers football

  • 1982: 6-0
  • 1991: 5-0
  • 2002: 5-1
  • 2009: 9-1
  • 2021: 6-1

Best seasons for Pitt Panthers football

Pittsburgh has a long and illustrious history in college football, with four seasons in which the program was named national champions by at least one network. The Panthers' only national title in the modern era and their most recent title came in 1976. Here's a look at Pittsburgh's best seasons since then:

  • 1976: 12-0
  • 1977: 9-2-1
  • 1979: 11-1
  • 1980: 11-1
  • 1981: 11-1
  • 2002: 9-4
  • 2008: 9-4
  • 2009: 10-3
  • 2021: 11-3
  • 2022: 9-4

Pat Narduzzi's coaching record

Here's a look at Narduzzi's coaching record during his ten seasons as head coach, all of which were spent in Pittsburgh:

  • 2015: 8-5
  • 2016: 8-5
  • 2017: 5-7
  • 2018: 7-7
  • 2019: 8-5
  • 2020: 6-5
  • 2021: 11-3
  • 2022: 9-4
  • 2023: 3-9
  • 2024: 6:0 (2:0 ACC)
  • career: 71-50

Follow USA TODAY Network sports reporter Mark Giannotto on social media @mgiannotto and email him at [email protected].

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