Featured Fanpost: Why The Cincinnati Game Is Huge

by jpoundr on Sep 3, 2025 10:19 AM EDT

Reader jpoundr checks in with a Fanpost on the Cincinnati game. Use the Fanpost section over to the right to write your own and we may publish it on the front page.

Needless to say, the season has not gotten off to a great start.

The loss to YSU has made the Cincinnati game much more important. Not only is it the first conference game and a chance for the team to regain confidence, it also will determine the attendance in the Virginia Tech game. Think about it. If Pitt lays an egg on national television after a loss to a FCS team, support for this team could very well hit a new low. The announced attendance was over 40,000 for yesterday, but the actual number was closer to 30,000.

If the team gets embarrassed Thursday, Heinz Field will be a ghost town for the Virginia Tech game, which is supposed to be the marquee home game of the season. If Pitt ends up being 0-3 with a quickly dwindling fanbase, everyone is in for a long season.

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Attendance

Great point about the attendance -

Personally, I still think the VT game would have a decent turnout. People like big games and the chance to see an upset … and if Pitt won, it would surely be an upset.

But as you suggest, the attendance the rest of the way would definitely take a big hit. Hard to see many showing up for non-marquee games.

Manager of Cardiac Hill - SB Nation's Pitt Panthers blog
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by CardiacHill on Sep 2, 2025 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

by jpoundr on Sep 2, 2025 11:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Attendance YSU Game

I thought the crowd was larger than the 40,700 announced. The crowd was decent for a non BCS opponent and considering what the Big East did to Pitt’s season tickets allowing TCU and WVU to skip out of home dates. The season ticket had to be more difficult to sell this year than in any recent campaigns.
You do make a good point if the team fails badly in Cin individual game tickets will not sell.

by PittACCfan on Sep 3, 2025 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

Crowd

Larger than 40K? Wow – I was there and think it was much closer to 30K. I think they go off of tickets sold, so it’s definitely not larger than announced.

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by CardiacHill on Sep 3, 2025 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Never Larger

They always go off tickets sold, I don’t think the crowd would ever be larger than the announced amount. They would be fools to try and under list the crowd when attendance has been a problem for Pitt for years now.

by twink on Sep 3, 2025 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Good Luck...

…against Cincy on Thursday. Tough loss on Saturday. I feel for you guys on that since we’ve had trouble closing out against FCS teams the last few years ourselves. As a fellow ACCer to be, I’ll be rooting for you guys every game…well except for the one we play you :oP

"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin', partner?"
"Aim for the bushes?"
-from The Other Guys

by orangebookworm on Sep 3, 2025 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, friend

At least you guys made your game competitive. Hoping we can do the same this week against Cincy.

Manager of Cardiac Hill - SB Nation's Pitt Panthers blog
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by CardiacHill on Sep 3, 2025 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Totally agree with the post

the Cincy game is now – quite possibly – the most important game of the year now because of the debacle this last Saturday. Probably even more important than the V Tech or ND game right now. There is no question about this in my mind, and it shouldn’t be a question in the mind of any Pitt fan right now.

It is pivotal that the team bounce back and play a good game Thursday for their confidence (even if they lose), or we are looking at a Duke-like season most likely. The only win they might muster is Gardner Webb who lost to Savannah St. or something like that by 30 points this last week.

But regardless of what happens this year, give coach Chryst a chance and don’t give up on him. I still believe he is a great coach even if he goes 3-8 this year, and once he gets his system in place, Pitt will do very well in the ACC. This might just be a rough year due to the coaching turmoil and in-stability. As Pitt fans, we just have to expect and brace for this.

by PittGuy on Sep 3, 2025 7:25 PM EDT reply actions