Pitt cracks the AP Top 25

The Associated Press released their updated top 25 for the week earlier today, and the Pitt Panthers have cracked the poll for the first time this season, coming in tied at #24 alongside South Floirda. You can see the entire poll here. Earlier in the afternoon, the Coaches released their top 25 and the Panthers narrowly missed the top 25, and finished third among teams in votes received.

Pitt is now ranked for the second consecutive year in a row, after appearing in the rankings last season following a 6-1 start. Since the AP Poll began, Pitt has been ranked in 26.3% of the time, which ranks 27th all-time.

Pitt enters the rankings following a wild 76-61 win over Syracuse. They have won three in a row, including a win over then #2 Clemson. In total Pitt is 2-2 against top 25 teams, including 2-0 versus the AP Top 8.

In Pat Narduzzi’s second year, he has Pitt ranked both seasons. His predecessors Paul Chryst and Todd Graham never had the Panthers ranked in their four joint seasons running the program, and each time Pitt finished 6-6 in the regular season.

Pitt is 8-4 for the second year in a row, and they await their bowl destination. The regular season concludes next weekend, and Pitt should soon find their bowl fate sometime soon thereafter. The Panthers went to the Military Bowl last season, and lost to Navy.

Pitt has been to 32 bowl games in program history, with their first appearance coming in the 1927 Rose Bowl. Despite recent coaching turmoil, Pitt has been to a bowl in each of the past eight seasons, compiling a 3-5 postseason record in that stretch. The eight year (now nine) bowl streak is good for the 14th best active streak in that span.