Virginia Football Schedule Preview: Pittsburgh

Virginia
Jahmeer Carter and the Virginia defense will try to slow down Pittsburgh this season. ~ Photo by Mike Ingalls/TheSabre.com

The Virginia football team’s 10th game of the season will put it against Pittsburgh at home on the grass at Scott Stadium. This will be the third of UVA’s four game home stint late in the season and an important conference matchup. As the third to last game of the season, and two games out from the Commonwealth Cup, Cavalier fans will be looking for a complete effort from first-year coach Tony Elliott’s club.

The Sabre schedule preview series continues with a look at a Coastal Division foe before the divisions disappear beginning in 2023.

Pittsburgh Panthers

  • Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 – TBD
  • Scott Stadium – Charlottesville, Virginia (Grass)
  • 2021 Record: 11-3, 7-1 ACC
  • Coach: Pat Narduzzi (8th Season)
  • Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2021 – Pitt won 48-38
  • Last Bowl Game Appearance: 2021 Peach Bowl – Michigan State won 31-21
  • Key Returning Players: LB SirVocea Dennis, DT Calijah Kancey, DE Habakkuk Baldonado, OT Gabe Houy, OT Carter Warren, OG Jake Kradel, OG Marcus Minor, C Owen Drexel.

What To Expect on Game Day

What’s To Like: Pitt’s Returning Run Defense. Pitt’s defense this year will be the same beast as last season, but with another year of experience under its belt. Pittsburgh boasts of 6 returning All-ACC defensive selections from a unit that was ranked second nationally in sacks (3.86 per game) and in fourth down defense (26.9% conversion rate allowed). The group also ranked fourth in defensive touchdowns allowed (5), sixth in run defense (89.3 yards per game allowed), eighth in interceptions (16), and 39th in total defense (353.6 yards per game allowed).

As noted, much of the defensive firepower returns. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was named first team All-ACC last yearm, leads the way after logging 7 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Kancey will be joined on the end by second team All-ACC selection Habakkuk Baldonado, who logged 9 sacks and 12 tackles for loss last year. The Panthers round out the group of ends with heavy hitters like Deslin Alexandre, David Green, and Devin Danielson.

...