Amid Pitt’s two-week stretch of misery, a hint of positivity could emerge Saturday at Acrisure Stadium when the Panthers meet No. 20 Clemson.

From 2016 to 2023, Pitt has defeated at least one nationally ranked opponent each year, ranging from second-ranked Clemson and Miami in 2016 and 2017 to No. 25 Virginia in 2018.

The exception under coach Pat Narduzzi is 2015 – his first season – when Pitt lost to No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 21 Navy. That equates to an overall record of 9-22 against the best teams in college football, according to their rankings at kickoff.

Pitt (7-2, 3-2 ACC) will play three ranked opponents in 22 days this month, starting with the 48-25 loss to No. 14 SMU on Nov. 2, followed by Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ) on Saturday and No. 19 Louisville (6-3, 4-2) on Nov. 23.

As Pitt prepares to take on top competition, linebacker Brian George wants to remind everyone, “We can’t overlook the fact that we are a good football team.”

“We are 7-2, and so is our opponent. Ultimately, our record doesn’t matter, because this week we have to win 1-0.”

With three games left, Pitt’s season could go in four distinctly different directions: 7-5 (ouch!), 8-4 (not bad overall), 9-3 (reversal from last year), 10-2 (third double). -digit victory total in 43 years).

As is his wont, George said it best: “Every game is an opportunity to show that you belong where you are. You were no pretender.’

1. What about Clemson?

There’s been a lot of talk around the country about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s reluctance to enter the transfer portal and what it means for his national championship hopes.

Clemson has no transfers on its two-deep depth chart and is one of four schools (Army, Navy and Air Force) not to have a transfer in the most recent cycle.

We’ll never know for sure if it’s a cause-and-effect situation, but since Clemson last qualified for the College Football Playoff after its sixth consecutive appearance on January 1, 2021, the Tigers have lost twelve games to power conference teams in four seasons, including a 34-3 opening day loss to Georgia this year.

But Clemson is 7-1 since that game, thanks to a balanced attack, big, physical lines on both sides of the ball and just five total turnovers in nine games.

“Our D-tackles better hang in there,” Narduzzi said, “because these guys (offensive linemen) are going to double-team you and try to hang you on the front of the goal post.”

Quarterback Cade Klubnik has thrown for 2,275 yards, 24 touchdowns and four interceptions. Running back Phil Mafah (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) is second in the ACC with 981 yards rushing.

Narduzzi said the Tigers will be a serious test for his players – and their hopes for the future.

“Everyone has the ambition to play in the National Football League,” he said. “We’ll see what you have against Clemson. Perhaps the best football team we have played this year. I shouldn’t say maybe. They are.”

2. Time to let Louis go?

It won’t be easy against an experienced offensive line, but the best way to disrupt Clemson’s offense may be to make Klubnik uncomfortable. However, Clemson has allowed just twelve sacks in nine games.

Maybe it will help to make more use of the speed of linebacker Kyle Louis. Louis and defenseman Jimmy Scott share the team lead with five sacks, but dropping Louis into coverage isn’t a bad idea either. He is fifth in the nation with four interceptions – first among FBS linebackers – and the first Pitt linebacker with four since Malcolm Postell in 2004. Linebacker Sal Sunseri had five in 1980.

3. Safeguards are key

Facing Clemson’s prolific passing game, Pitt won’t win without a solid day from safeties Donovan McMillon, Javon McIntyre and PJ O’Brien.

McMillon is one of eight Pitt players with one interception each, but safeties coach Cory Sanders said the Peters Township graduate’s value goes beyond splash plays.

“When you really look at the intricacies of Donovan, you really realize how good of a football player he is,” Sanders said. “No, he’s not up there with five interceptions. He is very reliable. Great eye discipline.”

McMillon leads the team with 77 tackles – one more than Louis – and he made an impressive stop against Virginia when he dropped three blockers to stop a screen pass.

“The kid shows up. He is working,” Sanders said. “He gets all his extra work in the classroom. It brings boys.”

Meanwhile, Sanders revealed an interesting statistic about McIntyre’s resume. Coaches want defensive backs to keep their completion percentage under 33%. McIntyre is at 22%.

“He has done very well in his one-on-one matches,” the coach said.

4. Game delay?

By definition, Pitt’s rushing offense should eliminate delay of game penalties. But Pitt was hit with one on Saturday.

“I will take that blame,” offensive coordinator Kade Bell said. “We had a play call and I wanted to change the protection for (quarterback Nate Yarnell) and obviously after 15 seconds (the speaker system from sideline to quarterback) goes off.”

As Bell tried to get Yarnell’s attention, the play clock expired.

“He also has to look at the clock and run over to get it rescheduled,” Bell said. “We actually worked on that (in practice this week).”

Also, an offense that sputters by definition has difficulty moving quickly between plays.

“You can’t go fast when you’re getting negative plays and penalties,” Bell said. “The clock stops. You’re standing on the sticks. You don’t want to put the quarterback in a bad situation by going fast. Sometimes we don’t play as fast because we’re trying to help the quarterback a little bit with all the different coverages we’re getting.”

5. Hammond in 2025?

Running back Rodney Hammond, who was suspended for the first four games and played as a reserve in the next four, would be eligible for a redshirt if he does not return to action. Narduzzi said this is a possible way to bring Hammond back next season.

“We’re not just going to put him in there just for the sake of putting him in there,” he said.