Pitt Hosts Georgia Tech for Homecoming

PITTSBURGH – Pitt will host Georgia Tech on homecoming Saturday.

Watch Pat Narduzzi’s media conference.

GAME STORYLINES

• Pitt resumes ACC play with a key Coastal Division encounter against Georgia Tech at Heinz Field. The Panthers close the regular season with seven consecutive ACC contests beginning this week with the Yellow Jackets.
• The Panthers’ stingy ground defense will be challenged by Georgia Tech’s potent spread option attack. Pitt is yielding 69.8 rushing yards per game to rank first in the ACC and fourth nationally. The Yellow Jackets average 226.8 rushing yards, fifth best in the ACC and 28th in the nation.
• Pitt is plus-5 in the turnover margin department (10 gained and five lost), while Georgia Tech is minus-3 (five gained and eight lost). Pitt has forced at least one turnover in each game this year.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is 2-0 all-time at Heinz Field, including the Yellow Jackets’ 56-28 win in 2014. As coach of Navy in 2007, he led the Midshipmen to a 48-45 double-overtime win.
• Pitt’s Ejuan Price is making a strong case for All-America and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The senior defensive end leads the entire nation in quarterback sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). Price has logged at least one sack in each contest this season.
• The Panthers boast one of college football’s most dangerous all-purpose players in Quadree Henderson. The sophomore wide receiver leads the nation in total all-purpose yards (tied) with 937. Henderson’s average of 187.4 yards per game leads the ACC and ranks fifth nationally.
• Junior running back James Conner, who overcame both a knee injury and Hodgkin lymphoma during the past 12 months, is just the fifth player in Pitt history to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards. The Panthers’ leading ground-gainer this season with 381 yards, Conner now has 3,022 for his career.

SERIES NOTES

This is the 11th meeting between Pitt and Georgia Tech in a series that began in 1918…Pitt leads the overall series, 6-4, and won last year’s encounter at Bobby Dodd Stadium, 31-28…the Panthers are 3-1 in games played in Pittsburgh and 3-1 in Atlanta…Pitt and Georgia Tech have twice met in bowl games with the Yellow Jackets winning each time…Georgia Tech defeated the Panthers in the Jan. 2, 1956 Sugar Bowl (7-0) and the Dec. 29, 1956 Gator Bowl (21-14)…the 2016 game marks the fourth Atlantic Coast Conference encounter between the two schools…Georgia Tech leads the ACC series with Pitt, 2-1…this year’s game marks only the second time since 1920 that Georgia Tech has played in Pittsburgh…in fact, the initial three games of the series from 1918-20 were all played in Pittsburgh…led by legendary coach Glenn “Pop” Warner, Pitt won each of those three contests by an aggregate score of 58-9…before the 2013 revival of the series, the two schools had not played since a pair of games at Georgia Tech in the 1970s…in 1976, Tony Dorsett scored three touchdowns as Pitt routed the host Yellow Jackets, 42-14…under the direction of Coach John Majors, Pitt would go 12-0 in 1976 and claim the national championship, while Dorsett would win the Heisman Trophy…the Panthers also defeated Georgia Tech, 27-17, during the 1974 season.

SERIES IN BRIEF

Series Began: 1918

Series Overall: Pitt leads 6-4

ACC Series: Georgia Tech leads 2-1

At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 3-1

At Georgia Tech: Pitt leads 3-1

At Neutral Sites: Georgia Tech leads 2-0 (two bowl games)

Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2015 (Pitt 31, Georgia Tech 28)

Last Meeting at Pitt: Oct. 25, 2014 (Ga. Tech 56, Pitt 28)

Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 1 (2015)

Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 3 games (1918-20)

Longest GT Series Win Streak: 2 games (twice, most recent: 2013-14)

Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 32 points (32-0, 1918)

Largest GT Victory Margin: 28 points (56-28, 2014)

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television • ACC Network (WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh)

Tom Werme, play-by-play

Dave Archer, analyst

Roddy Jones, reporter

Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network

Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play

Bill Osborn, analyst

Larry Richert, reporter

SiriusXM Satellite Radio

Sirius Channel 93, XM Channel 194, Internet Channel 956

WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM

Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options

PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive

Pitt Gameday LIVE App

TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)