Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi downplays journey challenges heading into recreation at Stanford

Cross-country journey is a byproduct of convention realignment, with a number of colleges having joined new leagues regardless of a scarcity of geographical attachments.

For instance, solely such shuffling may have Oregon taking part in a convention recreation at Penn State in late September, adopted by the Nittany Lions touring (and dropping to) UCLA the next week.

The same dynamic exists within the ACC, which added two Pacific Coast members in Stanford and Cal in 2024.

As a end result, for the primary time since 1922, Pitt (6-2, 4-1 ACC) visits Stanford (3-5, 2-3) for a 3:30 p.m. showdown Saturday at Stanford Stadium.

“What we’ve got to do is to try to go out there and play against a physical, well-coached football team,” coach Pat Narduzzi mentioned. “Stanford is really good. They beat Florida State out there. They play good football. It’s a 7-7 game at halftime last week against (No. 9) Miami — a really talented Miami team. (Stanford has) a really good football team. So we’ve got to go out and play our best or we’ll get our tails beat in.”

Narduzzi disregarded the problem of a lengthier street journey.

Usually, Pitt practices Monday by means of Thursday earlier than departing Friday for away video games, however this week, the group left city Thursday.

“It’s like going to Syracuse,” Narduzzi mentioned. “It’s like going to Tallahassee. It’s a street journey. I believe the extra you make of it, the extra it turns into a problem. I don’t assume it’s a problem. It’s slightly little bit of a time change. We exit and play.

“I think the best thing is it’s an early game for us. It would be a major deal if we were playing at 7:30 at night Pacific Time and getting off the field at 2:30 in the morning, playing in the fourth quarter. I think that’s a tough one. This one is very, very reasonable, I think.”

On the well being entrance, Pitt is only one recreation faraway from having to play with a real skeleton crew on protection due to numerous injury-induced absences.

At linebacker, Narduzzi and place coach Ryan Manalac have been very skinny, as walk-on Abe Ibraham (earlier than struggling an damage himself) began with Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles out.

Nick Lapi, the Panthers’ major backup linebacker, additionally was out after a powerful debut the earlier week at Syracuse.

But nonetheless suiting up was Leechburg graduate Braylan Lovelace, who impressed coaches together with his steadying presence.

“Braylan’s been a huge presence and leader of stability in the middle there,” Manalac mentioned. “Even when we pushed him to the outside, he’s that calming presence. Everybody knows he knows exactly what we’re doing. He gets everybody lined up, and he provides that stability within.”

Lapi has been dominated out vs. Stanford, per Thursday’s preliminary participant availability report.

But Louis and Biles are listed as questionable, together with tailback Desmond Reid, receiver Kenny Johnson and security Cruce Brookins.

Johnson even making the journey to Stanford ought to be considered as constructive, as Pitt’s junior wideout absorbed a giant hit when scoring a landing final weekend in opposition to N.C. State.

After dominating by means of two quarters in opposition to the Wolfpack, posting seven grabs for 112 yards, Johnson didn’t play the second half.

Reid, who has battled to get to 100% well being since struggling a suspected ankle damage Sept. 13 at West Virginia, went down once more within the third quarter final week.

One notable title that wasn’t on Thursday’s damage report was defensive finish Jaeden Moore.

Moore, an Oregon switch, suffered an damage throughout fall camp and hasn’t made his Panthers debut but.

That may change Saturday, with the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder accessible for the primary time this season.

Narduzzi instructed reporters in California on Friday that Moore can be on a snap depend.

“He obviously hasn’t had a lot of practice, so he won’t be as clean, probably, fundamentally as we like, but the speed, the athleticism is something we haven’t had (defensive) end,” Narduzzi mentioned. “We’ll limit him a little bit. We’ll just see how it goes, but 15 or 20 snaps is what we think right now. But we’ll see how it goes.”

However, Moore’s place mate and fellow switch, Blaine Spires, gained’t play for the fourth time in 5 weeks.

Another participant who stays out for Pitt is left sort out Jeff Persi, with Kendall Stanley taking his spot the final three weeks.