The No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers will welcome the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a highly-anticipated college football matchup on Saturday afternoon.
This matchup has major College Football Playoff implications for Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish, who have won each of their last seven games after opening the 2025 season with back-to-back losses against Miami and Texas A&M.
Pittsburgh is tied for first place in the ACC standings with a 5-1 conference record. Wins over conference opponents Georgia Tech and Miami to close out the regular season should put the Panthers in position to compete for an ACC Championship, which would likely give the program an automatic College Football Playoff bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.
During a press conference on Monday, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi gave a wild response when asked if Saturday’s game against Notre Dame is a “must-win.”
“Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game,” Narduzzi said. “… I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10… They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.”
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This comment captured the attention of fans from around the college football world.
“Legitimately one of the most off the mark answers I’ve ever heard a coach utter in public. Just straight up odd messaging,” one fan wrote.
“Never heard a coach say they could lose 110-10 and they would be fine with it LOL,” another said.
“I can’t imagine wanting to play for any coach who doesn’t care if we lose. Why is he the coach of this football team???? Seriously WHY!!!” another added.
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Notre Dame leads the all-time series against Pittsburgh 50-21-1. The Fighting Irish have absolutely dominated the rivalry in recent years, taking down the Panthers with a 58-7 final score in 2023 and a 45-3 final score in 2020.
Saturday’s Notre Dame-Pitt matchup will kickoff at noon ET.