Pitt remains No. 13 in final AP poll, highest standing since 1982

Pitt’s 31-21 loss to Michigan State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl didn’t significantly affect the Panthers’ standing in the final Associated Press and USA Today/AFCA Top 25 polls. Pitt (11-3) finished 13th in both, earning its highest standing in 39 years.

The Panthers were ranked 13th by AP and 12th by USA Today a month ago after winning the ACC championship Dec. 4 with a 45-21 victory against Wake Forest.

The final rankings are the program’s highest standing since 1982 when Pitt finished 9th in the AP poll and was ranked 10th by United Press International. Pitt hasn’t been a part of a final poll since it was 15th in 2009.

With 18 starters scheduled to return, Pitt has been mentioned in five early 2022 Top 25 listings, including The Athletic (No. 11), Athlon (No. 19), Pro Football Network (No. 19), Sporting News (No. 24) and Yahoo Sports (No. 24). ESPN’s 2022 Way-Too-Early Top 25 did not rank the Panthers.

For the first time since 2016, the Panthers will venture into a season without quarterback Kenny Pickett, a Heisman Trophy finalist and a projected first-round NFL draft pick this year.

Pitt opens the ‘22 season Sept. 3 against West Virginia at Heinz Field. It will be the first Backyard Brawl in football since 2011. The other nonconference games will be against Tennessee and Rhode Island at home and a rematch with Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich. Pitt also will play at Louisville of the ACC Atlantic Division in its conference crossover game.

Four ACC teams were included in the AP’s final Top 25 poll. Clemson and Wake Forest moved up five spots to 14th and 15th after bowl victories. Clemson defeated Iowa State, 20-13, in the Cheez-It Bowl and Wake Forest was a 38-10 winner against Rutgers in the Gator Bowl. N.C. State dropped from No. 18 to No. 20 after its postseason game, the Holiday Bowl, was canceled.