Panthers move up six spots to No. 17 in latest AP football top-25 poll

The Associated Press ranked Pitt No. 17 in the country in their latest college football top-25 poll released on Sunday. Pitt, ranked No. 23 last week, jumped six spots this week after taking down the Clemson Tigers 27-17 on Saturday. No team climbed more spots than Pitt in the latest poll.

Pitt is one of two members of the ACC ranked this week, with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons coming in at No. 13 overall. The two ACC foes are not scheduled to meet in the regular season.

This is the first time the Panthers have cracked the top-20 of the poll since 2010 when they were ranked No. 15 in the preseason poll. The Panthers have not been inside of the top-10 of the poll since 2009 when they were ranked No. 8 in the nation in week 13. 

Pitt also climbed in ESPN’s FPI rankings, which ranks teams using “team strength,” according to the website. The Panthers are now at No. 6 in these rankings — one spot higher than they were a week ago. The outlet gives Pitt an 89.4% chance of winning the Coastal Division and 60.8% to win the ACC outright.

ESPN also gives the Panthers nearly a one-in-four chance to make the College Football Playoffs. 

Pitt’s next opportunity to bolster its resume will come this Saturday at home against the Miami Hurricanes. The game will kick off at noon and air on ACC Network.