Pitt learns dates of 2014 ACC football games

The Atlantic Coast Conference released its 2014 football schedule Wednesday, revealing the dates Pitt will meet their opponents in the team’s second year of ACC play.

Pitt’s first conference game will be played on Sept. 5 in a Friday-night game at Boston College. The Golden Eagles are the Panthers’ crossover opponent from the Atlantic Division for the upcoming season.

Home conference games for the 2014 season include Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Duke and Syracuse. The Oct. 25 contest against the Hokies will likely highlight Pitt’s home schedule.

From afar, the Panthers’ most challenging game will likely be their away game in Miami to close out the season on Nov. 29. Pitt also visits Virginia and North Carolina.  

While the on-field product is still unknown and the Panthers must replace graduating players and improve in certain positions, a higher win total seems within Pitt’s reach in 2014 when comparing their upcoming schedule with last season’s. 

Another favorable aspect of the schedule is the gap between the team’s bye weeks. In 2014, the Panthers will not play the weeks of Oct. 11 and Nov. 8. Last season, the Panthers had to play eight consecutive games after bye weeks early in the season.

Pitt’s nonconference schedule includes home matchups with Delaware, Iowa and Akron, along with a road contest against Florida International Sept. 13. The Panthers open their season at home against Delaware on Aug. 30.