3. At Pittsburgh – September 27
Pittsburgh comes into this matchup off a gut-wrenching overtime loss in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia, but they’ll also have two full weeks to prepare for Louisville. The Cardinals will likely be favored, yet history suggests this won’t be easy—Louisville is just 1–5 at Pitt since 2008. This game sets up as a true swing game in the ACC race, carrying far more weight than the casual fan might realize.
The reason Pitt looms larger than Clemson has to do with the schedule. Clemson’s ACC slate is relatively light, and with their early stumble, they may already be on the outside looking in. Pitt, on the other hand, faces a gauntlet of Louisville, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Miami. A Louisville win here not only gives the Cards a head-to-head tiebreaker, it also positions them to benefit if Pitt pulls an upset or two later in the season. Should the Panthers clip one of the top contenders, it could clear Louisville’s path toward the ACC Championship Game.
In other words, Pitt can still shape the league standings in ways Clemson cannot. While a win over Clemson would still look impressive on the résumé, a win at Pittsburgh could end up meaning more when it comes to ACC title math. For Louisville, this game isn’t just about beating a tricky opponent on the road—it’s about gaining leverage in a conference race that could be decided by the smallest of margins.
Related: 3 big observations for Louisville football fans from a wild Week 3 in the ACC