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Week 3 Thursday Preview: Syracuse, Pitt Open Week 3 of ACC Football

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Week 3 of ACC Football kicks off under the lights on Thursday, September 17, as Syracuse travels to Pitt for a 7:30 p.m. ET conference matchup on ESPN. The contest opens a 12-game ACC slate spanning three consecutive days and marks the first of five conference games on the week.
 
Thursday night begins a stretch of back-to-back primetime ACC contests on ESPN, with No. 5 Miami traveling to Wake Forest on Friday night. The conference enters Week 3 with momentum after posting a 12-1 record in non-conference play last week.
 

Thursday, September 17
Syracuse at Pitt | 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: Pitt leads series, 45-33-3
Last meeting: Pitt, 30-13 (2025)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
  • Pitt has won 18 of the last 21 meetings against Syracuse, including seven of the last eight. The Orange are seeking their first road win at Pitt since 2001.
  • Syracuse enters Week 3 ranked No. 12 nationally in total defense, allowing just 204.0 yards per game.
  • The Orange outgained California by nearly 200 yards in their ACC opener but were hurt by turnovers in a 21-18 loss.
  • Syracuse has four players averaging at least 40 rushing yards per game: Tylik Hill (73.5), Shavane Anderson Jr. (60.0), Ju’juan Johnson (46.0) and Matt Outten (44.0).
  • Anderson made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, rushing for 102 yards and three touchdowns against New Hampshire in Week 1.
  • Pitt’s defense has been dominant against the run, allowing just 1.12 yards per carry through two games—one of only six FBS teams allowing 1.2 yards per carry or fewer.
  • The Panthers held UCF to just 20 rushing yards in a 12-7 Week 2 win, one week after the Knights rushed for 360 yards against Bethune-Cookman.
  • Pitt QB Mason Heintschel set an ACC single-game record with seven touchdown passes against Miami (Ohio) in Week 1, earning ACC Quarterback of the Week, Maxwell Award Player of the Week and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week honors.
  • Heintschel’s seven touchdown passes went to seven different receivers, tied with Miami and SMU for the most players with a touchdown reception in the ACC this season.