Football: Pitt-Notre Dame matchup slated for primetime

By Jay Huerbin / Sports Editor

published: Mon, 2 Nov, 2009

When the Pittsburgh Panthers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off Nov. 14, they will be under the lights of a nationally televised game.

The Big East announced Monday that the Pitt-Notre Dame game will kick off at 8 p.m. and air on ABC in a split national telecast — the network will also show Texas Tech at Oklahoma State.

This will be the third prime-time game for the Panthers, who defeated Rutgers and Louisville on two Fridays in October.

Pitt is off to its best start since 1982.

With a 7-1 overall record and a 4-0 Big East record, the Panthers are tied atop the conference standings with Cincinnati.

Despite the off week, the Panthers jumped in all national polls this weekend. In the weekly Bowl Championship Series standings, Pitt moved up to No. 13 — its highest BCS ranking ever.

The Panthers are ranked No. 14 in this week’s Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls.

Before the Notre Dame game, the Panthers will host Syracuse Saturday. The matchup against the Orange will start at noon.

The game times for Pitt’s last two remaining games — at West Virginia on Nov. 27 and against Cincinnati on Dec. 5 — have not yet been determined.