List of Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons

This is a list of Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons, national championships and quarterbacks. The Pittsburgh Panthers football team is the American football team of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Panthers have been members of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2013. From 1991 to 2012 they were members of the Big East Conference. Before 1991 they competed as an independent.

The Panthers began play in 1890. In total, the University officially recognizes nine national championships. The university bases its claim for the five national championships from 1929 to 1937 on a 1967 article by Dan Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.[1][2] The NCAA's record book lists Pittsburgh as being selected for a national championship by "major selectors" in eleven different seasons.[3] Research by College Football Data Warehouse (CFBDW) has found that Pitt was selected as a national champion in 16 different seasons by at least one out of 80 selectors of titles.[4] Of these, CFBDW names six as national championship seasons for the University of Pittsburgh.[5]

Season records

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Season Record Bowl Results Awards AP Rank National championships References
Overall Conference
W L T Membership W L T Peak Final Selectors Source
1890 1 2 0
1891 2 5 0
1892 4 2 0
1893 1 4 0
1894 1 1 0
1895 1 6 0
1896 3 6 0
1897 1 3 0
1898 5 2 1
1899 3 1 1
1900 5 4 0
1901 7 2 1
1902 5 6 1
1903 1 8 1
1904 10 0 0
1905 10 2 0
1906 4 6 0
1907 9 1 0
1908 8 3 0
1909 6 2 1
1910 9 0 0 NCF CFBDW, NCAA
1911 4 3 1
1912 3 6 0
1913 6 2 1
1914 8 1 0
1915 8 0 0 PD NCAA, Pitt
1916 8 0 0 BR, HAF, HS, NCF, PD CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1917 9 0 0
1918 4 1 0 HAF, HS, NCF CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1919 6 2 1
1920 6 0 2
1921 5 3 1
1922 8 2 0
1923 5 4 0
1924 5 3 1
1925 8 1 0
1926 5 2 2
1927 8 1 1 L Rose Bowl
1928 6 2 1
1929 9 1 0 L Rose Bowl PD NCAA, Pitt
1930 6 2 1
1931 8 1 0 PD NCAA, Pitt
1932 8 1 2 L Rose Bowl
1933 8 1 0
1934 8 1 0 PD Pitt
1935 7 1 2
1936 8 1 1 W Rose Bowl #2 #3 BS, CFRA, HS CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1937 9 0 1 #1 #1 AP, BR, BS, CFRA, DiS, HS, L, NCF, PS, SR, WS CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1938 8 2 0 #1 #8
1939 5 4 0 #1
1940 3 4 1
1941 3 6 0
1942 3 6 0
1943 3 5 0
1944 4 5 0
1945 3 7 0
1946 3 5 1
1947 1 8 0
1948 6 3 0
1949 6 3 0 #15
1950 1 8 0
1951 3 7 0
1952 6 3 0 #14
1953 3 5 1 #15
1954 4 5 0 #20
1955 7 4 0 L Sugar Bowl #7 #11
1956 7 3 1 L Gator Bowl #7 #13
1957 4 6 0 #16
1958 5 4 1 #7
1959 6 4 0 #16 #20
1960 4 3 3 #12
1961 3 7 0
1962 5 5 0
1963 9 1 0 #3 #4
1964 3 5 2
1965 3 7 0
1966 1 9 0
1967 1 9 0
1968 1 9 0
1969 4 6 0
1970 5 5 0 #15
1971 3 8 0
1972 1 10 0
1973 6 5 1 L Fiesta Bowl #20
1974 7 4 0 #8 #20
1975 8 4 0 W Sun Bowl #15 #15
1976 12 0 0 W Sugar Bowl #1 #1 AP, FN, FWAA, HAF, NCF, NFF, PS, R(FACT), SN, SR, UPI CFBDW, NCAA, Pitt
1977 9 2 1 W Gator Bowl #8 #8
1978 8 4 0 L Tangerine Bowl #9
1979 11 1 0 W Fiesta Bowl #7 #7
1980 11 1 0 W Gator Bowl #2 #2 CFRA, DeS, NYT, R(FACT), SR NCAA
1981 11 1 0 W Sugar Bowl #1 #4 NCF NCAA
1982 9 3 0 L Cotton Bowl Classic #1 #10
1983 8 3 1 L Fiesta Bowl #15 #18
1984 3 7 1 #17
1985 5 5 1
1986 6 4 1
1987 8 4 0 L Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl #16
1988 6 5 0 #16
1989 8 3 1 W John Hancock Bowl #7 #17
1990 3 7 1     #13
1991 6 5 0 Big East 3 2 0 #12
1992 3 9 0 Big East 1 3 0
1993 3 8 0 Big East 2 5 0
1994 3 8 0 Big East 2 5 0
1995 2 9 0 Big East 0 7 0
1996 4 7     Big East 3 4    
1997 6 6 Big East 4 3 L Liberty Bowl
1998 2 9 Big East 0 7
1999 5 6 Big East 2 5
2000 7 5 Big East 4 3 L Insight.com Bowl
2001 7 5 Big East 4 3 W Tangerine Bowl
2002 9 4 Big East 5 2 W Insight Bowl #17 #19
2003 8 5 Big East 5 2 L Continental Tire Bowl #9
2004 8 4 Big East 4 2 L Fiesta Bowl #19 #25
2005 5 6 Big East 4 3 #21
2006 6 6 Big East 2 5
2007 5 7 Big East 3 4
2008 9 4 Big East 5 2 L Sun Bowl #17
2009 10 3 Big East 5 2 W Meineke Car Care Bowl #8 #15
2010 8 5 Big East 5 2 W BBVA Compass Bowl #15
2011 6 7 Big East 4 3 L BBVA Compass Bowl
2012 6 7 Big East 3 4 L BBVA Compass Bowl
2013 7 6 ACC 3 5 W Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
2014 6 7 ACC 4 4 L Armed Forces Bowl
2015 8 5 ACC 6 2 L Military Bowl #23
2016 8 5 ACC 5 3 L Pinstripe Bowl #22
2017 5 7 ACC 3 5
2018 7 7 ACC 6 2 L Sun Bowl #24
2019 8 5 ACC 4 4 W Quick Lane Bowl
2020 6 5 ACC 5 5 #21
2021 11 3 ACC 7 1 L Peach Bowl #13 #13
2022 9 4 ACC 5 3 W Sun Bowl #17 #22
2023 3 9 ACC 2 6
2024 7 5 ACC 3 5 GameAbove Sports Bowl #19

Legend

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CFBDW recognized National Championships[5]
NCAA record book listed & Pitt claimed National Championships
National Championship listed in the NCAA record book but not claimed by Pitt
National Championship claimed by Pitt but not listed in the NCAA record book
Big East Conference Championship
(1991–2012)
ACC Coastal Division Championship
(2013–2022)
ACC Conference Championship
(2013–present)
Undefeated Season

Polls have been the most prominent form of championship selection since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. The following systems have at one point in their history have named Pitt as a national champion or are still active today. Retroactive designations are marked in italics.

Selector Name Years   Selector Name Years
Mathematical Poll
BCS* Bowl Championship Series 1998–2013 AP Associated Press 1936–present
BR Billingsley Report 1869–1870, 1872–1969, 1970–2006 CFRA College Football Researchers Association 1919–1935, 1936–1981, 1982–1992
BS Boand System 1919–1929, 1930–1960 FN Football News 1958–2002
CCR Congrove Computer Rankings 1993–Present FWAA Football Writers Association of America 1954–present
DeS DeVold System 1939–1944, 1945–2006 HAF Helms Athletic Foundation 1883–1935, 1936–1940, 1941–1982
DiS Dickinson System 1924–1925, 1926–1940 NCF National Championship Foundation 1869–1870, 1872–1935, 1936–1979, 1980–2000
HS Houlgate System 1885, 1887–1905, 1907–1926, 1927–1949 NFF National Football Foundation 1959–1990, 1995–present
L Litkenhous 1934–1972, 1974, 1978, 1981–1984 SN Sporting News 1975–2006
NYT New York Times 1979–2004 UPI* United Press International 1950–1990, 1993–1995
PS Poling System 1924–1934, 1935–1955, 1957–1984 USAT*†‡ USA Today 2006–present
R(FACT) Rothman (FACT) 1968–2006 * The USA Today (USAT) Coaches' Poll is used as part of the BCS formula.
† The NFF merged with UPI from 1991–1992 and was known as the UPI/NFF. Prior to 1991 the UPI had published the Coaches' Poll, which has been published by USA Today under various names and sponsorships since 1991.[6]
‡ The USA Today Poll was sponsored by CNN from 1982–1996, known as CNN/USA Today, and ESPN from 1997–2005, known as the ESPN/USA Today. The NFF briefly merged with USA Today poll from 1993–1994 and was known as the USAT/NFF.
SR Sagarin Ratings 1919–1977, 1978–2006
WS Williamson System 1931, 1932–1963
Research
PD Parke H. Davis 1869–1870, 1872–1909, 1911–1916, 1919–1932, 1933

National championships

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Kiosk in the Great Hall at Heinz Field celebrating Pitt's 1976 national championship

The University of Pittsburgh claims nine national championships for the Panthers football team: four that are mostly unanimous, (1916, 1918, 1937, and 1976) and five shared titles (1915, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936). Parke Davis was the only major selector of four of the titles, including the 1934 selection attributed to him after his pre-season death.

The University bases its claim for the first eight national championships on a 1967 article by Dan Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.[2][1] These championships, together with its unanimous championship of 1976, are the basis for the university's claim of nine national championship seasons.

Furthermore, according to research conducted by the College Football Data Warehouse,[7] in eight additional years at least one out of 80 selectors of national titles has declared Pitt as its national champion. Combined with the Sports Illustrated article, Pitt has been recognized as the national champion by at least one selector in 17 different seasons. According to the NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book[permanent dead link], Pitt has been named a national champion by a "Major Selector" in 11 separate seasons.[8]

Note: The table lists all known national championship selections for the University of Pittsburgh. The list of national championship selecting organizations choosing Pitt for any particular year is not necessarily comprehensive. For more information see College Football Data Warehouse Total National Championships. All selections for seasons before 1927 were made retrospectively, as were many later selections. Additional notations include the following:

Pitt: national championship selections are officially recognized by the University[9]
NCAA: Selection as national champions by organizations designated as "Major Selectors" in the official NCAA football records book[10]
CFBDW: Designation as "CFBDW Recognized National Champions"[11] according to College Football Data Warehouse.
Pittsburgh Panthers national championships
Season Coach Record Selectors Recognized
1910 Joseph H. Thompson 9–0 1st-N-Goal
Century Football Index
Cliff Morgan
Mel Smith
National Championship Foundation*
Patrick Premo
NCAA
CFBDW
1915 Glenn Scobey Warner 8–0 Bill Libby
Jim Koger
Mel Smith
Parke H. Davis*
NCAA
Pitt
1916 Glenn Scobey Warner 8–0 Billingsley Report*
Helms Athletic Foundation*
Houlgate System*
National Championship Foundation*
Parke Davis *
17 minor selectors
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1917 GlennScobey Warner 10–0 Alexander Weyand
David Wilson
Earl Jessen
Jim Koger
Mel Smith
Nutshell Sports Football Ratings
1918 Glenn Scobey Warner 4–1 Helms Athletic Foundation*
Houlgate System*
National Championship Foundation*
14 minor selectors
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1925 Jock Sutherland 8–1 Soren Sorensen
1927 Jock Sutherland 8–1–1 Esso Gas
1929 Jock Sutherland 9–1 Parke H. Davis* NCAA
Pitt
1931 Jock Sutherland 8–1 1st-N-Goal
Bob Kirlin
Parke H. Davis*
NCAA
Pitt
1933 Jock Sutherland 8–1 Bob Kirlin
1934 Jock Sutherland 8–1 Parke H. Davis' successor Pitt
1936 Jock Sutherland 8–1–1 1st-N-Goal
Angelo Louisa
Boand System*
Bob Kirlin
College Football
Researchers Association*
Earl Jessen
Esso Gas
Houlgate System*
Jim Koger
Loren Maxwell
Patrick Premo
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1937 Jock Sutherland 9–0–1 consensus
(12 major selectors, 15 minor selectors)
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1938 Jock Sutherland 8–2 Patrick Premo
1976 Johnny Majors 12–0 consensus
(12 major selectors, 19 minor selectors)
NCAA
Pitt
CFBDW
1980 Jackie Sherrill 11–1 1st-N-Goal
Angelo Louisa
ARGH Power Ratings
College Football Researchers Association*
Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments*
Harry DeVold*
James Howell
Jeff Self
New York Times*
Quality Champions
Sagarin Ratings*
Steve Eck
The Fleming System
NCAA
1981 Jackie Sherrill 11–1 Montgomery Full Season Championship
National Championship Foundation*
NCAA

* NCAA-designated "major selector"

The following table summarizes the source and totals for Pitt's national championship seasons.

Source Championships Years
AP/Coaches' Poll (1936–present) Two 1937, 1976
CFBDW (recognized)[5] Six 1910, 1916, 1918, 1936, 1937, 1976
Sports Illustrated (1967 article)[n 1] Eight 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937
NCAA ("major" selectors)[12] Eleven 1910, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1936, 1937, 1976, 1980, 1981
CFBDW (all)[4] Sixteen 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1976, 1980, 1981
Total unique seasons Seventeen 1910, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1976, 1980, 1981
Claimed by Pitt[13] Nine 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1976
  1. ^ Based on a September 11, 1967 Sports Illustrated article.[2][1]

Quarterbacks

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Pitt's season-by-season completion leaders at quarterback since 1974 are depicted in the following table.[14]

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterbacks
Season 1st String QB/Completions 2nd String QB/Completions 3rd String QB/Completions
2024 Eli Holstein / 180 Nate Yarnell / 98 David Lynch / 6
2023 Christian Veilleux / 94 Phil Jurkovec / 57 Nate Yarnell / 41
2022 Kedon Slovis / 184 Nick Patti / 29 Nate Yarnell / 10
2021 Kenny Pickett / 334* Nick Patti / 14 Davis Beville / 17
2020 Kenny Pickett / 203 Nick Patti / 26 Davis Beville / 5
2019 Kenny Pickett / 289* Nick Patti / 26
2018 Kenny Pickett / 180 Jeff George Jr. / 1 Ricky Town / 1
2017 Max Browne / 96 Ben DiNucci / 88 Kenny Pickett / 39
2016 Nathan Peterman / 185 Ben DiNucci / 3
2015 Nathan Peterman / 193 Chad Voytik / 16
2014 Chad Voytik / 176 Trey Anderson / 11
2013 Tom Savage / 238 Chad Voytik / 6
2012 Tino Sunseri / 256* Trey Anderson / 2
2011 Tino Sunseri / 247* Trey Anderson / 12
2010 Tino Sunseri / 223 Pat Bostick / 7
2009 Bill Stull / 207 Tino Sunseri / 10
2008 Bill Stull / 188 Pat Bostick / 22 Kevan Smith / 1
2007 Pat Bostick / 155 Kevan Smith / 36 Bill Stull / 14
2006 Tyler Palko / 220 Bill Stull / 6
2005 Tyler Palko / 193 Bill Stull / 1
2004 Tyler Palko / 230 Joe Flacco / 1
2003 Rod Rutherford / 247* Luke Getsy / 3
2002 Rod Rutherford / 192 Tyler Palko / 2
2001 David Priestley / 165 Rod Rutherford / 19
2000 John Turman / 128 David Priestley / 57
1999 John Turman / 92 David Priestley / 92
1998 Matt Lytle / 159 Matt O'Connor / 14
1997 Pete Gonzalez / 198 Matt Lytle / 5
1996 Matt Lytle / 105 Pete Gonzalez / 30
1995 John Ryan / 115 Matt Lytle / 37 Pete Gonzalez / 30
1994 John Ryan / 87 Sean Fitzgerald / 79 Pete Gonzalez / 4
1993 John Ryan / 115 Ken Ferguson / 9
1992 Alex Van Pelt / 245* John Ryan / 21
1991 Alex Van Pelt / 227* Ken Ferguson / 2
1990 Alex Van Pelt / 201 Darnell Dickerson / 1
1989 Alex Van Pelt / 192 Scott Stark / 4
1988 Darnell Dickerson / 104 Larry Wanke / 8
1987 Sal Genilla / 80 Darnell Dickerson / 35 Larry Wanke / 13
1986 John Congemi / 165 Joe Felitskey / 36 Sal Genilla / 8
1985 John Congemi / 122 Joe Felitskey / 4
1984 John Congemi / 93 Chris Jelic / 44 John Cummings / 12
1983 John Congemi / 170 Chris Jelic / 9 John Cummings / 9
1982 Dan Marino / 221 Dan Daniels / 2
1981 Dan Marino / 226* Dan Daniels / 1
1980 Dan Marino / 116 Rick Trocano / 88
1979 Dan Marino / 130 Rick Trocano / 74
1978 Rick Trocano / 138* Larry Delaney / 18
1977 Matt Cavanaugh / 110* Rick Trocano / 17
1976 Matt Cavanaugh / 65 Thomas Yencic / 14
1975 Robert Haygood / 42 Matt Cavanaugh / 30
1974 Bill Daniels / 71* Bob Medwid / 14

* Denotes setting of team single-season completion record

References

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  1. ^ a b c Borghetti, E.J.; Nestor, Mendy; Welsh, Celeste, eds. (2008). 2008 Pitt Football Media Guide (PDF). University of Pittsburgh. p. 156. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2010. To settle countless arguments, Sports Illustrated in 1970 [sic] researched the first and only complete and wholly accurate list ever compiled of college football's mythical national champions [sic]. Every recognized authority that ever presumed to name a No. 1 was included [sic].
  2. ^ a b c Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967). "This Year The Fight Will Be In The Open". Sports Illustrated. 27 (11). Chicago: Time Inc.: 30–33. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "2001 NCAA Division I Football Records Book" (PDF). p. 78. Retrieved January 29, 2009. [dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Pittsburgh All National Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c "College Football Data Warehouse: Recognized National Championships by Team: Pittsburgh". Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "Official 2008 NCAA Division 1 Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ College Football Data Warehouse: Pittsburgh All National Championships, accessdate=2008-11-28 Archived 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ The National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2008 NCAA Division 1 Football Records Book, 2008-08[permanent dead link], pg 76, ISSN 0735-5475, accessdate=2008-11-28
  9. ^ "2007 Pitt Football Media Guide, p176" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  10. ^ Official 2007 NCAA Division 1 Records Book, p.74 Archived 2007-12-01 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "CFBDW Recognized National Champions". Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  12. ^ National Championships as listed in the official NCAA football records book as selected by "Major Selectors" although the NCAA itself does not recognize or discriminate between national championship selections. "Official 2008 NCAA Division 1 Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. 2008.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ The University of Pittsburgh officially claims 9 National Championships for the Panthers football team. The University of Pittsburgh bases its claim for the first 8 national championships on a 1967 article by Dan Jenkins of Sports Illustrated. These championships, together with its unanimous championship of 1976, are the basis for the university's claim of 9 national championship seasons.
  14. ^ "Pitt Panthers 2012 season". sports-reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2013.