BOOM
Karlos May commits to Ohio State, completing a loaded defensive line class for the Buckeyes.
Pat Narduzzi has never lacked confidence. But even by Narduzzi standards, this one requires an incredible commitment to ignoring all available evidence.
During a sit down with Atlanta's 680 The Fan at ACC Media Days, Pitt’s head coach declared the ACC is better than the Big Ten because it has “more skill,” then insisted the league has a winning record against Big Ten and SEC opponents in both the regular season and bowl games.
Cue up the video at the 3:34 mark for Narduzzi’s full, exceedingly confident explanation.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi isn't backing down.
— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) July 17, 2026
"This conference is better. It's better than the Big Ten." @JohnMichaelsU @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/B6CHlgRcv2
That is a remarkable thing to say with a straight face, because Pitt is 1–6 against Big Ten opponents under Narduzzi. The Panthers are 1–4 in regular-season games against the league and 0–2 in bowls, with losses to Northwestern in the 2016 Pinstripe Bowl and Michigan State in the 2021 Peach Bowl.
The SEC record is less damning, if only because it is much smaller: Pitt split a home-and-home with Tennessee, winning in Knoxville in 2021 (the Vols went 7–6 that season) and losing in Pittsburgh in 2022. That leaves Narduzzi a combined 2–7 against the two conferences.
So yes, the ACC is apparently so superior that its most vocal advocate has a losing record against the Big Ten, no postseason wins against the Big Ten or SEC and an overall 2–6 bowl record at Pitt.
And yes, Pat, the ACC is clearly better than the conference that just won the last three College Football Playoff Championships. Good call there.
Did we mention the league Narduzzi is touting just crowned Duke champion fresh off a 7–5 regular season? The confidence is impressive. The math is less so.
