Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was handed more motivational material Friday when the ACC released its preseason media poll and the Panthers were ranked eighth out of 15 teams.
Nonetheless, the 134-member panel chose three Pitt players to its All-ACC team: Center Jimmy Morrissey, defensive end Patrick Jones II and safety Paris Ford. Morrissey and Ford were named to the ACC’s first team after last season, and Jones was chosen to the second team.
Clemson was the overwhelming choice to finish first in the conference standings and to win the ACC championship game, receiving 132 votes. Notre Dame received the other two and finished second, followed by (in order), North Carolina, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Miami, Florida State, Pitt, Virginia, Wake Forest, N.C. State, Duke, Boston College, Syracuse and Georgia Tech.
Pitt will have plenty of chances to state its case as one of the top teams in the ACC. The Panthers are scheduled to play six teams ranked between Nos. 1 and 7.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year on 100 ballots while his teammate, running back Travis Etienne, received 30. The other votes (one each) went to quarterbacks Sam Howell of North Carolina and Ian Book of Notre Dame, North Carolina linebacker Chaz Surratt and Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. At the end of last season, Etienne became the first ACC running back in more than four decades named player of the year in consecutive seasons.
The ACC has changed its format for deciding a champion this season, adding Notre Dame as a full-fledged conference member and replacing the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions with one 15-team league. The teams with the highest winning percentage in 10 conference games will play in the ACC championship game Dec. 12 or 19 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Unranked in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, Pitt opens its season Sept. 12 in a nonconference game against Austin Peay at Heinz Field. The game begins at 4 p.m. and will be televised by the ACC Network.
