18. Pittsburgh (4-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 37th and 33rdSP+ strength of schedule to date: 94th
What the Panthers did in Week 4: def. Youngstown State 73-17
Last week's ranking: 33rd
Why they're ranked here: The saga of the Pitt offense is one of the strangest in recent memory.
2019: 100th in offensive SP+, 21.2 points per game
2021: sixth in offensive SP+, 41.4 PPG
2023: 108th in offensive SP+, 20.2 PPG
It's a full rise-and-fall story arc in a small period of time. But Pat Narduzzi's additions of former Western Carolina offensive coordinator Kade Bell and Alabama backup quarterback Eli Holstein have created a new arc. Pitt blew out two minnows, Holstein pulled off late-game heroics against both Cincinnati and West Virginia, and the Panthers are 4-0 for the first time since 2000. Do they have staying power? Is the pass defense good enough? Not sure. But this is fun.
Next test: Week 6 at North Carolina
