The Panthers got back to being ranked last week by the Associated Press at No. 25, and this week jumped up to No. 20 after their win over North Carolina with the newly announced poll Sunday.
That ranking is the second-highest Pitt has been ranked by the AP in the Pat Narduzzi era, with the highest coming at No. 17 earlier this season. Despite losing to two unranked teams this season, the Panthers' 8-2 record has propelled them as the second-highest rank ACC team. Wake Forest sits at No. 13, while North Carolina State is ranked at No. 25.
But in November, the College Football Playoffs rankings garner even more attention as everyone looks to see who will have a shot at the National Championship. Pitt lost its chance to be in the discussion to make the playoffs, but the more it moves up, the better chances Pitt gets a big bowl game at the end of the year.
Regardless of rankings, Pitt's eyes have to be on winning the ACC Coastal. After Miami's loss to Florida State Saturday, the Hurricanes dropped to 3-3 in the ACC and can't catch the Panthers and use their tiebreaker to jump over them in the standings.
Now, the only team that can get in the way of Pitt's 5-1 ACC record is Virginia at 4-2, who plays the Panthers at Heinz Field this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.