Looking ahead to kickoff ...
• What: Pitt vs. Massachusetts, opener for both
• When: 4:02 p.m.
• Where: Heinz Field
• TV: ACC Network
• Radio: 93.7 The Fan
• Satellite: Sirius 132, XM 194, online 970
• Boxscore: Sidearm Sports
• Media notes: Pitt | Massachusetts
THE SETUP
Pitt opens its season against offensive coordinator Mark Whipple's former team, UMass. The Panthers opened last season with a 55-0 blowout of Austin Peay at Heinz Field and look to do the same to the Minutemen who are coming off a 0-4 season in 2020 and have 14 transfer players on their depth chart. While Pitt has Kenny Pickett in his fifth season as the Panthers' starting quarterback, UMass has Tyler Lytle listed as its starter, a graduate student making his first career college football start against a defense that led the ACC in sacks and interceptions last year.
Read my Pitt Kickoff, full with players to watch, top storylines and my prediction, here.
Gates open to the media at 1 p.m., I'll be at Heinz Field covering the game live. Follow along with me here.