PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Darrin Hall, the complement to Qadree Ollison, was also explosive out of the backfield for Pittsburgh against the Orange as he racked up 107 yards on 17 carries while also scoring two touchdowns. His two scores were the game-tying and game-winning scores for the Panthers.
It was also Hall’s fifth-ever 100-yard rushing game.
–DB Damar Hamlin, the Week 6 ACC Defensive Back of the Week, amassed a career-high 14 tackles against Syracuse. A four-star recruit ranked No. 151 by 247sports in his recruiting class, the 14-tackle effort by Hamlin represented a positive step forward for a highly-touted recruit. “Damar Hamlin is playing at a high level. You guys will figure that out here pretty soon. But he’s playing really good,” Narduzzi said.
–DB Dane Jackson, a junior from Coraopolis, Pa., recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Syracuse, a game in which he also had a single tackle. The play was setup by a strip from Quintin Wirginis. So far this season, Jackson has 19 tackles and five passes defended.
SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads the series against Pittsburgh 47-21-1. This will be Pittsburgh’s first visit to Notre Dame since 2012.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a matter when you execute and you believe in what you’re doing, those are the keys to playing well and having a chance to win the football game. That’s all — you just want a chance. We have yet to do that. We get to go on the road, which is always another challenge.” — Pat Narduzzi on what it takes to pull off an upset