Bucknell at Pittsburgh - 2026 Matchup Preview
Bucknell logo Bucknell Bison at Pittsburgh PanthersPittsburgh logo
Saturday, September 26th 2026 (12:00 PM EDT)
Acrisure Stadium - Pittsburgh, PA

 
Bison (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 13 - 49 (13 - 49 on Road)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
PITT 4th straight Home Game
PITT is playing their 4th straight game
Our Line: Pittsburgh -10.5  (SP+ PITT -8)
PITT Win prob: 76% | Cover: 44%
Panthers (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Pat Narduzzi (80 - 61)
Avg Score : 34 - 25 (37 - 25 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.5 - 4.5 (#41)
'26 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)
 
Bucknell's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/26 Bucknell at Pittsburgh+10.5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Bucknell's Schedule
Pittsburgh's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5 Pittsburgh vs Miami (OH)-14.5
Sat 9/12 Pittsburgh vs UCF-13
Thu 9/17 Pittsburgh vs Syracuse-18
Sat 9/26 Pittsburgh vs Bucknell-31.5
Fri 10/2 Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech-7.5
Sat 10/10 Pittsburgh vs North Carolina-11.5
Sat 10/17 Pittsburgh at Boston College-10
Sat 10/24 Pittsburgh at Miami+17.5
Sat 10/31 Pittsburgh vs Georgia Tech-4
BYE WEEK
Fri 11/13 Pittsburgh vs Florida State-3
Sat 11/21 Pittsburgh at Louisville+5
Sat 11/28 Pittsburgh at California-5

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Pittsburgh's Schedule
Important Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
BUCK0%130%000%000%490%0%0000
PITT#57 (.19)41% (94)33.741% (96)2.63 (122)11841% (75)2743.65 (74)#24 (.08)35% (11)24.834% (7)37% (23)3.81 (82)67.41.81.6
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
BUCK0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
PITT0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
BUCK Offense113130%00000000%0%0%0%0%
PITT Defense1324.825.135.1%3.811.6 - - - - - 46%52%34%37%19%.08
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
BUCK Defense149490%00 - - - - - 0%0%0%0%0%
PITT Offense1333.736.640.6%3.651.8213911182743.643%55%41%41%18%.19

Additional Stats 2025
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Bucknell10:000NAN%0%0000000100
Pittsburgh1328:5520.833%61%7.367.41.81.67.72.4633.3
Run Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
BUCK Offense10%0%000000%0%0
PITT Defense1346% (26)34% (7) - - - - -.06 (7)2.34 (6)69% (53)13% (8)0.96 (69)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
BUCK Defense10%0% - - - - 00%0%0
PITT Offense1343% (115)41% (96)33.1117.73.618 (70).06 (97)2.63 (122)67% (97)11% (107)1.01 (51)

Pass Game Stats (2026)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
BUCK Offense10%0%000000000%0%0%0
PITT Defense1352% (109)37% (23) - - - - - - 15 (31).21 (53)1.6 (110)37% (8)26% (19).17 (20)6% (47)2.1 (92)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
BUCK Defense10%0% - - - - - - 000%0%0%0
PITT Offense1355% (23)41% (75)22.235.7273.57.712.329 (8)15 (127).34 (40)1.7 (29)33% (103)31% (63).35 (53)8% (123)2 (66)

Bucknell's Power Ratings
Bucknell's Power Rating: NR
Bucknell's Offense Rating: NR
Bucknell's Defense Rating: NR
2026 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Bucknell's 2026 Expected Record: -
Bucknell's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Bucknell's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Bucknell's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average Patriot Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75

Power Ratings Matchup
Bucknell:    Pittsburgh: 10.65

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Bucknell:    Pittsburgh: 8.4




Pittsburgh's Power Ratings
Pittsburgh's Power Rating: 10.65  #34
Pittsburgh's Offense Rating: 12.38  #58
Pittsburgh's Defense Rating: 9.48  #23
2026 Talent Rating: 782.00  #60
Blue Chip Ratio: 4  #56
Pittsburgh's 2026 Expected Record: 8.5 - 4.5
Pittsburgh's 2026 Overall SP+ Rating: 8.4  #36
Pittsburgh's Offense SP+ Rating: 31.6  #39
Pittsburgh's Defense SP+ Rating: 23.5  #47

Average Talent
Average ACC Talent Rating is 854.47
Average Power Five Talent: 883.28
Average FBS Talent: 705.75


Bucknell Scoring
Offense: 13 PPG
Offense on Road: 13
Defense: 49 PPG
Defense on Road: 49

Bucknell's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
Pittsburgh 36
Bucknell 25

Projected Total Points: 61
Pittsburgh Scoring
Offense: 33.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 36.6
Defense: 24.8 PPG
Defense at Home: 25.1

Pittsburgh's 2026 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Over/Under Record: 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreSpreadCoverTotalO/U
TeamWinsCoversO/U
Pittsburgh000 Overs
Bucknell000 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0

(#NR) BUCK at (#34) PITT
Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCatBUCKPITT
Net PPPPPPNRNR
Power RatePwrNR #34
SP+SP+NR #36
Perf GradeGradeNRNR
OffenseOffNRNR
DefenseDefNRNR
Spec TeamsSTNRNR
TalentTalNR #60
Blue ChipsBC%NR #56
Bucknell on Offense
CategoryCat
BUCK OffPITT Def
PPPOffPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSucNR #11
ExplosiveExpNR #119
PPAPPANR #24
PowerPwrNR #23
SP+SP+NR #47
Pts POPPONR #82
HavocHavNR #13
Bucknell Run Game
CategoryCat
BUCK OffPITT Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSucNR #7
Run ExplRExpNR #69
PPAExpNR #7
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLYNR #6
Stuff RateStuffNR #7
TackleTak - NR
Bucknell Pass Game
CategoryCat
BUCK OffPITT Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSucNR #23
Pass ExplPExlNR #110
PPAExpNR #53
Pass Rush/BlockP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7NR #8
DB HavocDBNR #47
Pittsburgh on Offense
Pass heavy Offense 55%, Run: 43%
CategoryCatPITT OffBUCK Def
PPPDefPPPNRNR
Perf GradePerfNRNR
SuccessSuc #94NR
ExplosiveExp #10NR
PPAPPA #57NR
PowerPwr #58NR
SP+SP+ #39NR
Pts POPPO #74NR
HavocHav #120NR
Pittsburgh Run Game
Pass heavy Offense 55%, Run: 43%
CategoryCat
PITT OffBUCK Def
Run GameRunNRNR
Run SuccessRSuc #96NR
Run ExplRExp #51NR
PPAExp #97NR
Run BlockR BlkNR -
OL YdsOLY #122NR
Stuff RateStuff #129NR
TackleTak - NR
Pittsburgh Pass Game
Pass heavy Offense 55%, Run: 43%
CategoryCatPITT OffBUCK Def
Pass GamePassNRNR
Pass SuccessPSuc #75NR
Pass ExplPExl #29NR
PPAExp #40NR
Pass Block/RushP BlkNRNR
F7 HavocF7 #107NR
DB HavocDB #123NR
Program Comparison
PITT 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg P4
'26 Profile: Up to Average P4

BUCK 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'26 Profile: Remains Poor G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Acrisure Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°
No Matchups Past 4 Years
  
BUCK's OC ()
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Chris Dietrich7912265%875947.2
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Chris Dietrich303111.013
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG

View Bucknell's Full Roster

BUCK's DC ()
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Carter Enyard10000
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Carter Enyard10000
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Carter Enyard10000

PITT's OC Kade Bell (been OC for 3 years)
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Mason Heintschel20131664%23571687.5
Holden Geriner (Tr)010%0000.0
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Ja'Kyrian Turner14074775.356
La'Vell Wright (Tr)85471105.539
Mason Heintschel868821.036
Justin Cook93103.413
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Cataurus Hicks24422417.684
Bryce Yates11202118.468
Elijah Lagg (Tr)2016408.217
Ja'Kyrian Turner2515006.028

View Pittsburgh's Full Roster

PITT's DC Randy Bates (been DC for 3 years)
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Braylan Lovelace796162
Cruce Brookins531002
Demarco Ward (Tr)503010
Alex Sanford474001
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Jimmy Scott178481
Isaiah Neal367441
Cameron Lindsey326201
Zach Crothers153210
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Shadarian Harrison290003
Josh Guerrier80003
Braylan Lovelace796162