CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The heat is about to be turned up in the ongoing buildup to the 2022 college football season.
Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi, along with defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and offensive tackle Carter Warren will meet with media members Thursday in Day 2 of the ACC Kickoff event at the The Westin Charlotte.
Wednesday's events include a forum with Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner Jim Phillips at 9:30 a.m., followed by availability for Atlantic Division coaches and players throughout the rest of the day.
Narduzzi and Co. are slated to speak with media at approximately 11:15 a.m. Thursday as part of the rotation for Coastal Division coaches and players.
Here are five topics to keep in mind heading into the event:
1. CONFERENCE CHAOS
The grand elephant in the hotel ballroom will be the status of the ACC and realignment, expansion, or -- going the opposite way -- a complete dissolving at some point in the future. Where Phillips and Narduzzi stand on the concept of the ACC joining forces with another conference will be addressed at some point. Whether that's accomplished on a surface level or at an in-depth level is to be determined.
2. NO PICKETT, ADDISON
Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison are gone, which leaves 4,319 passing yards, 1,593 receiving yards, and 42 touchdowns left on the table to be made up for by the 2022 offense.
The offensive line is widely expected to be one of the best in Football Bowl Subdivision. This should inherently mean Pitt will have more of a run game than Israel Abanikanda's team-leading 651 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season. All four major contributors at the position return and should have more of an impact, with Abanikanda having the potential for a 1,000-yard season.
That's not to leave out Jared Wayne, the team's leading receiver, or Konata Mumpfield, the electrifying transfer from the University of Akron. Those two shouldn't have issues establishing rapport with quarterback Kedon Slovis and making up for Addison's production.
What Narduzzi says about the transition period shouldn't be taken as gospel, but it should give an idea of what Pitt's offensive identity will be this season.
3. THE TRENCHES
Pitt's defensive line should also be one of the best FBS has to offer, as Narduzzi has built a prime candidate to be a quintessential late-season darling with potential for the College Football Playoff with strong fronts on each side of the ball.
Kalijah Kancey returns as an All-American with the potential to repeat, and he headlines a Pitt defensive line which was third in FBS with 54.0 sacks and anchored a unit which was sixth in rushing defense and 15th in third-down defense.
The offensive line returns every starter from last season: Warren, Marcus Minor, Owen Drexel, Jake Kradel, and Gabe Houy. All five are redshirt seniors.
The unit battled through some injuries, and Kradel missed the last quarter of the season with an injury. If healthy, this unit will be one of the team's strengths.
4. SCHEDULE REACTION
Beginning in 2023 and going through 2026, the ACC will operate under a 3-5-5 scheduling model, where each team will play three opponents every year, and face the league's other 10 teams twice each through the four-year cycle.
The schedule will also eliminate divisions and create one super division of 14 teams. The top two teams in the conference based on winning percentage will advance to the ACC Championship Game.
5. PLAYOFF POTENTIAL
At the end of the day, Narduzzi wants nothing more than to ride the momentum built from last year's ACC championship, and the sights are aimed at the College Football Playoff.
Pitt is currently outside of Caesar Sportsbook's top 10 in terms of playoff odds, with Wisconsin coming in 10th at 60/1, followed by Michigan (50/1), LSU (50/1), Oklahoma (50/1), Notre Dame (50/1), Texas (40/1), Utah (40/1), Texas A&M (25/1), Southern California (25/1), Clemson (14/1), Georgia (4/1), Ohio State (15/4), and Alabama (9/5).
I'm here to cover it all.
