{
  "id": 12258966,
  "title": "Pat Narduzzi Takes Shot at Penn State as Nittany Lions Fall From the AP Top 25",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/pat-narduzzi-takes-shot-at-penn-state-as-nittany-lions-fall-from-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-05T23:42:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/pat-narduzzi-takes-shot-at-penn-state-as-nittany-lions-fall-from-the-ap-top-25-12527115"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi is not holding back in his assessment of his in-state rival, Penn State, as the Nittany Lions have fallen from the AP Top 25 rankings. The Panthers, currently tied atop the ACC with a perfect 5-0 record, have been dominant in conference play, defeating Syracuse and Virginia Tech in recent games. With a schedule featuring games against Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Cal, the Panthers are expected to continue their winning ways. Narduzzi took the opportunity to subtly criticize Penn State, questioning what the school from State College truly did to secure a spot in the Top 25. While the two schools are only a two-and-a-half-hour drive apart, the stark contrast between their performances this season is evident. The Panthers remain one of the few undefeated teams in the FBS, while Penn State, once ranked No. 13, is now 3-2 after suffering consecutive losses to Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Northwestern. At the time of the rankings, Penn State was undefeated but received criticism for its wins against lower-tier teams such as Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo. Narduzzi's recent remarks echo his recurring criticism of the AP poll rankings, targeting the voters who seemingly undervalue his undefeated team in favor of others with weaker records.",
  "summary": "Undefeated Pitt's Pat Narduzzi fired a subtle shot at Penn State after the Nittany Lions dropped out of the AP Top 25.",
  "key_points": [
    "Pat Narduzzi criticizes Penn State's ranking in AP Top 25.",
    "Pittsburgh Panthers are undefeated with a 5-0 record.",
    "Nittany Lions dropped from No. 13 to 3-2 after recent losses."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Pat Narduzzi's criticism of Penn State reflects his long-held skepticism of the AP poll rankings and implies that his own undefeated team is being undervalued in favor of rivals with weaker records.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}