The Pittsburgh Football Podcast by Chris Gates

Pitt opens ACC play Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium as Syracuse comes to town for a primetime matchup.

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris breaks down everything you need to know about Pitt vs. Syracuse, including the biggest matchups, key players and what the Panthers need to do to start conference play with a win.

Syracuse enters the game coming off a frustrating 21-18 loss to Cal in which the Orange outgained the Bears but were undone by three Steve Angeli interceptions, 15 penalties and missed opportunities. Can Pitt's defense create similar problems for Angeli?

Chris breaks down Syracuse's offense and defense, why pressure on Angeli could be one of Pitt's biggest advantages, the importance of playing cleaner football than the Orange, and what we still need to learn about Mason Heintschel and the Pitt offense after last week's rain-soaked win over UCF.

Plus, Chris discusses the latest player availability news, including Ja'Kyrian Turner and Malik Knight, gives his Pitt-Syracuse prediction and takes a look at the biggest games around the ACC and college football this weekend.

Topics include:

• Pitt vs. Syracuse preview
• Steve Angeli and the Syracuse offense
• Pitt's defensive keys to victory
• Syracuse's penalty and turnover problems
• Mason Heintschel and the Pitt offense
• Syracuse's defense
• Ja'Kyrian Turner and Malik Knight injury updates
• Pitt-Syracuse prediction
• ACC and college football Week 3 games

Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for year-round Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers coverage.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
03:28 - In The News with Pitt and Syracuse
12:36 - Previewing Syracuse
21:13 - Keys to the Game for Pitt
29:33 - Predicting Pitt-Syracuse & Other Games of Interest

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2026 season with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, and while it wasn't always pretty, Mike McCarthy's first game in Pittsburgh gave us plenty to talk about.

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris breaks down the biggest takeaways from the Steelers' Week 1 victory, starting with a dominant defensive performance led by T.J. Watt. Watt looked like the game-changing force Steelers fans have grown accustomed to seeing, finishing with two sacks and a pick-six as Pittsburgh made life miserable for Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush.

We also dive into Patrick Graham's impressive defensive debut, Pittsburgh's success containing Bijan Robinson on the ground, and strong performances throughout the Steelers' defensive front.

On offense, there were considerably more questions. Aaron Rodgers showed flashes of what this passing game could become, but drops, missed opportunities and an offensive line that continues to look vulnerable kept Pittsburgh from turning several promising plays into touchdowns. We break down the encouraging signs from Rodgers, Pat Freiermuth and Michael Pittman Jr., the frustrating misses involving DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson, and why the right side of the offensive line could quickly become one of Pittsburgh's biggest problems.

Finally, we dig into the Joey Porter Jr. situation after he was inactive for Week 1. With no contract extension completed before the regular season, Mike McCarthy's postgame comments, continued questions about Porter's availability and trade speculation have created a fascinating situation to watch heading into Week 2.

The Steelers are 1-0. T.J. Watt looks like T.J. Watt again. But there's plenty this team needs to clean up before heading to New England.

Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for Steelers and Pitt football coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:39 - TJ Watt and a Dominant Performance
10:48 - Steelers Dominant Front 7
16:44 - A Rough Performance Offensively
27:05 - Joey Porter Trade Talk

Pitt gutted out a sloppy win in sloppy conditions on Saturday. And it left us all wondering... What did we actually learn about Pitt from this game?

How much of the offense's struggles were due to playing football in a monsoon? Or does Pitt really have major problems to deal with on the offensive line and passing game?

How much of the defensive performance was due to UCF playing in the same monsoon? Or can we confidently conclude Pitt's defense is the real deal?

In today's episode, Chris breaks down his biggest observations of the game and explains what was real, what wasn't, and what to look for heading into Pitt's game against Syracuse on Thursday night.

Be sure to subscribe, like, and share the Pittsburgh Football Podcast with a friend if you enjoy this episode!

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:39 - How Much Did We Actually Learn About Pitt?
18:46 - Pitt's Impressive Defensive Performance
23:40 - Special Teams Might Have Been Pitt's MVP
26:10 - Questionable Timeouts and Clock Management
28:51 - We'll Probably Learn More on Thursday

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finally back.

In Episode 13 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris previews Pittsburgh's Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and breaks down the biggest storylines, matchups and keys to starting the 2026 season 1-0.

First, we catch up on the ongoing Joey Porter Jr. saga. Christian Gonzalez's new contract has further established the cornerback market, the Steelers have reportedly made Porter an offer, and yet the two sides still haven't reached an agreement. Add in Porter's limited practice participation and lingering back issue, and there's now a legitimate question about what role—if any—he'll have against Atlanta.

Then it's time to break down the matchup.

The Falcons have questions at starting quarterback, but Atlanta does have one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in football in Bijan Robinson. Can Pittsburgh's highly paid defensive front contain Robinson, force Atlanta into obvious passing situations and make Tua beat them?

On the other side, we'll finally get our first look at Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. together in Mike McCarthy's offense. Against an Atlanta defense dealing with significant turnover and questions in its front seven, this could be an ideal opportunity for the Steelers' new-look offense to find its footing.

Chris breaks down:

• The latest on Joey Porter Jr.'s contract and Week 1 status
• Why Tua starting could be a major advantage for Pittsburgh
• The challenge of containing Bijan Robinson
• How Pittsburgh's defensive front matches up with Atlanta's offense
• What to expect from Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' passing game
• Why Michael Pittman Jr. is one of the players to watch
• Where Pittsburgh should have an advantage against Atlanta's defense
• The keys to victory for the Steelers
• A final score prediction

Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for Steelers and Pitt football coverage throughout the 2026 season, and visit PittsburghFootballPodcast.com for more.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:33 - What’s “In The News” for the Steelers & Falcons
17:37 - Previewing the Steelers Offense Against the Falcons
20:26 - Previewing the Steelers Defense Against the Falcons
23:55 - Prediction Time!

Pitt football gets its first real test of the 2026 season when UCF comes to Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

After opening the year with a dominant 59-14 win over Miami (Ohio), the Panthers take a significant step up in competition against a UCF team coming off a 73-6 win of its own. In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris down the Knights, what Scott Frost has built in his second season back at UCF, and the matchups that could determine Saturday's game.

Can Pitt's defensive front shut down UCF's rushing attack and force quarterback Alonza Barnett III to beat the Panthers through the air? Can Pitt take advantage of UCF's turnover along both lines of scrimmage? And after throwing for 453 yards and seven touchdowns in Week 1, how will Mason Heintschel respond against an experienced UCF secondary that was one of the better pass defenses in the Big 12 last season?

Chris breaks down why the battle in the trenches could decide this game, what Pitt needs to do to create havoc defensively, why the Panthers' running game could become more important this week, and whether what we saw against Miami was a sign of what's to come.

Plus, a look around the ACC and some of the biggest games in college football this weekend before wrapping up with a Pitt-UCF prediction.

Can Pitt prove that its dominant Week 1 performance was more than just a product of the opponent?

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
03:02 - What’s “In the News” with Pitt?
09:00 - Overview of Scott Frost and the UCF Program
17:35 - Previewing UCF’s Offense & Pitt’s Defensive Matchup
27:06 - Previewing UCF’s Defense & Pitt’s Offensive Matchup
36:06 - Predictions and Other Games Around the ACC

Mason Heintschel was damn near perfect, and Pitt did just about everything you could have asked for in a dominant season-opening win over Miami (Ohio).

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris breaks down his biggest takeaways from Pitt’s blowout victory at Acrisure Stadium, starting with Heintschel’s monster performance: 453 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and another sign that the sophomore quarterback may be taking the leap Pitt hoped to see in Year 2.

Chris discusses what stood out about Heintschel beyond the box score, the early comparisons to Kenny Pickett, and an offense that showed off plenty of speed and a surprisingly deep group of playmakers. He also dives into Blue Hicks’ response to a brutal dropped touchdown, Pitt’s dominant run defense, some growing pains in the secondary, and why the offensive line concerns coming out of Week 1 may be a little overblown.

Plus, one of Pitt’s biggest preseason question marks delivered an encouraging first impression. Antonio Chadha drilled a 58-yard field goal, Gabe Russo impressed at punter, and the Panthers may have some answers in the kicking game — although the kick coverage unit has plenty to clean up.

And yes, we’ll talk about the tarps.

Finally, Chris runs through the biggest results from around the ACC and college football in a chaotic Week 1 before turning the page toward Pitt’s next test against UCF.

Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube, and visit PittsburghFootballPodcast.com for more Pitt and Steelers coverage.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
05:48 - Mason Heintschel and the Pitt Offense
26:16 - Pitt’s Defensive Performance on Saturday
32:13 - A Surprising Special Teams Performance
37:17 - Things You Can Get Mad About (if you really want to)
42:28 - News Around the ACC and Country in Week 1

It’s officially game week! Pitt opens the 2026 season Saturday against Miami (OH) at Acrisure Stadium, and we’re breaking down everything you need to know before kickoff.

Miami isn’t your typical Week 1 MAC opponent. The RedHawks have invested heavily in their football program, built one of the more talented rosters in the Group of Six, and enter the season as one of the MAC’s top programs under longtime head coach Chuck Martin. But they’ll also come to Pittsburgh with major questions — including a new starting quarterback who has never taken a snap in a college football game.

We break down Miami’s roster, the matchups that could determine this game, why stopping the RedHawks’ running game should be priority No. 1 for Pitt’s defense, and why Pitt’s experienced offensive line and explosive playmakers could create major problems for a Miami defense replacing a lot of personnel.

Plus, we get into some Pitt and ACC news, including the new tarps going up at Acrisure Stadium, Kade Bell’s comments about the speed Pitt has assembled on offense, what we learned from the ACC in Week Zero, and the latest drama surrounding college football’s new eligibility rules.

Finally, it’s prediction time. I give my final score for Pitt vs. Miami (OH), take a look at the biggest games around the ACC this weekend, and make some picks as the 2026 college football season officially gets underway.

Topics include:

• Pitt vs. Miami (Ohio) preview
• Why Miami is a dangerous MAC opponent
• David McComb making his first college start
• Miami’s plan to run the football against Pitt
• Pitt’s rebuilt defense getting its first test
• Mason Heintschel and Pitt’s explosive offense
• Pitt’s speed at wide receiver and running back
• The new tarps at Acrisure Stadium
• ACC Week Zero takeaways
• Clemson vs. LSU and the biggest ACC games of Week 1
• Pitt vs. Miami (Ohio) predictions

Follow the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for year-round Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers coverage!

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
03:15 - In the News for Pitt
12:18 - In the News Around the ACC
18:04 - The Disparity Between P4 and G6 Programs
24:58 - Previewing the Miami OH Redhawks
33:36 - Predicting The Game & Previewing Other ACC Matchups

The Steelers have their initial 53-man roster — but some of the moves they made to get there raise bigger questions about the direction of the organization.

In Episode 9 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, I break down the ongoing contract standoff between Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers as the clock ticks toward the start of the regular season. With Porter activated from the PUP list and Pittsburgh expecting healthy players to practice, who actually has the leverage now? What happens if Porter continues to hold out and starts accumulating fines? And if he returns without a new contract, does that give the Steelers the upper hand?

More importantly: if the Steelers aren't willing to find a way to extend a young, homegrown player like Porter after successfully drafting and developing him, who exactly are they willing to pay?

Then, I dig into the trades of Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys and Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers. While Pittsburgh managed to get draft capital in return for two players who may not have had significant roles this season, both trades highlight a troubling trend.

Jones was the No. 14 overall pick in 2023. Johnson was the No. 83 overall pick in 2025. Now both are gone — joining a growing list of premium Steelers draft picks who failed to become long-term building blocks for the franchise.

Topics include:

• The latest on Joey Porter Jr.'s contract negotiations
• The leverage Porter and the Steelers each have
• Why the start of the regular season creates a critical deadline
• What happens if Porter practices without a new contract
• Pittsburgh's win-now approach and why Porter should be part of it
• What the Broderick Jones trade says about his development
• Why the Kaleb Johnson trade is more concerning than it might appear
• The Steelers' troubling recent history with first-round draft picks
• Why drafting, developing AND retaining talent has become such an important issue

The regular season is almost here! Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for Steelers and Pitt football coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:48 - Is Joey Porter Jr. Going to be a Steeler in 2026?
20:15 - Broderick Jones and Kaleb Johnson Traded

Football season is finally here!

Pitt opens the 2026 season against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, and if you haven’t been following every twist and turn of the offseason, this episode is designed to get you completely caught up before kickoff.

We go through the biggest developments since Pitt’s bowl loss to East Carolina, including the major roster departures, what Pitt did — and didn’t do — in the transfer portal, and the biggest questions that remain at positions like offensive line, wide receiver, tight end and special teams.

We also break down the chaos surrounding college football’s new 5-for-5 eligibility rule and what it has meant for the possibility of players like Desmond Reid returning to Pitt.

Then we turn our attention to what happened on the field this offseason. There’s been a lot of positive buzz coming out of spring practice and training camp, particularly surrounding Mason Heintschel and the Pitt offense. Pat Narduzzi has been unusually effusive in his praise of that group, while players like Ja'Kyrian “Boozie” Turner, Censere Lee and freshman running back Damon Ferguson have generated plenty of excitement.

On defense, Pitt has major production to replace after losing Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles, but there are reasons to believe the Panthers can reload once again under new defensive coordinator Cory Sanders.

Plus, we discuss Pitt’s new UPMC jersey patch, changes coming to Acrisure Stadium, what stood out from the annual kickoff luncheon, Pitt’s health entering Week 1, and why I’m sticking with my prediction of a 9-3 season and a Pitt team that can contend for a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

If you tuned out after last season ended and are just getting back into Pitt football, this is your primer for the 2026 season.

The wait is over. Let’s play football!

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:48 - Comings and goings on Pitt’s roster
13:25 - The 5-for-5 rule and a crazy summer of legal rulings
23:15 - News and notes from spring ball and summer training camp
33:04 - What’s “In The News”

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The 2026 Pitt football season is almost here, and the reports coming out of training camp have been overwhelmingly positive — particularly on offense. 

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, I break down everything we’ve heard from Pitt training camp and what I think actually matters as the Panthers prepare for the season. 

The biggest story is Mason Heintschel. After bursting onto the scene as a freshman last season, Heintschel appears to have taken another significant step forward. Pitt’s offense has performed extremely well in camp, Heintschel has drawn rave reviews from both local and national media, and there’s growing reason to believe Pitt could have one of the better quarterbacks and offenses in the ACC. 

We also dive into Ja'Kyrian Turner’s development at running back, the emergence of true freshman Damon Ferguson, Censere Lee and Pitt’s speedy wide receiver room, why the offense winning Pitt’s training camp scrimmages is noteworthy, and why I’m not particularly concerned about Pat Narduzzi’s defense despite some significant personnel losses. 

Finally, we break down one of the strangest stories in college football: the new 5-for-5 eligibility rules and whether former Pitt players could return for another season. 

Could Desmond Reid actually return to Pitt after spending time with the Buffalo Bills? Is Justin Holmes a more realistic option? And if Pitt has an opportunity to bring back a player who can immediately make the team better, should they do it? 

We break it all down as Pitt gets ready to kick off the 2026 season. Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for more Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers coverage throughout the football season. 

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TIME STAMPS: 

00:00 — Intro 
03:37 — Mason Heintschel’s impressive training camp 
13:57 — Other intel on the offense 
22:15 — intel on the defense 
26:02 — Could Desmond Reid & Justin Holmes be coming back to Pitt?