PAT NARDUZZI

Michigan State’s last-ranked pass defense can’t relax in the Peach Bowl just because Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett isn’t playing.

No. 11 Michigan State and No. 13 Pittsburgh each will be without its most prominent players when they meet in the Peach Bowl on Thursday night.

ATLANTA – When Michigan State and Pittsburgh play in the Peach Bowl on Thursday night in Atlanta, Mark Dantonio will be in an awkward position. During that time, Michigan State became a Big Ten power and were in the national spotlight. “To me, the job that Mark Dantonio did at Michigan State, when we first got there, the culture was different,” Narduzzi said. So, it was great to get him for practice.”Dantonio was also at Michigan State in the spring and during fall camp. They spent some time together during a Peach Bowl dinner on Tuesday night, although both remain busy running their own programs.

10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will play No. He ranks seventh in the nation in passing yards per game (332.2), ninth in passing efficiency rating (165.3) and third in passing touchdowns. Pat Narduzzi is in his seventh season as head coach at Pittsburgh after eight seasons as Michigan State’s defensive coordinator under former coach Mark Dantonio. Michigan State ranks last in the nation in passing yards allowed per game at 337.7. Related Michigan State football stories:Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer returning for sixth yearSpartan Confidential podcast: Recapping Michigan State’s wild 2021 early signing dayMichigan State adds four new transfers while being ‘judicious’ with portalMichigan State football signee Alex VanSumeren wields will power of a rare kindMeet Michigan State football’s 2022 recruiting class

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett was among the four while Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III didn’t make the cut. Walker and Pickett are both expected to play in the Peach Bowl, instead of opting out, although they could still change their minds. If we have an opportunity to watch a Michigan State football game, we’re always going to put that on during the year. “It’ll be a big challenge, and just because you stop one at Syracuse doesn’t mean you can stop one at Michigan State. “He definitely can put the ball where it needs to be,” Michigan State safety Xavier Henderson said of Pickett.

Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple resigned, the school announced Tuesday. He isn’t expected to coach the Panthers in the Peach Bowl against Michigan State, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Michigan State CBs coach Travares Tillman hired by Georgia TechPittsburgh ranks third in the nation in scoring (43.0) and fifth in total offense (502.9). Former Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is in his seventh season as head coach at Pittsburgh. 10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will face No.

10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will play No. 12 Pittsburgh (11-2, 7-1 ACC) in the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl in Atlanta and Narduzzi will face his former program. However, Michigan State hired Mel Tucker away from Colorado and he’s now closing out the biggest single-season improvement in program history. Did a really good job defensively here at Michigan State. Hayes enters transfer portalMichigan State vs. Pitt: How to get Peach Bowl ticketsMichigan State to face Pittsburgh in Peach Bowl

Michigan State owns a 6-0-1 record in the all-time series against Pittsburgh and the teams last played in 2007. Narduzzi was rumored as a potential replacement but Michigan State hired Mel Tucker away from Colorado. Michigan State to face Pittsburgh in Peach BowlWhen he glances at the other sideline, Narduzzi will see a few familiar faces in Michigan State secondary coach Harlon Barnett and defensive line coach Ron Burton. Common opponentPittsburgh and Michigan State have one common opponent this season in Miami. Michigan State will be challenged to run the ball but also has an opportunity through the air for quarterback Payton Thorne and his targets.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson says the NCAA needs to review its rules on whether quarterbacks should be allowed to “fake slide” after escaping the pocket.

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman entered the season with modest expectations.

For the first time since it began in 2014, the College Football Playoff won't include a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It seems parity has arrived in the Atlantic Coast Conference, just look no further than the results on scoreboards.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett headline The Associated Press' list of midseason football honorees for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Following a road win over an SEC opponent, the questions will be predictable for Pittsburgh headed into a home contest against Western Michigan on Saturday.

Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program COVID-19 vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming college football season.

North Carolina's Sam Howell is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the headliner of the Atlantic Coast Conference's class of experienced returning quarterbacks.

College football coaches around the country are spending much of the offseason urging their players to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Ivy League became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including mens and womens basketball. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)The Ivy League became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including men’s and women’s basketball. That's still well below the peak of about 2,200 deaths per day in late April,The Ivy League has tried to be in front of the virus. The Ivy League announcement affects not just basketball, but wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming, fencing and other sports. Also, Conference USA announced Rice at Louisiana Tech scheduled for Saturday had been postponed because of COVID-19 issues with La Tech.

Stressing he wants to win championships with the Panthers, Narduzzi downplayed the idea he would leave Pitt to take over the Spartans. Its my ultimate goal to be here at Pitt, Narduzzi said Wednesday. Lyke and Narduzzi met in person on Wednesday morning and she watched later in the day as Narduzzi outlined why he wants to remain with the Panthers. I know what Im dealing with here at Pitt, Narduzzi said. Its not easy for Jaylen Twyman to say Im not leaving, Im staying. When it comes down to it, its about the people.People that include recruits.

DETROIT (AP) Pittsburgh and Eastern Michigan will meet in the Quick Lane Bowl hoping to end postseason droughts. Eastern Michigan (6-6) is not so picky, especially because Toledo, another Mid-American Conference program, is not playing this postseason despite being bowl eligible. Before Creighton was hired in 2014, Eastern Michigan played in only one bowl game as a Division I program. Here are some things to watch at Ford Field:KEY MATCHUPPittsburghs strength is its defense while Eastern Michigan leans heavily on offense to win games. THE BOSSPitt athletic director Heather Lyke was hired in March 2017, in part because of the success she had leading athletics at Eastern Michigan, where she hired Creighton.

If Pittsburgh is going to keep alive any hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division for a second straight season, they'll have to find a way to solve the host North Carolina on Thursday. North Carolina continued alternating losses and wins for a fifth straight week in its 38-31 setback to Virginia on Nov. 2 despite 353 yards and four TDs from freshman Sam Howell. North Carolina leads the series 10-3. The last time North Carolina's Mack Brown coached against Pitt was 35 years ago when Brown was Oklahoma's offensive coordinator. PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 24, North Carolina 21

Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers runs the ball upfield in the second quarter during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Heinz Field on August 31, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Panthers seek a fifth straight win when they host a Miami team on Saturday that is coming off a humiliating home loss at Georgia Tech. I just see the pockets collapsing," coach Pat Narduzzi said of his front seven that has helped the Panthers to a 2-1 division record - one-half game behind Virginia. Miami senior LB Shaq Quarterman has started 46 straight games - the second-longest streak in FBS. He had a team-high 13 tackles against Georgia Tech, including two tackles for loss, two hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recoveryPREDICTION: Pittsburgh 27, Miami 10More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Panthers runs the ball upfield in the second quarter during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Heinz Field on August 31, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Next, the Panthers will have to keep their focus when an accomplished FCS Delaware team comes to visit on Saturday in a game that brings back childhood memories for Narduzzi. ABOUT DELAWARE (3-1)Henderson relieved starter Pat Kehoe (46-of-75 for 479 yards, seven TDs, four interceptions) during a 47-22 loss to FCS No. (In) 1979, the only team we lost to at Youngstown State when my dad was head coach was Delaware (in the national championship game)." PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 35, Delaware 7More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

11 Penn State will meet for the 100th time in the storied rivalry Saturday in State College, Pa. but when and where the 101st matchup takes place remains to be seen. "I know that, coming out in the second half, he was going to turn it around. Nittany Lions DE Yetur Gross-Matos entered the week tied for third among FBS players with 3.5 sacks. Pickett was held to 55 yards on 18 pass attempts with one interception in last year's 51-6 loss to Penn State. PREDICTION: Penn State 33, Pittsburgh 17More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.