Last year's non-conference schedule for Pitt football was challenging with games against Penn State and Oklahoma State. And after those teams vaulted up the rankings, by the end of the year, it was even more evident how difficult the Panthers' out of conference games were.
Pitt faces both teams again in 2017 but this time, those programs are expected to do well. Not just well, but ESPN ranks both in the top ten in their early preseason rankings. For that reason, they tabbed Pitt's non-conference schedule as the most difficult in the nation.
Sure, Rice (who was 3-9 last year) and FCS foe Youngstown State aren't expected to defeat the Panthers.