Yep, this happens every year without fail. Every. Year.
ESPN's David Hale is the latest to call Pitt a darkhorse candidate to win the ACC. Pitt as a darkhorse candidate isn't a new idea. It seems that every year, someone from a major entity warns that fans should watch out for the Panthers.
Hale's reasoning makes good sense, though, and it's what a lot of us think: Potentially dangerous offense paired with a defense that should improve if only by default with so many returning players and a defensive-minded head coach. When you factor in the manageable schedule, Pitt contending a bit this year just isn't that terrible of an idea.