Pittsburgh football grabbed the nation's attention amid its five-game winning streak. The Panthers are now the top-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team this week . Now Pat Narduzzi has Notre Dame to prepare for — with a chance to shoot up the rankings.

Pitt can spark College Football Playoff conversations this week by stunning the Fighting Irish. On the surface, Saturday feels like a “must-win” scenario in terms of national respect for Pitt.

But Narduzzi shot down that label, including informing the media on Monday that this version of Pitt-Notre Dame is non-conference unlike basketball.

“Absolutely not,” Narduzzi began after getting asked if this is a “must-win” contest. “It is not an ACC game.”

Narduzzi then joked: “I'd gladly get beat 103 or 110-10 in that game. They could p

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