CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1977 Pittsburgh

9–⁠2–⁠1, coached by Jackie Sherrill, finished No. 8 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Pittsburgh in 1977, game by game: lost vs. No. 3 Notre Dame 9–19; won vs. William & Mary 28–6; won at Temple 76–0; won at Boston College 45–7; tied at No. 20 Florida 17–17; won vs. Navy 34–17; won vs. Syracuse 28–21; won vs. Tulane 48–0; won at West Virginia 44–3; won vs. Army 52–26; lost vs. No. 9 Penn State 13–15; won vs. No. 11 Clemson 34–3+76−10Lost 9–19 vs. No. 3 Notre Dame-10No. 3 Notre DameWon 28–6 vs. William & Mary+22William & MaryWon 76–0 at Temple+76TempleWon 45–7 at Boston College+38Boston CollegeTied 17–17 at No. 20 Florida0No. 20 FloridaWon 34–17 vs. Navy+17NavyWon 28–21 vs. Syracuse+7SyracuseWon 48–0 vs. Tulane+48TulaneWon 44–3 at West Virginia+41West VirginiaWon 52–26 vs. Army+26ArmyLost 13–15 vs. No. 9 Penn State-2No. 9 Penn StateWon 34–3 vs. No. 11 Clemson+31No. 11 Clemson
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 10vs3Notre DameL 9–⁠1967%
Sep 17vsWilliam & MaryW 28–⁠681%
Sep 24atTempleW 76–⁠071%
Oct 1atBoston CollegeW 45–⁠767%
Oct 8at20FloridaT 17–⁠1762%
Oct 15vsNavyW 34–⁠1782%
Oct 22vsSyracuseW 28–⁠2190%
Oct 29vsTulaneW 48–⁠091%
Nov 5atWest VirginiaW 44–⁠373%
Nov 12vsArmyW 52–⁠2685%
Nov 26vs9Penn StateL 13–⁠1564%
Dec 30Bowls & playoffvs11ClemsonGator BowlW 34–⁠372%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Clemson 34–⁠3 in the Gator Bowl; No. 8 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 5th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 128 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 1: 7
  2. Wk 2: 16
  3. Wk 4: 16
  4. Wk 5: 15
  5. Wk 6: 17
  6. Wk 7: 14
  7. Wk 8: 13
  8. Wk 9: 12
  9. Wk 10: 10
  10. Wk 11: 10
  11. Wk 12: 10
  12. Wk 13: 10
  13. Final: 8

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 1977.

3 consensus All-AmericansTom Brzoza, C; Randy Holloway, DT; Bob Jury, DB

Record
9–⁠2–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
No. 8 peak No. 7
Points
428–⁠134
Coach
Jackie Sherrill
Elo
1762 +71 this season
SP+ rating
31.6 No. 4 of 140; offense No. 4, defense No. 7
SRS
26.7 No. 3 of 145 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Bob Leahy
Defensive coordinator
Jimmy Johnson
Offense
Pro I, split backs
Defense
5–⁠2

Drafted in 1978

The 1978 draft
Rd 1Randy Holloway DEMinnesota Vikings
Rd 2Matt Cavanaugh QBNew England Patriots
Rd 3Bob Jury DBSeattle Seahawks
Rd 6Elliott Walker RBSan Francisco 49ers
Rd 6Randy Reutershan WRPittsburgh Steelers