1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football Independent 1 1 12–0 Johnny Majors 4th Joe Avezzano 1st Basic 50 Bobby Roper 1st Veer Pitt Stadium Consensus national championSugar Bowl championEastern champion Sugar Bowl W 27–3 vs. Georgia The 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season and is recognized as a consensus national champion.http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf Official 2009 NCAA Division I Football Records Book 85 The National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2009 Indianapolis 2009-10-16 Pitt was also awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best Division I team in the East. The Panthers played their home games at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During the 1970s, the top-ranked team won its bowl game only three times: Pittsburgh joined Nebraska (1971) and USC (1972). thumb|right|200px|Kiosk in the Great Hall at Heinz Field celebrating Pitt's 1976 national championship thumb|right|A football signed by the 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, including Tony Dorsett and head coach Johnny Majors. In the first game of the 1976 season, the Panthers faced off against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. A year earlier, Tony Dorsett had finished with 303 yards rushing in Pitt's 34–20 victory over the Irish. "They even grew the grass high," said Carmen DeArdo, a diehard Pitt alumnus, "and everyone knew Tony would get the ball." "They didn't let that grass grow long enough," Dorsett said later. He darted 61 yards on his first run of the season and tacked on 120 more by the end of the 31–10 Pitt win.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/heisman/2000/dorsett_0825/ https://web.archive.org/web/20010124150600/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/heisman/2000/dorsett_0825/ dead January 24, 2001 CNN CNNSI.com – College Football – Heisman Heroes – Suzuki presents Heisman Heroes: Tony Dorsett – Friday August 25, 2000 01:29 PMhttp://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/s_595857.html https://archive.today/20130104113858/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/college/s_595857.html dead 2013-01-04 Kevin Gorman Pitt-Notre Dame series produces phenomenal performances Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2008-10-30 2010-04-29 The season continued with a 42–14 win at Georgia Tech and a 36–19 win over Miami. The Panthers traveled to Annapolis on October 23 to face Navy and Dorsett broke the NCAA career rushing record on a 32-yard touchdown run in the 45–0 victory. Dorsett's achievement prompted a mid-game celebration in which even Navy saluted the feat with a cannon blast.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HSIuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-6AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5841%2C2098068 Tony Dorsett No. 1 Associated Press Reading Eagle Pennsylvania 77 October 24, 1976 Pitt won a tough, hard-fought battle against struggling rival Syracuse. On November 6, the second-ranked Panthers hosted Army at Pitt Stadium and won handily, but the significant action was taking place several hundred miles west, in West Lafayette, Indiana, where the Purdue Boilermakers held off the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines 16–14 in the closing seconds. The Pitt Stadium crowd erupted in celebration when the stadium public address announcer dramatically gave the final score from Purdue. For the first time in the modern era, Panther fans could legitimately claim, "We're number one!" Pitt defended its ranking in a close Backyard Brawl against West Virginia to go 10–0 heading into the regular season finale on national television against instate rival Penn State (7–3).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bIBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5165%2C3207197 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Axelrod Phil Pitt, State, maybe Tennessee November 26, 1976 18 At a packed Three Rivers Stadium on the night after Thanksgiving, the Nittany Lions scored first and held Dorsett to 51 yards in the first half; the game was tied at seven at halftime.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bYBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5863%2C3273870 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Parascenzo Marino Panthers claw Nittany Lions, 24-7 November 27, 1976 1 Majors adjusted for the second half by shifting Dorsett from tailback to fullback, enabling him to explode for an additional 173 yards as Pitt rolled to a 24–7 victory to cap an undefeated regular season.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08164/889136-13.stm https://web.archive.org/web/20080615013817/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08164/889136-13.stm dead June 15, 2008 Let's Learn From the Past: The 1976 Pitt Panthers Mike Mackin 2008-06-12 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2010-04-29 In December, Dorsett became the first (and remains the only) Pitt Panther to win the Heisman Trophy as the nation's best college football player. Dorsett also won the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and was named UPI Player of the Year. He led the nation in rushing with 1,948 yards and was selected as an All-American. Dorsett finished his college career with 6,082 total rushing yards, then an NCAA record for career rushing. Schedule 1976 AP Eastern September 11 4:20 pm w y 9 Notre Dame 11 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 31–10 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance-pitt-dorsett-crus/180957279/ Staten Island Advance Pitt, Dorsett crush Notre Dame, 31–10 September 12, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 7:30 pm w y 3 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA 42–14 43,424 https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-pitt-rolls-past-geo/139629275/ Kingsport Times-News Pitt rolls past Georgia Tech, 42–14 September 19, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 1:30 pm w 3 Temple Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 21–7 38,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-dorsett-does-it-f/180954125/ Press and Sun-Bulletin Dorsett does it for Pitt September 26, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 1:30 pm w y 2 Duke Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC 44–31 37,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-pitt-struggles-by-duke/139626249/ The Tampa Tribune Pitt struggles by Duke October 3, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 9 1:30 pm w 2 Louisville Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 27–6 34,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-pitt-controls-l/180952976/ The Santa Fe New Mexican Pitt controls Louisville October 10, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 1:30 pm w 2 Miami (FL) Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 36–19 42,434 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-pitts-marathon-ma/180897172/ The Orlando Sentinel Pitt's 'marathon man' smashes Miami October 17, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 2:00 pm w y 2 Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD 45–0 26,346 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-dorsetts-td-rus/180898711/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Dorsett's TD rush KOs Archie's record October 24, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 1:30 pm w 2 Syracuse Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 23–13 50,399 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-dorsett-peels-orange-fo/180896521/ The Journal News Dorsett peels Orange for 242 yards October 31, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:30 pm w y 2 Army Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 37–7 45,753 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-dorsett-runs-pit/180955281/ The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph Dorsett runs Pitt past Army, 37–7 November 7, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 12:30 pm w 1 West Virginia Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA Backyard Brawl ABC 24–16 56,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-panthers-hold-off-w/139642705/ The Pittsburgh Press Panthers hold off WVU, 24–16 November 14, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 26 Friday 9:00 pm w 1 Penn State 16 Three Rivers Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 24–7 50,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-dorsett-pitt-roll-over-p/180956162/ The Daily Item Dorsett, Pitt roll over Penn State November 27, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1 12:30 pm w y 1 Georgia 5 Sugar Bowl Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA ABC 27–3 76,117 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pitt-how-sweet-it/134273115/ The Pittsburgh Press Pitt: How sweet it is! January 2, 1977 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com Rankings 1976 NCAA Division I football rankings AP Poll Pittsburgh Panthers Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final 9 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 UPI Poll Pittsburgh Panthers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Game summaries at No. 11 Notre Dame 1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game One – No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers (0–0) at No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) – Game summary September 11, 1976 Saturday 4:20 p.m. EDT No. 9 Panthers 7 14 0 10 No. 11 Fighting Irish 7 3 0 0 Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana 59,075 Tom Paspalas ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Ara Parseghian (color commentator), Bill Flemming (sideline) and Jim Lampley (sideline) Statistics PITT ND First downs 12 20 Total yards 277 287 Rushes/yards 53–191 50–112 Passing yards 87 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–13–0 13–38–4 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Robert Haygood 5–12, 83 yards Rushing Tony Dorsett 22 carries, 181 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jim Corbett 4 receptions, 72 yardsNotre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Notre Dame collapsed 1 Notre Dame RecTD McAfee Siager 25 good Reeve run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 5 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 7 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Haygood 1 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 7 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Haygood 1 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 7 2 Notre Dame FG 53 Siager 21 10 4 Pittsburgh FG 34 Long 24 10 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Cavanaugh 8 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 31 10 31 10 at Georgia Tech 1976 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team Robert Haygood tore knee ligaments in the victory. Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Two – No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers (1–0) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0–1) – Game summary September 18, 1976 Saturday 7:30 p.m. EDT No. 3 Panthers 7 7 14 14 Yellow Jackets 0 7 7 0 Grant Field • Atlanta, Georgia 43,424 Statistics PITT GT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 27 carries, 113 yards, 3 TD Receiving Georgia Tech Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Georgia Tech collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 2 Georgia Tech RushTD Jolly 1 good Smith run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 7 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Cavanaugh 4 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 7 3 Georgia Tech RushTD Rucker 1 good Smith run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 14 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Jones Haygood 51 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 28 14 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 10 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 35 14 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Jones Cavanaugh 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 42 14 42 14 Temple 1976 Temple Owls football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Three – Temple Owls (2–0) at No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers (2–0) – Game summary September 25, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EDT Owls 7 0 0 0 No. 3 Panthers 0 6 8 7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 38,500 Statistics TU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTemple Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Temple Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Temple – – – Other Johnson recovered blocked punt and returned 15 yards for a touchdown, Sornisky kick good 7 0 2 Pittsburgh FG 50 Long 7 3 2 Pittsburgh FG 33 Long 7 6 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Walker 1 Dorsett run good 7 14 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 3 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 21 7 21 at Duke 1976 Duke Blue Devils football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Four – No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (3–0) at Duke Blue Devils (2–1) – Game summary October 2, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EDT No. 2 Panthers 7 23 14 0 Blue Devils 7 0 16 8 Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC 37,200 Statistics PITT DUKE First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Duke Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Duke collapsed 1 Duke RushTD Gore 4 good Fusco run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Taylor Cavanaugh 66 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 7 2 Pittsburgh – – – SafetyOther Safety, blocked punt goes out of the end zone. 9 7 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Taylor Cavanaugh 10 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 16 7 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Corbett Cavanaugh 27 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 23 7 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Jones Cavanaugh 37 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 30 7 3 Pittsburgh RecTD Jones Cavanaugh 27 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 37 7 3 Duke RushTD Barney 1 pass good 37 15 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 4 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 44 15 3 Duke RecTD Williamson Dunn 55 pass good 44 23 4 Duke RushTD Gore 1 run good 44 31 44 31 Louisville 1976 Louisville Cardinals football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center autocollapse Game Five – Louisville Cardinals (2–1) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (4–0) – Game summary October 9, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EDT Cardinals 0 0 0 6 No. 2 Panthers 10 17 0 0 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 34,000 "Pitt loses quarterback, but Dorsett nears record." Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 10. Retrieved 2018-Dec-30. Statistics LOU PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLouisville Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 30 carries, 130 yards Receiving Louisville Pittsburgh collapsed 1 10:21 Pittsburgh RushTD Cavanaugh 17 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Pittsburgh FG 39 Long 0 10 2 10:49 Pittsburgh 52 RushTD Cavanaugh 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 17 2 Pittsburgh – – – FumbleTD Johnson 0 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 24 2 Pittsburgh FG 30 Long 0 27 4 Louisville – – – FumbleTD Abood 0 no good Turner run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 27 6 27 Matt Cavanaugh sustained a hairline fracture in the left ankle during the first half. Miami (FL) 1976 Miami Hurricanes football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Six – Miami (FL) Hurricanes (1–4) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (5–0) – Game summary October 16, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EDT Hurricanes 0 0 6 13 No. 2 Panthers 9 13 0 14 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 42,434 Statistics MIAMI PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMiami (FL) Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 35 carries, 227 yards, TD Receiving Tony Dorsett 1 reception, 40 yards, TD Miami (FL) Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh – – – SafetyOther Safety, Felder tackled Mason in end zone. 0 2 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 3 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 9 2 Pittsburgh FG 25 Long 0 12 2 Pittsburgh FG 29 Long 0 15 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Dorsett Yawcic 40 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 22 3 Miami (FL) RushTD Johnson 3 run failed 6 22 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Taylor 10 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 29 4 Miami (FL) RecTD Cain Glover 75 pass incomplete 12 29 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 53 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 12 36 4 Miami (FL) RushTD Anderson 2 good Dennis run/pass good/failed/incomplete 19 36 19 36 at Navy 1976 Navy Midshipmen football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Seven – No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (6–0) at Navy Midshipmen (1–5) – Game summary October 23, 1976 Saturday 2:00 p.m. EDT No. 2 Panthers 7 7 10 21 Midshipmen 0 0 0 0 Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland 26,346 Statistics PITT NAVY First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Rushing Tony Dorsett 27 carries, 180 yards, 3 TD Receiving Navy Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Navy collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RecTD Corbett Yawcic 30 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 3 Pittsburgh FG 40 Long 17 0 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 69 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 24 0 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 21 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 31 0 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 32 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 38 0 4 Pittsburgh RushTD Sindewald 18 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 45 0 45 0 Syracuse 1976 Syracuse Orangemen football team Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Eight – Syracuse Orangemen (3–4) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (7–0) – Game summary October 30, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EDT Orangemen 7 0 6 0 No. 2 Panthers 3 7 7 6 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 50,399 Statistics SYR PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSyracuse Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Syracuse Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh FG 41 Long 0 3 1 Syracuse RecTD Magee Hurley 80 good Jacobs run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 3 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 1 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 10 3 Syracuse FG 45 Jacobs 10 10 3 Syracuse FG 55 Jacobs 13 10 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 33 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 13 17 4 Pittsburgh FG 47 Long 13 20 4 Pittsburgh FG 29 Long 13 23 13 23 Army 1976 Army Cadets football team Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Nine – Army Cadets (4–4) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers (8–0) – Game summary November 6, 1976 Saturday 1:30 p.m. EST Cadets 0 0 7 0 No. 2 Panthers 3 10 21 3 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 45,753 Statistics ARMY PITT First downs Total yards Rushes/yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsArmy Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Passing Rushing Receiving Army Pittsburgh collapsed 1 Pittsburgh FG 27 Long 0 3 2 Pittsburgh FG 39 Long 0 6 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 4 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 13 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 32 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 20 3 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 5 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 27 3 Army RecTD Logue Hall 27 good Castelli run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 27 4 Pittsburgh RecTD Taylor Cavanaugh 24 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 34 4 Pittsburgh FG 35 Long 7 37 7 37 West Virginia 1976 West Virginia Mountaineers football team Backyard Brawl Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Game Ten – West Virginia Mountaineers (4–6) at No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers (9–0) – Game summary November 13, 1976 Saturday 12:30 p.m. EST Mountaineers 3 0 7 6 No. 1 Panthers 7 7 3 7 Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 56,500 Raymond Bower ABC Steve Zabriskie (play-by-play) and Lee Grosscup (color commentator) Statistics WVU PITT First downs 15 25 Total yards 169 399 Rushes/yards 44–99 63–350 Passing yards 70 49 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–24–1 8–14–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWest Virginia Passing Dan Kendra 8–24, 70 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Walt Easley 16 carries, 75 yards Receiving Steve Lewis 6 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TDPittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 8–14, 49 yards Rushing Tony Dorsett 38 carries, 199 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jim Corbett 4 receptions, 27 yards West Virginia Pittsburgh collapsed 1 7:33 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 17 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 0:50 West Virginia FG 22 McKenzie 3 7 2 12:32 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 3 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 3 14 3 11:41 Pittsburgh FG 27 Long 3 17 3 4:03 West Virginia RecTD Lewis Kendra 14 good McKenzie run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 17 4 9:05 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 30 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 24 4 3:11 West Virginia RecTD Lewis Kendra 9 no good McKenzie run/pass good/failed/incomplete 16 24 16 24 vs. No. 16 Penn State 1976 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center autocollapse Game Eleven – No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers (10–0) vs. No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions (7–3) – Game summary November 26, 1976 Friday 9:00 p.m. EST No. 1 Panthers 0 7 7 10 No. 16 Nittany Lions 7 0 0 0 Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA 50,250 Paul Bertha ABC Chris Schenkel (play-by-play), Bud Wilkinson (color commentator) and Steve Zabriskie (sideline reporter) Statistics PITT PSU First downs 20 12 Total yards 419 241 Rushes/yards 65–278 41–106 Passing yards 141 135 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–17–2 9–19–4 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 8–16, 141 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tony Dorsett 38 carries, 224 yards, 2 TD Receiving Gordon Jones 4 receptions, 111 yardsPenn State Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Penn State collapsed 1 11:59 Penn State RecTD Torrey Fusina 21 good Capozzoli run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 2 7:42 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 7 3 13:23 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 40 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 7 4 10:55 Pittsburgh RushTD Walker 12 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 7 4 3:10 Pittsburgh FG 47 Long 24 7 24 7 vs. No. 5 Georgia (Sugar Bowl) 1976 Georgia Bulldogs football team 1977 Sugar Bowl The 11–0 Panthers accepted an invitation to the Sugar Bowl to face fifth-ranked Georgia. Pitt defeated the Bulldogs 27–3 and was voted number one by both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, claiming their ninth national championship. Yearly National Championship Selections: 1976 National Championships College Football Data Warehouse http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1976 2009-04-15 2007-11-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20071109100128/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1976 dead This was Pitt's first undefeated national championship since 1937. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named Majors the 1976 Coach of the Year. Following this historic season, Majors returned to his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, to take the head coaching job. Fitzgerald Francis J. The Year the Panthers Roared AdCraft Sports 1996 Louisville, Kentucky 1-887761-06-3 Pittsburgh Panthers 1976 2;text-align:center; autocollapse 1977 Sugar BowlNo. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers (11–0) vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (10–1) – Game summary January 1, 1977 Saturday 12:30 p.m. EST No. 1 Panthers 7 14 3 3 No. 5 Bulldogs 0 0 3 0 Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA 76,177 Indoor Vincent Buckley ABC Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Ara Parseghian (color commentator) and Jim Lampley (sideline reporter) Statistics PITT UGA First downs 24 14 Total yards 480 181 Rushes/yards 66–288 40–135 Passing yards 192 46 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–0 3–22–4 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsPittsburgh Passing Matt Cavanaugh 10–18, 192 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tony Dorsett 32 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD Receiving Willie Taylor 4 receptions, 72 yardsGeorgia Passing Rushing Receiving Pittsburgh Georgia collapsed 1 Pittsburgh RushTD Cavanaugh 6 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 2 Pittsburgh RecTD Jones Cavanaugh 59 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 2 Pittsburgh RushTD Dorsett 11 good Long run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 0 3 Georgia FG 25 Leavitt 21 3 3 Pittsburgh FG 42 Long 24 3 4 Pittsburgh FG 31 Long 27 3 27 3 Starting Lineups Position Starting Lineups vs. Georgia (Sugar Bowl) Offense SE #24 Gordon Jones LT #64 John Hanhauser LG #77 Matt Carroll C #50 John Pelusi RG #67 Tom Brzoza RT #76 George Messich TE #81 James Corbett QB #12 Matt Cavanaugh TB #33 Tony Dorsett FB #44 Bob Hutton FL #29 Willie Taylor Defense LE #80 Ed Wilamowski LT #68 Don Parrish MG #91 Al Romano RT #70 Randy Holloway RE #60 Cecil Johnson LLB #59 Arnie Weatherton RLB #58 James Cramer MON #14 Jeff Delaney LHB #21 J.C. Wilson RHB #37 LeRoy Felder S #31 Bob Jury Personnel Coaching staff 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Johnny Majors – head coach Joe Madden – assistant head coach/defensive secondary Joe Avezzano – offensive coordinator/offensive line Bobby Roper – defensive coordinator/defensive line Bill Cox – quarterbacks/receivers Jim Dyar – defensive secondary Larry Holton – defensive ends Harry Jones – offensive backs Bob Matey – middle guards/junior varsity   Support staff Henry Lee Parker – administrative assistant to the head coach Keith Schroeder – coordinator of computer scouting Ray Olsen – graduate assistant Dave Wannstedt – graduate assistant   Strength and conditioning staff Roster 1976 Pittsburgh Panthers f 67 Jr Tom Brzoza C y 12 Jr Matt Cavanaugh QB y 81 Sr James Corbett James Corbett (American football) TE y 33 Sr Tony Dorsett RB y Fr Jo Jo Heath RB y 10 Sr Robert Haygood QB y 66 Jr George Link LG 24 So Gordon Jones Gordon Jones (American football) WR y 19 Jr Randy Reutershan WR y 29 Jr Willie Taylor Willie Taylor (American football) WR y 34 Jr Elliott Walker FB y Sr Tom Yewcic QB 55 So Al Chesley LB y 75 So Ed Gallagher Ed Gallagher (American football, born 1957) DT y 70 Jr Randy Holloway DE y 60 Sr Cecil Johnson DE y 31 Jr Bob Jury CB y 78 So David Logan David Logan (American football) DT y 68 Sr Don Parrish DT y 91 Sr Al Romano DE y 21 Jr J.C. Wilson CB y 41 Sr Larry Swider P y *Johnny Majors Awards and honors Tony Dorsett, Heisman Trophy http://www.heisman.com/winners/t-dorsett76.php 1976 – 42nd Award Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh Back HeismanTrophy.com 2011-06-06 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234718/http://www.heisman.com/winners/t-dorsett76.php 2013-10-04 Tony Dorsett, Walter Camp Awardhttp://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm Football 2009-01-04 2011-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074829/http://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm dead Tony Dorsett, Maxwell Award Tony Dorsett, led the nation in rushing with 1,948 yards Tony Dorsett, All-America selection Team players drafted into the NFL 2 Pittsburgh Panthers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Tony Dorsett Running back1 2 Dallas CowboysLarry Swider Punter7 185 Denver BroncosJim Corbett Tight end7 194 Cincinnati BengalsAl Romano Defensive lineman11 289 Houston OilersCarson Long Kicker11 302 Los Angeles RamsDon Parrish Defensive end12 314 Atlanta Falcons https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1977.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071222092345/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1977.htm 2007-12-22 1977 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com Media Radio Pittsburgh Panthers Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host WTAE–AM 1250 Bill Hillgrove John Sauer References Further information The Year the Panthers Roared. Francis J. Fitzgerald, ed., Louisville, Kentucky, AdCraft Sports, 1996, 1-887761-06-3 1976 team where are they now? Pitt Magazine article Pittsburgh Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:College football undefeated seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Pittsburgh Panthers football Category:1976 in Pittsburgh