Notre Dame Vs Pittsburgh: Pitt edges Notre Dame 73-68 as Panthers push for ACC Tournament spot
In the latest notre dame vs pittsburgh matchup, Pittsburgh edged Notre Dame 73-68 on Feb. 21, 2026, a victory that arrives with five regular-season games remaining and slim hopes of an ACC Tournament berth.
Notre Dame Vs Pittsburgh at Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh’s win came at the Petersen Events Center, where the Panthers entered the day having lost five straight games and holding a 9-17 overall record, 2-11 in the ACC. Notre Dame went into the game 12-14 overall and 3-10 in league play and had dropped 10 of its last 12 games, with its two recent victories coming against Georgia Tech and Boston College. Coach Jeff Capel, who said before the matchup “I don’t know what I’ll use” when asked how he planned to motivate the team, watched his club convert that preparation into a one-possession victory on Feb. 21, 2026.
Pitt’s long-range shooting decided a close game
The instant analysis of the game highlighted Pittsburgh’s proficient long-range shooting as the decisive factor in the 73-68 final. The Panthers used perimeter makes to build and protect a slim lead late in the second half, forcing Notre Dame to chase. That long-range touch turned tight possessions into points that ultimately preserved the margin in a two-possession contest on Feb. 21, 2026.
What Pitt must do next to reach the ACC Tournament
With the ACC having trimmed its field to 15 teams and Pitt sitting among the conference’s worst records coming into the contest, the win improves the Panthers’ immediate hopes but does not guarantee a berth. If the ACC Tournament began the previous Saturday, Pitt would have been left out of the field; the team now must string together results down the stretch and show a strong performance in the conference tournament to climb into contention. Capel warned that piling pressure on players can backfire—“It adds pressure, ” he said—and emphasized a need to get the roster to “play freely. ”
After the Notre Dame meeting, Pittsburgh still faces four remaining regular-season games, including a road trip to Stanford on Wednesday and a game at Cal on Feb. 28, followed by a home date with Florida State on March 4 and a season finale at Syracuse on March 7. Those four opponents and the dates are the confirmed path the Panthers have left to change their standing in the league.
The win over Notre Dame gives Pitt a concrete victory to build on as it travels to Stanford next, while Notre Dame will regroup after the Feb. 21 loss and seek to improve its 3-10 ACC mark in the final stretch.
