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Pitt hasn't been in the AP Top 5 in almost 40 years.

Florida

Wisconsin

Pitt

I recall they beat Georgia rather decisively in the Sugar Bowl in 1976 with some running back who was pretty good.  I presume they were in the top five then.  They beat Georgia in the last seconds in 1981 as I recall, probably the Dawg's best team.  They had the won and Marino threw a fourth down pass into blown coverage on fourth and forever.  But Pitt was in position to win and had a great team.

That of course is nearly 40 years ago, hard as it is to believe.

Before looking it up, I thought Pitt was better historically than it actually was.  Hmmmph. 

Put me down for a Florida Wisconsin Pitt as well.

Florida
Wisconsin
Pitt

Next trio:

Florida, Pitt, Wisconsin

Florida
Wisconsin
Pitt


The Panther's hardware advantage over the Badgers made me think about putting them ahead but it has just been too long.  I also tend to dock teams that aren't a clear #1 in their own state and, as ELA points out, it isn't even clear that Pitt is #1 in their own city let alone state. 

uf
wisky
pitt

they claim 9. 2 are ap/coach (also unanimous). 4 are chosen only by 1 poll, parke davis. other 3 only by other minor polls/systems. they also have 3 other awarded titles they don't claim.

They claim 8 before 1940, and the 76 team is legitimate with Dorsett, who is remarkably under rated when you talk about the best RB's ever in CFB.  Pitt had 3 starting QB's that season and won the MNC - think about that.  How good did he have to be to overcome that?

In Pitt's defense, The teams from the early 70's thru the early 80's were outstanding and the program was as strong as any in the country.  They were #1 a few times in that span, and the 1980 team with Hugh Greene, Marino and the OL was stupid good.  That team lost a freaky game early in the season to Florida State (before it was FLORIDA STATE, and actually Bowden always said this was the win that put FSU on the map) and they mauled everyone the rest of the year.  Instead of getting the obvious choice to the Sugar Bowl against Georgia, since they were #2 in the nation, The Sugar selected a pedestrian ND team.  Pitt went to the Gator Bowl and finshed #2.  Had Pitt won the MNC that season, they'd arguably be talked about as one of the best teams of all time, I believe that. 

The 1981 team was subsequently very good as well, but they got pounded by Penn St 48-14 in the last game of the year as #1.  Frankly, the program never rebounded after that loss.  They hit rock bottom in the late 90's and basically are what they are now for the past 15 years - put together a nice season here and there, make a run at the Top 15 and division crown every so often, but mostly their a 7-5/8-4 program.