#PantherNation News and Notes:
National Title Run Up
Report by Matt Schmidlin | January 8, 2021
Jacobs Expected to Start, Play Significant Time Despite Injury
Alabama senior HB
Josh Jacobs has been a full participant at all practices here in Miami, and is not expected to be hampered by the back injury that held him out of the second half of the Crimson Tide's Sugar Bowl victory over Houston.
Senior
Bryan Hand saw significant action in Jacobs's stead, tallying 109 yards, as did freshman
Darieon Williams Jr., who also started a game earlier this year when both Jacobs and Hand missed due to injury.
On the season, Jacobs leads the Crimson Tide with 925 yards on the ground, though it has been a bit of a committee due to injuries through the year. Hand has added 876 yards rushing, while Williams Jr. is up to 380 yards in his first collegiate season. Senior QB
D'Eriq King has rushed for 503 yards on the season as well.
Narduzzi Preaching that Panthers Focus on Themselves
With the biggest game of his coaching career looming, Pitt coach
Pat Narduzzi is preaching focus for his Panthers ahead their national title matchup with Alabama.
"Everyone knows who Alabama is," Narduzzi said. "We know what kind of program they are. We know their pedigree. That's the kind of recognition we want our program to have. And the only way we can do that is by focusing on what we can control, and that's ourselves and our preparation. We know Alabama will be ready to play, and so we have to do the same."
The normally outspoken Narduzzi has been fairly cagey and reserved in the lead up to the national championship, making sure to not give the Crimson Tide any bulletin board material that master motivator
Nick Saban can pounce on.
"If you're looking for a soundbite to drum things up, you're not gonna get it," Narduzzi said. "We're just focusing on Pitt football and being the best Pitt football team we can be in the biggest game of the season."