Coach Shaughnessy held spring practice after summer registration so there would be more men to work with than the fifteen holdovers from the previous season.

If one purchased a $10,000 bond (or higher), the fan could choose a seat on the Pitt bench, or a visit to the Notre Dame dressing room after the game.

[21] [22][23] On September 23, the Pitt Panthers opened the 1944 football season against Ira Rogers' West Virginia Mountaineers.

The only holdovers in the West Virginia lineup were end, Bill Anderson; tackle, Charles Smith; quarterback, John Lucente and center, Russ Lopez.

The returnees were Francis Mattioli and George Ranii at guard; Joseph DeFrank at tackle; Tom Kalmanir at halfback, and John Itzel at fullback.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Harvey Sarles, Edward Maruzewski, Denver Newman, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, William Sutton, Edmund Slater, Albert Phillips, John Rozanski, Robert Flath, George Kohut, Richardo Pugliese, Robert Hayhurst, Steve Polach, Remo Moffa, Paul Oberkircher, Ralph Coleman, Owen McManus, Michael Banasick, Eugene Gaugler, Paul Rickards, Bernard Sniscak, George Linelli and Donald Matthews.

[26] After leading Notre Dame to the national title in 1943, head coach Frank Leahy entered the Navy and Edward McKeever replaced him for the 1944 football season.

The Notre Dame lineup had three All-Americans: tackle George Sullivan; guard Pat Filley; and halfback Bob Kelly.

[29] Jane Flaccus, a Sewickley socialite, purchased a $10,000 war bond and designated Yeoman Rita Hanson of the Coast Guard Women's Reserve (SPARS) to sit on the Panther bench for the game.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Harvey Sarles, Denver Newman, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, Edward Maruzewski, William Sutton, Maxwell Scherb, Albert Phillips, Joe DeFrank, Harry Munson, Robert Watkins, Steve Polach, Remo Moffa, George Ranii, Paul Oberkircher, Loren Braner, Eugene Gaugler, Donald Matthews, John Kosh, Paul Rickards, Bernard Sniscak, Joe Kielb, George Linelli and Michael Banasick.

[28] On October 7, the Bethany Bisons led by Coach John Knight met the Pitt Panthers for the final time on the gridiron.

Harvey Sarles George Freese, Eugene Gaugler, Loren Braner and Mike Sprock tallied the remaining touchdowns.

In the third quarter, Bethany's first score in the 8-year series came on an 11-yard pass from former Pitt quarterback Joe Mocha to Leo Short, which cut the lead to 32–6.

Late in the game, Bison substitute halfback, Bobby White completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to former Panther Don Owen, and Bill Dreesen converted the placement to make the final 50 to 13.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Clem Schneider, Robert Hawkins, Edward Zimmovan, Denver Newman, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, William Sutton, Albert Phillips, John Rozanski, Flath, George Kohut, Robert Hayhurst, Steve Polach, Remo Moffa, Paul Oberkircher, Owen McManus, Loren Braner, Ralph Coleman, George Freese, John Kosh, Michael Banasick, Paul Rickards, Angelo Carlaccini, Bernard Sniscak, George Linelli, Louis Yakopec, Donald Matthews, John Lozar and Eugene Gaugler.

Dean Sensanbaugher, John Minor, Glenn Davis, Barney Poole, Thomas Hayes and William West scored the others.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Denver Newman, William Sutton, Jack Paton, Harvey Sarles, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, Robert Flath, Joe DeFrank, George Kohut, John Rozanski, Robert Hayhurst, Steve Polach, Remo Moffa, Ralph Hammond, Owen McManus, Michael Sprock, Michael Banasick, John Itzel, Eugene Gaugler, Donald Matthews, Joe Kielb, John Lozar and Louis Yakopec.

[40] Offensively the Illini were led by future College Football Hall-of-Famer, halfback Claude "Buddy" Young and fullback Paul Patterson.

Their line was anchored by one of the biggest men in college football, Lester Bingaman, who was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 280 lbs.

On second down, Claude "Buddy" Young ran around right end 92-yards and Greenwood was good on the placement to increase the lead to 19–3 at halftime.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Edward Zimmovan, Jack Paton, Harvey Sarles, Albert Zellman, Jay Brown, Joseph DeFrank, Robert Hayhurst, Steve Polach, Ralph Hammond, John Lozar, Bernard Sniscak, Angelo Carlaccini, George Linelli, Michael Banasick, Michael Sprock, Joe Kielb, John Itzel and Eugene Gaugler.

After Carnegie Tech cancelled their football season, Pitt Athletic Director, James Hagan convinced the Chatham Field Army Air Base team to fill the spot in the Panther schedule.

The remainder of the invaders who arrived at the airport last night by B-24 Liberators are pilots, bombardiers, navigators, aerial engineers, and other crew members who are not specializing in football, but find it a pleasant interlude between training classes.

Eight different Buckeyes scored a touchdown, Mardo Hamilton tackled Pitt quarterback Joe Kielb for a safety, and Jack Duggar and Tom Keane each added two placements.

Eleventh-year coach Bo McMillin's squad was 5–3 for the season, and had shut out their previous three home game opponents (Fort Knox 72–0, Nebraska 54–0, Iowa 32–0).

[55] In front of a sparse crowd of 5,000, Indiana kept Pitt winless against the Western Conference since Sutherland's departure, and did not give up a point on their home field, as they beat the Panthers 47–0.

In the first two quarters, Bob Hoernschemeyer threw three touchdown passes (two to Abe Addams and one to Richard Deranek) and scored himself on a 5-yard run around end.

Pitt substitute halfback Bernie Sniscak returned the second half kick-off 93 yards to break the scoring drought.

Late in the quarter, center Loren Braner intercepted Johnny Petchel's pass and returned it 30-plus yards to the State 15-yard line.

[61][62] George Ranii was chosen to play for the East squad in the annual New Years Day Shriner's game in San Francisco.