Pitt holds off a storm, winning 28-24// Rithika Praturu, Staff Writer
Pitt’s record against Miami is, quite frankly, a little alarming — just 12 wins in 41 meetings. Momentum matters, and right now Pitt has it. Coming off an explosive 42-28 win over Georgia Tech, where the Panthers put up over 400 yards of total offense and held the Yellow Jackets below their season averages, Pitt finally looked like the team they’ve been trying to play like all year.
Miami, meanwhile, has played steadily all season. The Hurricanes have been favorites in every game, backed by a defense allowing under 21 points per game and an offense averaging around 37 points. They’re disciplined, efficient and rarely beat themselves, traits that have made them consistent all season. Miami is ranked No.13, but the Panthers just took down a ranked team in Georgia Tech and have what it takes.
If Pitt can ride the momentum from last week, clean up the mistakes that have haunted them earlier in the season, and keep the offense going strong, this matchup could become a lot more interesting than history suggests.
Panthers fall in a thriller, 29-26 // Thomas Simione
The Panthers kept their ACC hopes alive with a statement win over Georgia Tech last Saturday. Now, the Hurricanes come to town looking to make a run of their own at the conference championship game. With a ticket to Charlotte on the line, Miami will have the edge over the Panthers.
A big concern during the win against Georgia Tech was the Panthers’ offensive line. Georgia Tech sacked first-year quarterback Mason Heintschel six times, slowing down the Panthers’ offense after a quick 28-0 start. Miami has the eighth-best run defense and third-best pass rush, so Heintschel will need to get used to dealing with pressure in his face. Against Notre Dame, it wasn’t pretty, so expect to see Heintschel running for his life on Saturday.
Another concern that could potentially limit the offense is the availability of first-year kicker Trey Butkowski. Butkowski has missed the previous two games due to illness and is questionable for next week. His replacement, redshirt sophomore Sam Carpenter, is 1-3 with a lone 24-yard field goal made.
Miami comes to town on a roll, having handily beaten Virginia Tech, NC State and Syracuse in its past three games. With how the offense struggled to close out against Georgia Tech, I’m worried the season finale will end in disappointment.
Pitt does their job, wins 35-24 over the Canes // Ethan Lemler, Staff Writer
Pitt has one of the largest home games in recent Pitt history coming up. A win at noon will turn every eye in Pittsburgh towards Berkeley and Charlottesville, where a loss by SMU or Virginia will cement Pitt into the ACC Championship game.
But first, the Panthers need to focus on the game in front of them. Great efforts by true first-years quarterback Mason Heintschel and running back Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner helped outlast the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, but it was a 100-yard pick-six by junior linebacker Braylen Lovelace that turned the momentum of this game.
The Hurricanes come to town with a veteran quarterback in senior Carson Beck and playoff hopes diminishing by the week. The secondary needs to prevent big plays, and the offense will have to play a full four quarters of football if they want a strong finish to what has been an exceptional regular season.
If the Panthers can do a better job of protecting Money Mason, then I predict the Panthers to keep the offensive barrage going in a win.
Miami too hot to handle, 30-24 // Sean McQuillan, Staff Writer
Oh boy. It’s the final Saturday of November, the cool breeze will be present among the yinzers in attendance, and the stakes?
A trip to the ACC Championship for one team. And for the other, a chance to survive and advance into the College Football Playoff picture.
Pitt returns to Acrisure Stadium for the first time since the Fighting Irish made themselves at home and embarrassed the Panthers. But while they were gone, the true first-years of the royal blue and yellow welcomed themselves into Bobby Dodd Stadium and broke apart the struggling defense of the Ramblin’ Wreck, 42-28.
Mason Heintschel and Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner together led the way to victory, surpassing the 400-yard mark in total offense. I mean, after Pitt punched in its fourth touchdown Saturday night, the Panthers were briefly tracking toward an 84-0 blowout. Turner and Heintschel continued to make explosive gains, helping Pitt sprint out to a commanding 28-0 lead. Although a last-minute push for Georgia Tech seemed to make it a contest, Turner signed off on a career performance with a touchdown that sent Yellow Jackets’ fans wondering if this was the end of their playoff hopes.
Now, Miami has a roster valued at nearly $10 million in NIL terms and is stocked with NFL-caliber talent at every position. The Hurricanes roll into Pittsburgh with serious momentum after a trip to Blacksburg, where they didn’t just beat Virginia Tech — they stomped them. In front of a subdued Lane Stadium crowd and, notably, future Hokies head coach James Franklin, Miami offered an unfiltered preview of what the ACC might look like once he officially takes over.
But all roads lead to the North Shore, where, across the Allegheny River, the Pitt Panthers will end their season against a Miami football team that is destined to make a push at the College Football Playoff.
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