Pitt is heading into its matchup with No. 1 Miami in a tough spot at quarterback, and Pat Narduzzi appears ready to lean on an unusual fix.
With sophomore Mason Heintschel done for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee against Virginia Tech on Oct. 3, the Panthers are expected to split the job between Holden Geriner and Corey Dailey, according to CBS Sports. Geriner, a fifth-year player, is the likely starter, while Dailey could also see the field.
Heintschel’s injury is a major blow for Pitt. The 19-year-old was putting together a strong season before going down, completing 98 of 148 passes for a 66.2 percent completion rate, 1,304 yards and 14 touchdowns against just one interception in five games.
Pitt started 5-0 for the third time in program history since 1990, but that momentum has stalled with two straight losses. Geriner opened against UNC in a 21-17 defeat, then Dailey started in last week’s 27-21 loss to Boston College.
Neither quarterback has done enough to settle the debate. Geriner has been around longer, but his college résumé is thin: over three seasons at Auburn and one at Texas State, he appeared in 11 games, completed nine of 21 passes for 116 yards and threw one interception.
Against North Carolina, he went 27 of 44 for 219 yards, with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Dailey, a former four-star recruit, was 11 of 25 for 193 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against Boston College.
Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman now has to prepare for both looks, though the Hurricanes are relatively healthy. The only injuries listed in the source are at cornerback, with Romanas “OJ” Frederique Jr. dealing with a left shoulder injury and Ja’Boree Antoine out with an undisclosed issue.
Pitt’s offensive line has at least given the offense a chance to function, allowing just eight sacks, the fourth-fewest in the ACC. That sets up a trench battle against a Miami defense that can create pressure and make life difficult for either quarterback.
With few options available, Narduzzi is trying to manufacture an answer on the fly. Pitt is aiming to end its two-game skid and stay in the hunt for a shot at Charlotte and the ACC Championship game.
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The defense matched the offenses urgency, too, with two sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble while keeping the other side under 100 rushing yards. For a team that has looked complete from week to week, the bigger question now is how long this pace can hold, because Miami has started to separate itself in a way that feels less like a hot streak and more like a warning to the rest of the sport. [Read more 🡒]
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Pitt will have to adjust around Turners absence and lean more heavily on Damon Ferguson Jr. and LaVell Wright to handle the rushing load. For Miami, it changes at least one piece of the scouting report as the Hurricanes prepare for a Panthers offense that has been reshuffled late in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Mario Cristobals Postgame Moment Kept Miamis Feud In The Spotlight
Miamis decisive win over Pitt should have been the nights biggest takeaway, and in many ways it was, but the postgame scene between Mario Cristobal and Pat Narduzzi made sure the earlier back-and-forth between the programs stayed in view. The two coaches exchanged a handshake after the game, a brief moment that carried extra weight after Narduzzis public accusations about Miamis recruiting tactics had already sharpened the edge around this matchup.
The interaction looked tense but still cordial, even if Cristobals gestures were read by some as more forceful than routine. Pitt was already dealing with a quarterback injury that shaped the way the game unfolded, so the result and the atmosphere around it were both lopsided in Miamis favor. Still, with the feud lingering in the background, the postgame exchange added one more layer to a rivalry that has been impossible to separate from the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]