No. 1 Miami gets its first shot at defending the top spot on Saturday against a Pitt team that has given the Hurricanes headaches before.
The Panthers are headed to Hard Rock Stadium, and Mario Cristobal knows exactly what kind of challenge is waiting. Pitt has been dealing with injuries at quarterback, but the broader picture hasn’t changed much: this is still a dangerous, physical opponent with a defensive front that can wreck a game.
Cristobal made that point forcefully in his Monday press conference, saying, "And then all focus right now is turned to Pittsburgh," Cristobal said during his Monday presser. "Really good football team, top ten as it relates to just being disruptive, tackles for losses, pressure on the quarterback, high-pressure operation, high-movement operation.
Very veteran offensive and defensive line, very disruptive. On the defensive side of the ball, their secondary does a great job holding the picture in there, disguising coverage.
"Their linebackers get downhill in a hurry. I think they're number seven in the country in terms of interceptions. Their offense is top ten in, you name it: yards, total yards, passing offense, running the football, and just a very big and physical offensive line that they know what they're doing, they communicate really well, really good footwork, and playing really, really good football."
Miami enters at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play after surviving Florida State in double overtime. That game featured strong work from Malachi Toney and freshman running back Javian Mallory.
Pitt comes in at 5-2 and 2-2 in the ACC after a loss to Boston College. The Panthers started fast with a deep strike, but their freshman quarterback had moments of struggle against the Eagles.
Saturday’s matchup also brings back memories of the last time these teams met. Miami won that one in a classic game, a result that helped lift the Hurricanes into the top 10 and into the College Football Playoff picture.
Who: Pitt (5-2, 2-2 ACC) at No. 1 Miami (6-0, 4-0 ACC)
Last meeting: The Hurricanes defeated Pitt in a classic game, with the weather not being a problem, helping Miami get ranked and inside the top 10 to make it to the College Football Playoff.
Last time out, Miami: The Hurricanes outlast Florida State in double overtime after an impressive performance from Malachi Toney and freshman running back Javian Mallory.
Last time out, Panthers: Pitt is coming off a loss against Boston College after starting the game on fire with a bomb down the field. Their freshman quarterback looked troubled at times against the Eagles.
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Pitt Faces A Defining QB Decision As Schedule Gets Brutal
Pitts quarterback picture has become one of the biggest issues hanging over the rest of the season. After Mason Heintschel went down with an ACL tear, the Panthers have had to piece together the position with Texas State transfer Holden Geriner and true freshman Corey Dailey, and neither has yet provided a clean answer. With the ACC slate only getting tougher from here, the margin for error around the offense is shrinking fast.
The Panthers now have to sort out which direction gives them the best chance to keep pace in the conference and stay in the bowl hunt. Geriner and Dailey have both had mixed showings, which leaves the staff weighing experience against upside while the schedule adds pressure every week. For a team still trying to find stability, the next quarterback decision could go a long way toward defining how the rest of the year plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Heads To Miami With Its Season Suddenly Feeling At A Crossroads
Pitt heads to Miami on Oct. 24 with the kind of trip that can turn a season one way or the other. After back-to-back losses, the Panthers are walking into a matchup with the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes, who are still unbeaten and stand as the ACCs lone undefeated team. Miami has been built around a high-end attack led by Heisman candidate Malachi Toney and quarterback Darian Mensah, so this is not just a measuring-stick game for Pitt, it is a chance to show the slide is temporary.
The timing makes the assignment even tougher for the Panthers, who are already trying to sort through issues at quarterback while staring at a historically rough track record in games like this. A win in Coral Gables would instantly change the conversation around a team that suddenly looks like it is at a crossroads, while another loss would deepen the pressure heading into the stretch run. Either way, the next week gives Pitt little margin for error and a lot of questions to answer. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt's Georgia Tech Game Just Got Bigger Amid This Two-Game Slide
Pitts late-October matchup with Georgia Tech at Acrisure Stadium already carried plenty of weight, and now the stage around it has grown a little bigger. The Panthers will host the Yellow Jackets on Oct. 31 in a nighttime setting that should give the game a different feel, one that fits a team still trying to steady itself after a two-game slide and keep its postseason path moving in the right direction.
For a Pitt team looking to improve its record and lock in bowl eligibility, the timing matters almost as much as the opponent. A strong response at home would ease some of the pressure that has built over the last two weeks, while giving the Panthers a chance to reset in front of a nationally televised audience and remind everyone what kind of finish they can still put together. [Read more 🡒]