Pitt’s offense gets a clean shot at a reset this week, and the matchup could not look much friendlier. The Panthers return to Acrisure Stadium on Halloween night to face Georgia Tech, a team that has struggled on both sides of the ball and offers Pitt a chance to snap out of a three-game skid.
The Panthers are 5-3 overall and 2-3 in ACC play after a 52-23 road loss to No. 1 Miami in Week 8. That defeat capped a rough October and extended a slide that started when quarterback Mason Heintschel went down with a season-ending ACL tear in Pitt’s 35-33 road win over Virginia Tech in Week 5.
Since Heintschel’s injury, Pitt has averaged just 20.3 points per game. The offense has had its bumps at quarterback, with fifth-year Holden Geriner and true freshman Corey Dailey each offering something different while the staff tries to find the right blend.
Geriner was solid enough against Miami, throwing for 268 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Dailey also made a positive impression in limited work, going 3-for-3 with a touchdown.
Even with the quarterback situation unsettled, Pitt should have some confidence facing Georgia Tech’s defense. The Yellow Jackets are giving up 30.3 points per game, which is the third-most in the ACC. Their latest outing was especially rough: Boston College hung 49 on them at home in Week 8, despite the Eagles having not scored more than 30 points in any game before that.
The numbers tell the rest of the story. Georgia Tech allows 197.1 passing yards per game, sixth-least in the ACC, but the run defense has been far more vulnerable. The Yellow Jackets are surrendering 214.2 rushing yards per game, the most in the conference.
That opens the door for Pitt’s backfield, even with sophomore running back Ja'Kyrian 'Boosie' Turner dealing with an injury. Asked about Turner’s status, head coach Pat Narduzzi answered with "next question."
Pitt still has production in the run game. Freshman Damon Ferguson Jr. leads the team with 92 carries for 477 yards and four touchdowns, while sixth-year back La'Vell Wright has added 63 rushes for 253 yards and four scores of his own.
Georgia Tech’s game against Boston College showed exactly how a team can attack them. The Yellow Jackets gave up 399 rushing yards while limiting quarterback Mason McKenzie to 101 passing yards.
Pitt has also gotten steady play from wide receiver Cataurus 'Blue' Hicks, who has emerged as one of the offense’s few consistent bright spots. The senior leads the Panthers with five receiving touchdowns and has averaged 142 receiving yards over his last two games.
Special teams have been dependable, too. Fifth-year kicker Antonio Chadha has not missed an extra point and has only one missed field goal this season. Against Boston College, he was perfect on all four of his field goal attempts.
Georgia Tech comes into the game 2-5 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Its only wins have been against FCS opponent Mercer in Week 3 and a 28-25 upset of then-undefeated Duke in Week 6.
This is a much different setting than last year’s night game between these two programs, when the stakes were far higher. This time, both teams are simply trying to find enough wins to salvage their seasons.
For Pitt, that means taking care of a game it should be able to control. The Panthers are still fighting for bowl eligibility, and every win matters with nothing guaranteed in the ACC.
In Other News...
Pitt May Need A Bigger Identity Before The Opener
With the season opener against Rider getting closer, Jeff Capel still has some lineup decisions to sort through, and the biggest questions appear to be in the frontcourt. Pitt has spent the offseason looking for combinations that can hold up defensively and on the glass, and the discussion has centered on Baye Ndongo and Mercer transfer Armani Mighty, two players who have already shown they can give the Panthers a tougher edge around the basket.
Ndongos defensive work at different positions has given Pitt some flexibility, while Mightys rebounding impact at Mercer suggests he can help stabilize possessions when the game gets physical. For a team still figuring out its identity, that pairing may wind up being more than just a rotation choice. It could end up shaping how Pitt wants to play from the opening tip, even if the exact starting five remains unsettled for now. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Basketball Just Made A Very Modern Bet On Its Future
Pitt is adding a new corporate presence to its mens basketball program, and it comes from a familiar Pittsburgh name. Pitt Athletics and JMI Sports announced a multiyear partnership with Gecko Robotics that will bring the companys logo to the Panthers jerseys, along with multimedia branding at the Petersen Events Center and NIL opportunities for select student-athletes.
The move is a notable one for a program that has been looking for modern ways to strengthen its brand and revenue streams while staying rooted in the city. Gecko, a Pittsburgh-based AI robotics company, gives the Panthers a local partner with a tech-forward identity, and the arrangement signals how college basketball is continuing to evolve well beyond the court as schools seek deeper commercial ties. [Read more 🡒]
Former Pitt Leader Earns ACC Honor Years After Lasting Impact
Penny Semaias influence around Pitt stretched well beyond the field, and the Atlantic Coast Conference is now recognizing that impact years later. The ACC named Semaia a recipient of the 2026 ACC UNITE Award, which honors commitment to unity, respect and inclusion, a fitting nod for someone whose work centered on helping student-athletes grow as people as much as competitors.
Semaias path since leaving Pittsburgh has taken him into the NFL, where he now serves as vice president of stadium relations for the Buffalo Bills. His recognition also places him alongside Syracuses Oren Lyons as one of two honorees, a reminder that the reach of the leagues award can extend well past current campuses and into the broader work of people who helped shape those programs from within. [Read more 🡒]