Pitt’s season has hit a rough patch, and the next step has to be clarity.
The Panthers opened 2026 at 5-0, but back-to-back losses and Mason Heintschel’s season-ending injury have knocked them down to 5-2. Since then, head coach Pat Narduzzi has been forced to sort through an uneasy quarterback situation, deciding between fifth-year Holden Geriner and true freshman Corey Dailey.
Narduzzi first went with Geriner in the game after Heintschel’s injury, but that outing ended in a tough loss to UNC. Even after Narduzzi publicly backed Geriner afterward, Dailey was the starter in Pitt’s loss to Boston College. That kind of uncertainty has left the offense searching for a pulse.
The defense, at least, still gives Pitt something to lean on. This group has been strong against the run, disruptive up front and active in key moments.
It has plenty of positives, even if it is not flawless. But as good as that side of the ball has been, it can only carry the Panthers so far.
The cleanest fix on offense starts on the ground. Ja’Kyrian Turner, Damon Ferguson Jr. and La’Vell Wright have helped Pitt average more than 165 rushing yards per game, but the ground attack has dipped since Heintschel went down. The source of that slowdown appears to be predictability, and if offensive coordinator Kade Bell can tweak the scheme, Pitt’s run game can get back to where it was.
The quarterback issue still needs a real answer, though. Pitt cannot keep bouncing between passers and expect the offense to settle in.
Narduzzi has to pick one quarterback and ride with him the rest of the way. That would give the unit a chance to find rhythm and let Bell tailor the scheme to one player instead of two.
If the passing game remains stuck, Pitt may have to get even more creative with how it runs the ball. The Panthers already have depth at running back, but they do not have to rely only on the backs. Bell has also used plays that get receivers involved in the ground game, including Tony Kinsler.
That opens the door for more variety. Jet sweeps could make sense with the speed in Pitt’s receiving group, and option looks could also help the offense get more out of its backfield depth. A system built around option plays, motion and short throws - something closer to Army or Navy - might be a stretch, but it is one path that could fit this roster.
Pitt’s defense will still have to do its part. Defensive coordinator Cory Sanders needs to keep attacking with pressure, especially with a secondary that could use help. If the Panthers keep shutting down the run and get better against the pass, that defense can at least create some breathing room for an offense still trying to settle down.
The timing does Pitt no favors. After two straight losses, the Panthers now have top-ranked Miami waiting next.
By then, they need to know who their quarterback is and what their identity looks like. The season may not finish the way it once seemed it could, but Pitt still has a chance to make itself tough to beat the rest of the way.
In Other News...
Pitt Just Got A Harsh Look At Miamis Championship Ceiling
Miami did not just beat Pitt, it looked every bit like a team with championship ambitions in a 52-23 rout that kept the No. 1 Hurricanes unbeaten and in command of the Atlantic Coast Conference race. Darian Mensah carved up the Panthers for 387 yards and four touchdowns, while Malachi Toney turned the game into a steady stream of bad news for Pitt with a record-setting day that kept Miami moving chains and controlling the pace from start to finish.
For Pitt, the result was another reminder of how quickly a game can tilt when an elite opponent starts piling up explosive plays and never gives the other side much room to breathe. The Panthers dropped to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play, and while the final score was lopsided, it also offered a clear look at the standard Pitt will have to chase if it wants to be part of that upper tier again. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Volleyball Looks Every Bit Like A Team Building Toward More
Pitts trip to Atlanta produced another familiar result, as the Panthers handled Georgia Tech in a 3-0 sweep and continued to show the kind of balance that has made them a tough out. The front line set the tone early, with Pitt controlling the net and limiting the Yellow Jackets to a .055 hitting percentage while owning the blocking battle 13-6.
Olivia Babcock was again central to the performance, hitting at a .500 clip while adding four blocks and six digs, and Izzy Starck kept the offense moving with her seventh double-double of the season. Results like this are part of why Pitt keeps looking like a team with more in front of it, especially when it can travel and still bring the same level of discipline and pressure from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Is Turning The Pete Into A Much Bigger Event This Season
Pitt is putting extra polish on the Petersen Events Center this season, rolling out a bigger gameday package for the 2026-27 mens basketball schedule. The department announced theme nights, exclusive giveaways, halftime entertainment and expanded benefits for season ticket holders, all aimed at making trips to the Pete feel like more of an event than a routine home date.
The first chance for fans to see the changes comes when the Panthers open the season Nov. 2 against Rider, and the calendar is already dotted with special promotions beyond that. One of the bigger showcase moments will come in December, when Pitt and West Virginia bring the Backyard Basketball Classic to PPG Paints Arena, giving the Panthers another high-profile stage in front of a local crowd. [Read more 🡒]