Pittsburgh’s defense has spent the first two weeks making life miserable for opposing offenses, and now Syracuse gets the next shot at figuring it out.
The Panthers welcome the Orange to ACC play Thursday night riding the kind of defensive start that sets a tone fast. In two nonconference wins over Miami (Ohio) and UCF, Pitt has given up just 21 points total. Against UCF, the Panthers were even more suffocating, allowing only 20 rushing yards and 206 total yards in a 12-7 win.
That front-and-linebacker group has been the backbone of the early run, and coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t sound remotely surprised by what he’s seen.
"That's kind of what we do, and so that doesn't surprise me at all, especially with the linebacker corps," Narduzzi said of his defense Monday. "I told you we had that D-line up front. If you look historically, we're going to stop the run."
Pitt has six sacks through its first two games and is allowing just 23.5 rushing yards per game. Thursday also brings a milestone for Narduzzi, who is coaching his 144th game and will move past Jock Sutherland (1924-38) for the most in school history. He’s also looking to keep the Panthers on track for a 3-0 start for the third time during his tenure.
On the other sideline, Syracuse arrives needing a reset after a messy 21-18 home loss to Cal. The Orange were hit with 15 penalties for 132 yards, missed two field goals and watched quarterback Steve Angeli throw three interceptions while under heavy pressure.
"We got to play better," Syracuse coach Fran Brown said Monday. "Can't let our quarterback (get) hit as much as he was hit. We just gotta continue to get better and play better."
Angeli will now have to deal with a Pitt defense Brown described as relentless.
"They run around," Brown said of the Panthers' aggressive defense. "They fly to the football.
They create turnovers. They make it hard for offenses."
Pitt, meanwhile, will again be hoping for another efficient outing from Mason Heintschel, who has thrown for 665 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. The Panthers may be without some help around him, though. Running back Ja'Kyrian Turner was held out last week because of an undisclosed issue and is listed as questionable for Thursday, and wide receiver Malik Knight, who caught a touchdown pass in the opener, could also miss the game because of a shoulder injury.
In Other News...
Syracuse Heads To Pitt With One Lineup Call Fans Will Notice
After opening the 2026 season with a win over New Hampshire and a loss to California, Syracuse is heading into its third game with another reminder of how thin the margins can be early in the year. Fran Browns team now turns to Pittsburgh, where the Orange have not won in 25 years, and the projected depth chart for this one offers the first real look at how the staff is sorting through roles on offense, defense and special teams.
One lineup call is likely to draw the most attention because it speaks to where Syracuse sees its best options right now, especially with the schedule starting to sharpen. Depth charts are never final, but this one gives a pretty good sense of who the Orange trust heading into a road game that has carried extra weight for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got Another Reminder Of How Far The Program Has Fallen
Syracuses slide has become hard to ignore, and the latest reminder came through ESPNs Big Monday plans for the upcoming season. With the Orange not included in the networks marquee broadcast lineup, it is another sign of how far the program has drifted from the national spotlight while it works to snap a five-season NCAA Tournament drought and avoid another spring on the outside looking in.
Gerry McNamara is trying to change that trajectory in his first year at the controls, leaning on transfer additions as he reshapes the roster and pushes toward a stronger foundation. The bigger goal is not just getting Syracuse back into the field next season, but building something that looks more like a threat again by 2026-27, when the program will be judged on whether it can climb back into the games and conversations it used to command. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into Practice With A Troubling Garwey Dual Question
Garwey Duals status has become one of the early storylines as Syracuse gets ready to open practice for the new season. The transfer guard is still working back from an offseason collarbone injury and has not yet been cleared for full contact, leaving the Orange to take a careful look at how he fits as the team ramps up toward exhibition play in mid-October.
For Syracuse, the concern is less about one players availability than how the guard rotation takes shape if Dual needs more time. Gavin Doty and Aiden Tobiason are also in the mix as the staff evaluates options at the position, making the next stretch of practice an important one for sorting out roles before the season starts to take form. [Read more 🡒]