Analysis: Ahead of ACC title chase, final bye couldn't come at more opportune time for Pitt

The ACC’s schedule-makers did Pitt a favor (in multiple regards, as it would turn out) by placing the team’s second and final bye after Week 10.

For one, the Panthers can relax on their way back across the country from Stanford, which they defeated 35-20 on Saturday for a fifth consecutive win.

Secondly, the open week comes at a time when Pitt (7-2, 5-1 ACC) is banged up, increasing the chances that key players will be back in action Nov. 15, when No. 12 Notre Dame visits Acrisure Stadium.

Finally, while Pitt topped the Cardinal handily, mistakes and mishaps abounded, as 10 penalties were committed along with four turnovers.

In short, when it comes to getting healthy and cleaning up sloppy play, a bye week couldn’t have come at a better time as Pitt gears up for a run at the ACC title game.

“Notre Dame coming in, and going into the fourth quarter of the season … it’s the perfect time for that break,” coach Pat Narduzzi said after the Stanford win.

Running the gauntlet

Since making the change to Mason Heintschel at quarterback, Narduzzi has Pitt back on track after deflating losses to West Virginia and Louisville earlier in the year.

The Panthers are undefeated with Heintschel under center, defeating Boston College, then-No. 25 Florida State, Syracuse, N.C. State and Stanford since Oct. 4.

While Narduzzi is not off the mark in saying that winning is hard enough in the ACC and college football in general, ultimately, Pitt has won five games in a row that it had little excuse to lose.

The combined record of Pitt’s last five opponents is 16-28 (7-20 ACC). The three teams remaining on the regular-season schedule are a combined 20-5.

The Panthers have proven they can beat bad and middling competition, even when they are not playing at their best. But starting Nov. 15 against the Fighting Irish, it will come time to prove they can take down elite opponents.

“We were here last year,” defensive end Jimmy Scott said of the team’s 7-0 start in 2024. “Our record was similar to this, and everybody knows how that ended last year. It just doesn’t matter. We’ve just got to get chomping and continue to finish games strong.”

Added Narduzzi: “We’re ready. I guarantee we’re ready. We’ve got a really good football team. … We’re going to have to play smart and do things right. Our guys will be ready.”

Getting healthy

Pitt played without tailback Desmond Reid and linebacker Rasheem Biles against Stanford but got back linebacker Kyle Louis. Receiver Kenny Johnson was also able to go while dealing with an injury.

Reid’s dynamic skill set can’t be denied, but after being without him more often than not over the last six weeks, the Panthers have managed to be effective on the ground.

Recently, it has been freshman tailback Ja’Kyrian Turner who has filled in nicely for Reid.

Against Stanford, he had 22 carries for 127 yards and added three catches for 36 yards.

Having Reid available will continue to be the preference for Pitt, but Turner has shown growth in his first collegiate campaign and is a viable alternative.

“It started in fall camp, just day-in, day-out, coming in at 5:30 (a.m.), coming in early, just getting in film, watching, studying, preparation, just knowing what I’m going to do whenever my opportunity comes,” Turner said. “Just stepping up to the table.”

Another +100 YD day from Boosie ????@Jakyrian_Turner was nearly unstoppable as he carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards while catching 3 passes for an extra 36 yards in the win@Pitt_FB | @Pitt_ATHLETICS | #H2P | @DrPepper pic.twitter.com/QuNLMcv4KD

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 1, 2025

Louis made his presence known after missing the better part of the last two games, posting a team-high 11 tackles while recording an interception and two pass breakups.

What he brings to Pitt’s defense cannot be understated.

“He’s a game-changer,” Scott said. “It’s definitely great to have him back.”

As the Panthers settle into their bye, Biles will be the biggest question mark for Notre Dame.

Stanford marked the third straight game he has missed after what looked to be an all-conference-caliber season was derailed by injury.

Narduzzi expressed optimism that Biles will return against Notre Dame.

“We’re looking forward to this next one,” Narduzzi said. “It’s going to be a big one at Acrisure Stadium. It’s going to be nice to have a week off just to get everybody back. I would imagine Biles would be back. No. 3 will be back. I’m excited.”

Plenty to clean up

Double-digit penalties and four turnovers — three in the red zone — usually don’t mix to form a winning recipe.

Yet that batch of mishaps didn’t sink Pitt at Stanford, as the Panthers still managed to win comfortably and weren’t threatened by the Cardinal after halftime.

However, Narduzzi and his players have to be acutely aware that such sloppy play won’t cut it against ranked opponents.

Heintschel committed all of the Panthers’ turnovers Saturday.

His two interceptions were poor decisions borne of trying to force the ball, and better ball security will be required of the 18-year-old, who now has five fumbles on the year.

“He’s a true freshman,” Narduzzi said. “What stands out most about him is those turnovers at the end. But he’ll learn from it. Again, he made some great plays. There were some times he made some great plays. We’ll take the great plays. We’ve got to clean up the bad ones. But he’s got a lot of moxie for a young quarterback.”

In Heintschel’s defense, his coaches did him no favors on his second and final fumble on the day.

With Pitt up 35-13 in the fourth quarter, Heintschel fumbled at the Stanford 3-yard line on what looked to be a botched option play with receiver Blue Hicks in the backfield.

Instead, taking the ball up the middle himself, Heintschel absorbed a crushing hit from multiple Cardinal defenders before losing the ball.

Thankfully for Pitt, he wasn’t injured on the play.

Promising Pitt QB Mason Heintschel running the ball, gets crunched. Why is he even on the field? PITT up 23 with 4 minutes left. pic.twitter.com/kgOF0KZ9Xd

— John Toperzer (@PiratesTalk) November 1, 2025

“If you go back and watch the videotape, it was kind of a power read, and (Heintschel) was supposed to shovel it,” Narduzzi said. “Something happened with the shovel and he just ate the ball.”

Turnovers aside, Heintschel deserves credit for the solid plays he made through the air and on the ground, including touchdown passes of 17, 5 and 14 yards plus four other completions of at least 25 yards.

Pitt is no stranger to penalty woes this year, having racked up double-digit infractions at West Virginia (for a season-high 114 yards) and Syracuse (13/109).

The Panthers drew 10 flags for 94 yards Saturday, with a holding call on Jake Overman wiping out a Turner touchdown at the end of the first quarter.

Left tackle Kendall Stanley, who has struggled with penalties since taking over for Jeff Persi, was flagged for holding and a personal foul before departing the game with an injury.

His replacement, Jiavani Cooley, then drew a holding call.

If the past nine games are any gauge, Pitt’s penalty issues might remain a constant thorn in the side for Narduzzi.

But avoiding crippling infractions will doubtless be on the bye-week agenda.

“We’re going to use this bye week to get healthy,” Narduzzi said. “We’re going to stay fresh. We’ll have two practices. Both of them will be in spider pads, so there will not be a lot of physical contact, but we’ll mentally be way ahead on the Irish.”