Three weeks ago, all eyeballs turned to Clemson/Pitt.

The Panthers had slipped into the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 23.

No one was laughing anymore when Kenny Pickett’s Heisman Trophy candidacy was mentioned.

The six-time defending ACC champion Clemson Tigers were making their first appearance in Pittsburgh, and Pitt actually was favored by 3 ½ points.

This was a legit big game at Heinz Field, and – how about that? — the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t playing.

Three nights ago, the same scenario emerged.

Elevated to No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Pitt was set to face North Carolina on national TV in the only college football game in the country that night.

Now, take the significance of those two games, multiply by 10 and you’ll get a good sense of the relevancy of what will occur Saturday at Heinz Field: Virginia vs. Pitt, 3:30 p.m.

If the Panthers (8-2, 5-1) win, they clinch the ACC Coastal championship and will play in the conference title game Dec. 4.

A loss drops Pitt among those poor souls reduced to looking for the score of somebody else’s game. Virginia will claim the title by defeating Pitt and Virginia Tech to close the season.

But the Cavaliers (6-4, 4-2) have the nation’s 120th-ranked defense (461.9 yards allowed per game), and quarterback Brennan Armstrong has a rib injury that kept him out of Virginia’s 28-3 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday.

Virginia/Pitt will be the fourth time since Heinz Field opened in 2001 that the Panthers will have a chance to win a championship at home.

The previous three from the Big East years:

• Miami 28, Pitt 14, 2003.

• Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44, 2009.

• West Virginia 35, Pitt 10, 2010.

The talent level was good on those teams, too. Larry Fitzgerald, Dorin Dickerson and Jabaal Sheard were All-Americans in ‘03, ‘09 and ‘10.

But this is Pitt’s chance to prove that the culture surrounding the entire program has changed, and it is capable of taking that next step. In other words, get closer to busting through that glass ceiling.

If it happens, Pickett’s return for his final season gets a good bit of the credit. He has climbed among the Heisman contenders, and he looks to be a quarterback NFL teams will covet in the 2022 Draft.

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy tweeted Sunday afternoon the names of five players he would put on a Heisman ballot “based on tape.”

* Pitt QB Kenny Pickett* Alabama DE Will Anderson* Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker* Georgia LB Nakobe Dean (team representative)* Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) November 14, 2021

Notice anything? Pickett is the only quarterback.

He’s thrown for more yards (3,517) and accounted for more touchdowns (36) than Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral. He has tossed two or more touchdown passes in every game – six, five, four in one stretch.

That doesn’t mean Pickett will win the Heisman or even be among the chosen four or five invited to the ceremony Dec. 11 in New York City. Ballots aren’t due until Dec. 6, two days after the ACC Championship Game.

It should be noted that Pickett has thrown three of his four interceptions in the past three games when Miami, Duke and North Carolina have sacked him 11 times – half the total allowed by Pitt this season. Injuries to wide receivers Taysir Mack and Jaylon Barden and offensive linemen Gabe Houy and Jake Kradel have not impacted Pitt’s win/loss column. Still, they are areas of concern.

Pitt is ranked in all three polls — No. 19 (AFCA Coaches), No. 20 (AP), No. 21 (College Football Playoffs).

The Panthers, 13-point favorites according to @betonline_ag, have more than enough talent to beat Virginia. But remember: The ball is pointed on both ends. It doesn’t always bounce like you might expect.

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