Pitt will take its first public (baby) steps of the 2022 season Saturday in the Blue-Gold spring game at Heinz Field.

The goalposts have moved since Pitt won the ACC championship last season. Prevailing in the conference used to be the goal, but players say that no longer is enough.

Now, they believe, it’s time to win a Natty (what the cool kids call a national championship).

“That was a goal last year,” senior defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado said. “We didn’t make it. This year, I think we have all the weapons necessary to reach that goal.”

The opener is nearly five months in the future — for goodness sakes, we haven’t even had summer yet — but let’s briefly examine what Pitt must do just to get into the College Football Playoff conversation.

The schedule is more difficult, with the Panthers opening against Power 5 teams West Virginia and Tennessee. Five of the first six games are at Heinz Field, but two of Pitt’s three losses last season occurred there. The good news is Pitt won’t have to contend with Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby, but later on there are four challenging conference games on hostile ground — Louisville, North Carolina, Virginia and Miami.

But that’s a fight for another time. For now, it’s springtime. Here’s what to look for starting at 1 p.m. Saturday:

1. The QB derby

Coaches have not said much of substance about the competition between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti. It’s impossible to gauge who has the upper hand.

Slovis? Because he threw for 7,576 yards and 58 touchdowns at USC?

Patti? Because he has been on campus for five seasons, and was leading the team with a steady hand in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl before getting hurt?

In any case, it’s a fair fight. Prior to January, neither has worked with offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.

“They’ve both had great springs,” Cignetti said. “Every day you see the progress. First, they do a great job in the classroom. You see the progress in terms of their decision-making in all three areas, whether it’s the run game, whether it’s the protection phase, whether it’s the passing game. You’re talking about competitive kids who love the game of football, who have a passion for it. It’s great to be around them.”

2. A peek into practice

You won’t see much of wide receiver Jordan Addison on Saturday, but coach Pat Narduzzi offered reporters a vivid description of something the Biletnikoff winner recently did at practice when he was double-covered on a fade route.

“My man just went up between both (defensive backs), timed it right, snatched it and scored,” Narduzzi said. “Both DBs just looked at each other like ‘What happened?’ ”

When asked who usually wins at practice between pass catchers and wide receivers, Narduzzi said it’s 50/50 — with this exception:

“Put it this way: Jordan Addison wins a lot.”

3. Baldonado’s big decision

After last season, Baldonado sat down with Narduzzi to help him decide whether to declare for the NFL Draft or come back to Pitt. It was similar to discussions Narduzzi had with Kenny Pickett and his family last year.

“Smart kid. He’s one of the smartest guys in there,” Narduzzi said of Baldonado. “He’s smart enough to know, ‘Hey, let’s check it out and tell me where I’m going to be.’ Haba looked and said, ‘I want more than that.’ ”

Said Baldonado: “I just wanted to stay close to my teammates and help them reach the final goal we were trying to reach last year.”

Narduzzi said Baldonado would have been drafted this year “without question.”

He led the team in sacks last season (nine) while Pitt finished third in the nation (54) and among the top three for the third consecutive season.

“Should have been first every year,” Baldonado said.

4. Age matters

You won’t see much of some of the more experienced players Saturday, but Pitt has another well-seasoned team with 17 returning starters and 29 seniors.

Cignetti pointed out there’s another experienced group on the team — the offensive coaches. Cignetti, Andre Powell, Dave Borbely and Tim Salem have been coaching since the 1980s. Wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood is in his fifth season.

“I said it when I interviewed,” Cignetti said. “It’s so awesome to walk into an offensive staff where you have veteran coaches, guys who are experts at their position. I am so blessed to be with these guys.”

5. What about the run game?

It will be interesting to see how Powell, the running backs coach, deploys his group. Rodney Hammond Jr. has been ruled out, which leaves Izzy Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and redshirt junior Daniel Carter among the scholarship backs. Will Narduzzi limit Abanikanda’s touches because he may sit atop the depth chart at the outset of the season?

By all accounts, Carter has practiced well this spring. Moving ahead of the top three backs won’t be easy, but he should get ample opportunity Saturday.

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