Post-QB change, barometer awaits Pitt in road showdown at No. 25 Florida State
External optics surrounding Pitt’s win over Boston College — that the Panthers simply beat up on a bad opponent — are unlikely to change, at least in the short-term.
After all, only one ACC team, the Eagles, have suffered three losses in league play.
Though the Panthers (3-2, 1-1 ACC) should feel proud of their complete 48-7 victory over Boston College, a more realistic barometer of coach Pat Narduzzi’s team approaches.
Upcoming for Narduzzi and Co. is a noon road matchup at No. 25 Florida State (3-2, 0-2), a team that beat then-eighth-ranked Alabama to open the year but comes off two straight one-score losses to No. 19 Virginia and No. 2 Miami.
“They’ve been tested,” Narduzzi said. “They’ve played some good football. That’s a really, really, really good football team, and we’re going to have to play our best to go down there and get a win on Saturday, that’s for sure. They’re really good, talented everywhere and they’ve got great coaches. We’ll have to go down and play.”
The showdown at Doak S. Campbell Stadium is just Pitt’s second road game of the year, following the Backyard Brawl on Sept. 13 in Morgantown.
Heading into that game, the only freshman Narduzzi had to worry about in such an uninviting environment was kicker Trey Butkowski.
But now, quarterback Mason Heintschel, preparing for his second collegiate start and first away from home, will face a similar test.
At West Virginia, it took Pitt until its seventh offensive drive to put points on the board, following four punts, a missed field goal and an interception by Eli Holstein.
Against the Seminoles, Narduzzi will be looking for a faster start.
“Call the right plays and execute on offense,” Narduzzi said. “That’s how we get into a rhythm. Call the right plays, block them up front and execute.”
Ultimately, Heintschel will be the primary architect of Pitt starting fast or beginning sluggishly.
It remains to be seen how he handles this week’s new challenge, but Heintschel, at a minimum, should carry significant confidence into Tallahassee because of his performance versus Boston College.
Heintschel did everything Narduzzi asked of him and more in Pitt’s win over Boston College, completing 73% of his passes, throwing four touchdowns with zero picks and eclipsing 300 yards (323).
However, as it pertains to Heintschel and his entire team, Narduzzi is looking fully ahead.
“Nobody cares what you did last week,” Narduzzi said. “Nobody cares what you did two weeks ago or three weeks ago. They care what you do right now. We’re in a production business, and it’s all about today. … That’s what matters, and I think that’s the message every week to our kids.”
Opposing Heintschel under center is Seminoles quarterback Tommy Castellanos, in his first year with the program following two at Boston College and one with Central Florida.
Pitt will have some familiarity with Castellanos, who was the Eagles’ starting quarterback on Nov. 16, 2023, when Pitt topped Boston College, 24-16, at Acrisure Stadium for one of its three wins on the year.
That day, Castellanos was ineffective through the air, throwing two picks and getting sacked six times.
“He’s fast,” Panthers safety coach Cory Sanders said. “That is a quick guy. We faced him back in 2023 (at home). He was a talented kid back then, and he’s a talented kid still. He’s got some good arm talent, he can put the ball out there and he’s got some big targets. … The biggest thing I think he presents is the ability to extend plays.”
Interceptions, which plagued Castellanos early in his Boston College career, have remained something of a fixture in Tallahassee, as he has thrown five compared to six touchdowns.
But he still has completed 60.9% (70 for 115) of his passes, throwing for 1,120 yards and adding 274 yards on the ground with four scores, averaging 4.8 yards.
Staying ready for Castellanos’ mobility has been a focal point of Pitt’s preparation this week.
In particular, Sanders has shown his defensive backs film of Florida State’s eventual 46-38 double-overtime loss to Virginia on Sept. 26.
????COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAOS!!????
TOMMY CASTELLANOS ➡️ RANDY PITTMAN JR FOR THE 11 YARD TD ON 4TH DOWN!! #FSU TIES THE GAME WITH 36 SECONDS!
WHAT A GAME! pic.twitter.com/7QTm6MeLo3
— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 27, 2025
With 43 seconds to play, facing fourth-and-goal from the Cavaliers’ 11-yard line, Castellanos extended the play and threw a tying touchdown.
Pitt, looking for its second ACC win, will brace to counter Castellanos’ shifty pocket presence.
“We have to do a good job in our different zones and coverages of making sure that we latch onto receivers and we don’t get lazy for a second because that ball can come at you any time,” Sanders said. “… His feet — and not to discredit his arm by any means because he has a talented arm and can put velocity on the football — but the biggest thing is him being able to extend the plays.”
Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.
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