DALLAS -- When Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles stepped to the podium last week after defeating Syracuse 41-13 and picking off NFL-bound quarterback Kyle McCord five times, including three that were returned for touchdowns, they spoke about the nature of the conversation surrounding Pitt's matchup with the Orange. They knew it centered on the quarterback battle between McCord and Eli Holstein, with McCord being the favored topic.
They didn't like that and they felt disrespected. So, they used it as fuel to play angry and it paid off.
Pat Narduzzi would consider that a mission accomplished.
"I want our guys to play angry, I want them to play with an attitude and a chip on their shoulder all the time," Narduzzi said Thursday. "So, we’ll find different ways to piss them off and get them angry and feel disrespected."
That has seemed to be the case on a week-to-week basis this year for the Panthers. On the way to going 7-0 for the first time in over 40 years, they've picked off team after team, with each matchup being tougher than the last.
First, it was Cincinnati, then it was longtime rival West Virginia. After that, it was North Carolina, a team they'd never beaten on the road but did this time around. That was followed by a nail-biting win over ACC-newcomer Cal and then a beat down of pass-happy Syracuse.
One by one, the Panthers have found a way to persevere and overcome every challenge that has been placed in front of them because they are out to "Prove it."
"It’s just find a way to get it done and prove who you are, week in and week out," Narduzzi said. "Nobody cares what happened in the first seven games or in the first nine weeks of the season. We’re into Week 10 already and all our focus is on one game."
That focus switches to No. 20 SMU tonight, Pitt's first matchup against a ranked opponent this season and while Narduzzi said the Panthers don't pay attention to the rankings or the outside noise, there's plenty to be motivated by. Pitt's No. 18 ranking is the lowest ranking of any 7-0 power conference team in the history of the AP poll. On top of that, SMU (7-1, 4-0) is a 7.5-point favorite, and ESPN analytics currently predicts that the Mustangs have a 70% chance to win.
To put it into better perspective, SMU is undefeated in conference play and its only ranked win came in a 34-27 victory over then-No. 22 Louisville on Oct. 5. Outside of that, the Mustangs are coming off a 28-27 overtime victory over Duke in which the Blue Devils failed to convert a two-point conversion in overtime to end the game.
While some may look at that as bulletin board material for the Panthers, and while internally he may make his players aware of it to help them play with that edge that he spoke of, Narduzzi said Thursday that his team doesn't necessarily need it.
"The game in itself, going to Dallas and playing a really good SMU football team, that’s all you need," he said. "If you have a heartbeat, that’s what you need."
Along with playing with an edge, the Panthers will have Holstein back under center after he exited the Syracuse game in the fourth quarter and never returned. Narduzzi said Holstein was cleared Wednesday and is "ready to roll" after getting enough practice throughout the week where Narduzzi feels comfortable with "where he is."
Holstein is coming off a game where he completed 11 of his 15 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Pitt offense only ran 44 plays and Nate Yarnell was on the field for 11 of those in the fourth quarter. So, Holstein will be looking to take his game to a new level when he takes the field in Dallas.
THE OPPONENT
Coach: Rhett Lashlee (25-10, third season)
Record: (7-1, 4-0 ACC)
Players to watch: Kevin Jennings, QB, So.; Brashard Smith, RB, Sr.; Roderick Daniels Jr., WR, Sr.; Elijah Roberts, DE, Sr.; Isaiah Nwokobia, S, R-Jr.
When the Panthers look across the field at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, they'll be looking at a team that slightly -- just slightly -- resembles them. The Mustangs have a plethora of athletes all over the field, are aggressive and simple on defense and play to their strengths on offense with a mobile quarterback in Kevin Jennings and a talented running back in Brashard Smith.
Entering the week, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee was unsure if Jennings would play but he told ESPN Friday morning that Jennings was medically cleared to play and would start against Pitt.
Jennings has played in all eight of SMU's games this season and has completed 64% of his passes for 1,594 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also thrown five interceptions, three of which came against Duke. But, he's also rushed 67 times for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Narduzzi said he's "dangerous" with his feet but also has a good arm.
"He's really athletic, unlike what we saw last week. We knew last week, that he could sling it and throw it accurate, 2nd and 3rd down conversions," Narduzzi said. "But this guy is going to -- he's got a strong arm. He can zip it in there. It's like he's playing darts out there. He throws darts."
If Jennings doesn't play or only plays for part of the game, the torch will be passed to Preston Stone, who has played in five games this season and has thrown four touchdowns and one interception. He's completed 59% of his passes for 346 yards. Stone also started last year and threw for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns in 12 games, but he's a different type of quarterback.
"He's not a big scrambler," Narduzzi said. "Kevin scrambles everywhere, he's dangerous with his feet, Stone is not that guy but he's an accurate passer and won a lot of football games for them ... so he's pretty good too."
Smith also provides a solid punch out of the backfield and has rushed for 745 yards and nine touchdowns on 117 attempts this season. The Mustangs have the 23rd-best rush offense in the country and tally 201 rushing yards per game. They also pass for just over 242 yards per game and average around nine yards per attempt. So, like usual, Narduzzi and the Panthers will look to stop the running game and force the Mustangs to become one-dimensional.
Pitt has done a good job of that so far this season and has allowed just 93.9 rushing yards per game, which is the ninth-best mark in the country. They've also given up just 2.52 yards per rush, which ranks third nationally.
Defensively, the Mustangs are tied for the fifth-most interceptions in the country and have the fifth-best rushing defense in the country, allowing 88.4 yards per game on the ground. However, they also give up 238.6 passing yards per game. In general, Narduzzi said SMU's defense reminds him a lot of Pitt's.
"They are fast, they have good ball skills, which helps and they keep it simple and they play fast," Narduzzi said. "It's a fast team. They have a fast team that they allow to play fast. They keep it simple and they let their guys go play. I think they know what they are doing. With all the transfers they have, they better keep it simple. Some people try to junk it up, but they keep it simple. They have an identity on defense. They know what it is and they do a good job."
Safety Isaiah Nwokobia leads the Mustangs in tackles with 57 while defensive ends Isaiah Smith, Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey have combined for 9.5 sacks through eight games.
Narduzzi recognized that SMU has a group of four defensive ends, which includes Cameron Robertson, who has two sacks this season, but they'll also bring extra pressure when they need to and it starts with their safeties.
"They’ll bring extra rushers, probably a 25% blitz team, they’ll bring both safeties, if you watch them walk up there, they are coming for a reason," Narduzzi said. "So, they’ll bring safety blitzes, they’ll bring a little bit of everything. I’m sure they’ll have something special for us."
Pitt will find out exactly what SMU has in store tonight when it steps onto the field for its toughest matchup so far this season. The Panthers will look to move to 8-0 for the first time since 1981 and continue its turnaround season.
