SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It didn’t feel possible that the Notre Dame video board showed 8:21 remaining in the third quarter. It didn’t feel fair.
In the span of about three minutes to open the second half, following basically two Pitt three-and-outs on the same possession, Notre Dame ripped off an 80-yard touchdown drive in just three plays, returned Christian Veilleux’s third interception of the afternoon to the house for a 43-yard touchdown (recording another pick right after) and recovered a muffed M.J. Devonshire punt in the end zone for another touchdown.
Pitt didn’t play well in the first half, well, offensively at least, but it completely unraveled in the second half in a somewhat impressive fashion. And with 8:21 left in the third quarter, Pitt trailed 37-0.
It was an afternoon that Pitt fans who made the trek to South Bend, Ind. might look back upon fondly only if they spent the night before at Linebacker’s Lounge.
Pitt finally — mercifully — fell to Notre Dame, 58-7, at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday afternoon in one of the most lopsided losses in program history.
Maybe the start of the game, following (you guessed it) an opening drive three and out, should have been an indication of the beatdown that was about to unfold.
Byron Floyd raced all the way downfield to hit Notre Dame’s Chris Tyree at right about the Notre Dame 20-yard line, but Tyree bounced off Floyd and seemingly the entire punt coverage team on the way to an 82-yard punt return touchdown.
It brought a somewhat quiet Notre Dame Stadium to life and killed any momentum created by a P.J. O’Brien Jr. interception on the first defensive series of the game.
The Pitt defense battled as it has all season, with Samuel Okunlola rag-dolling Hartman as he attempted to escape the pocket on a 1st-and-10 inside the red zone, and Brandon George batting his pass on the next snap up into the air and corralling it himself. But, again, Pitt threw it short of the sticks on third down and punted the ball back — poorly.
Veilleux looked like a first-year starter for the first time against the Notre Dame defense, leaving very, very little to be desired on the field. And on what was shaping up to be the best drive of the first half, which was already pushed back by a Bub Means blindside block call, he lofted a ball toward Means in double coverage.
It was likely one of the easiest picks Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts has ever had.
And Notre Dame, as it showing Pitt how to do it, took just 1:35 to drive 62 yards and capitalize on the Pitt turnover with a 15-yard Audric Estime touchdown run to push the lead to 14.
The offense looked to find a little bit of rhythm on its ensuing possession, but missed opportunities (Veilleux missing Daejon Reynolds on what could’ve been a walk-in touchdown and a missed field goal from Ben Sauls) resulted in nothing.
It would’ve been better if Pitt’s final possession of the first half resulted in nothing, but instead, Veilleux fired a bullet right to Watts for another effortless pick. And the Irish capped the half off with a 23-yard field goal to take a 17-0 halftime lead.
The first half started out poorly for Pitt, essentially going three and out twice on the same possession before punting the ball away, and Notre Dame needed just three plays to drive 80 yards and score again — Jadarian Price this time from 10 yards out. It took just three plays for Pitt to give it back, with ND’s Jaden Mickey jumping Veilleux’s pass and racing back 43 yards for another Irish touchdown.
Veilleux threw his fourth pick of the night a couple plays later, lofting up a prayer that was picked off one-handed rather impressively by ND’s Christian Gray. And while the Irish couldn’t push the ball downfield, M.J. Devonshire muffed the ensuing punt — which was recovered in the end zone by ND’s Bryce McFerson.
Notre Dame added one more touchdown before the end of the third quarter, Estime pushing into the end zone from three yards out, and the Spencer Shrader extra point was the 27th point the Irish scored in the third quarter.
Estime scored his third touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter to push Notre Dame into the 50s, and when Nate Yarnell came out firing (Veilleux giving way with about nine minutes left in the fourth), it was obviously too little, too late.
And Notre Dame scored one more time to really pour some salt into the wound.
Pitt heads home for the first time in a couple of weeks, hosting No. 4 Florida State (a Seminoles squad that could be ranked even higher), and it comes as Pitt sits at 2-6 (1-4 ACC).
You started a NEW sentence with ‘And’ Karl, unacceptable. You may want to consider a copy of Strunk’s Elements of Style.
It was a Tough game for the Panthers. I hope they recover and give a good fight to Florida State. I am thinking it might look like a Covid game audience at New York against Syracuse.
It’s a sad time in Oakland. I think the players know Narduzzi is going to Michigan St and have checked out for the season. Worse loss in the last 20 years.
Wrong…it’s a sad day in Oakland because Narduzzi is NOT going to Mich St.
From ACC champs just 2 seasons ago to this??!!
Is it a forgone conclusion that Narduzzi is going to MSU? Just as is it a forgone conclusion that Lyke is going to OSU?
I totally agree. Pitt will go back to being a joke again, losing to MAC and Confrence USA teams on a consistent basis.
Should have played Yarnell, Veilleux looks broken. Playing behind a line this bad can permanently change a QB and he panics with inside pressure almost every time now.
That’s what happened to Kenny Pickettt in his first full year as a starter
Good think Narduzzi is a defensive genius or this game could have gotten ugly.
Isn’t 58-7 ugly enough?! 😄
I believe Dixon was using sarcasm.
Duzz will have to look at the tape!
Was Hammond hurt? Did he something wrong?
Same question could be asked about Bartholomew too.
I think the bigger question is “is there a hope for next season or several seasons?” Or praying for Narduzzi to bring more from the portal?
3 transfers in 2 years and still haven’t found a QB. Give Yarnell a shot, he has waited 3 years and keeps getting passed over, would not be surprised if he left. Pitt got beat in every phase of the game. The Offensive and Defensive line, are terrible poor tackling, just humiliating.
Marcus Freeman put the 3rd string QB out there in V formation purposely as it was the young guy who de-committed from PITT in the Summer.
Clown car @ The one Flea Circus. Look at the fleas, Heather, can you see the fleas?
This was just flat out embarrassing. I thought I was watching Matt Canada calling offensive plays, keep throwing short passes. When Hammonds finally got some positive yardage we run a stupid double reverse. Narduzzi needs to stop dumpster diving in the portal for a QB, because no decent QB will come play in this offensive system that resembles a 1994 offense.
Narduzzi, Cignetti, Veilleux, Christian, Nate Temple, Byron Floyd, Junko, Means. You ALL suck at what you do. Pathetic.
How do you stand there and continue to make excuses?
Clean house. Tear it down.
Who is Byron Floyd?Is he related to Pink Floyd? Or is he a check forger like George Floyd?
Pitt has a very poorly coached offense and special teams units. All the mental mistakes are unacceptable at this point in the season! The O Line is a complete train wreck. Need new coaches in all those areas.
Actually the defense is decent, but can’t weather a 3 and out offensive storm every week.
Rod Hammond should have 25 touches a game or more. This is not that hard Nard
This shit show gets worse each week. You want to look away but you can’t because every play is an innovative way to set football back another 10 years. Get in the game Lyke and force some changes!!!!!!