A successful bounce back from a 3-9 season hinged on whether Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell would be able to implement his offensive scheme immediately.
Pitt is 4-0 for the first time since 2000, and it’s because Kade Bell is calling plays for one of the most prolific offenses in all of college football.
So, I’d say Bell has been a radical success in Pittsburgh. But just how does Pitt rank — offensively and defensively — in the ACC through four games? It’s been an offensive explosion, but the defense hasn’t quite been up to its lofty standards yet. Even with some of the top playmakers in the conference.
Pitt has concluded its non-conference schedule unbeaten for the first time in program history, with wins against Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Youngstown State, and ACC play kicks off this weekend against North Carolina.
So, with four games down and eight to go this season, let’s take a look at where Pitt sits in the conference. There are 17 ACC schools, for reference.
Offense
Points/Game: 48.5 points (2nd)
Touchdowns: 25 (2nd)
Total Yards/Game: 522.8 yards (2nd)
Passing Yards/Game: 330.3 yards (4th)
Rushing Yards/Game: 192.5 yards (5th)
3rd Down Conversions: 42.3% (7th)
First Downs/Game: 26.8 (2nd)
Eli Holstein: 87-of-129 pass attempts (67.4%) for 1,186 yards with 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, 38 carries for 189 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns
Desmond Reid: 44 carries for 319 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown, 13 receptions for 167 yards (12.8 yards per reception) and three touchdowns, 78-yard punt return touchdown
Konata Mumpfield: 20 receptions for 315 yards (15.8 yards per reception) and three touchdowns
Kenny Johnson: 15 receptions for 202 yards (13.5 yards per reception) and two touchdowns
Pitt hit the 70-point plateau for the first time since 2021 against Youngstown State, scoring the most points in a game since 2016, and the new offense is up there with some of the top units in the country.
Pitt is second in the ACC at 48.5 points and 522.8 yards per game (fifth and seventh, respectively, in college football).
Eli Holstein is one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC, and if he continues the stellar start to his season (and college career), he’s going to find himself in the running for some serious postseason awards and accolades. There’s no reason to think that Holstein, with Bell calling plays and a steady maturation process, can’t continue to progress either.
There are still areas to clean up, looking at offensive line performance as a unit and opportunities on third down, but there’s a lot to like. A whole lot. And it hasn’t just been one player carrying the offense either, not when Holstein is joined by Desmond Reid, Konata Mumpfield, Censere Lee, Poppi Williams, Daniel Carter and Gavin Bartholomew.
Pitt has a major opportunity to kick off ACC play with a big performance on the road against UNC.
Defense
Points/Game: 25.5 points per game (11th)
Touchdowns: 12 (9th)
Total Yards: 342.0 yards (8th)
Passing Yards/Game: 231.8 (13th)
Rushing Yards/Game: 110.3 (8th)
3rd Down Conversions: 32.3% (5th)
Sacks: 11 (5th)
S Donovan McMillon: 35 tackles (18 solo), an interception, a forced fumble and three pass breakups
LB Kyle Louis: 33 tackles (12 solo), four tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a pass breakup
LB Rasheem Biles: 32 tackles (18 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a pass breakup
It hasn’t been an ideal start to the season defensively, but the opportunities to make the splash plays that have eluded the unit the last season and a half will arrive. Pitt is playing with the lead this season, which wasn’t the case much last season.
The pass rush hasn’t been able to consistently get home (just 11 sacks through four games) and the run defense has been suspect with mental lapses and missed assignments, but the unit as a whole has talent. The linebacking duo of Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles will continue to get better. Donovan McMillon is still a thumper on the backend, and Cruce Brookins appears poised for an increased role in the secondary.
The front seven has to show more push in run defense and getting home against opposing quarterbacks.
But the pieces are in place, for better or worse, and the defense suddenly doesn’t have to carry the team. Pat Narduzzi described the cornerback duo of Ryland Gandy and Rashad Battle as good earlier this week. That’s a pretty good way to describe the unit as a whole this season.
Pitt has looked horrendous at times this season, but the unit turns it on late in games and shows up when it matters. North Carolina will be a good measuring stick.
great synopsis
Good measuring stick indeed. H2P!