Pitt won just three games last season, and while many expected the Panthers to fight for bowl eligibility in somewhat of a bounce-back campaign, not many expected a 6-0 start to the season.
Pitt is 6-0 for the first time since 1982, when Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino was under center, following a gritty 17-15 win against Cal Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium. It wasn’t pretty, but the Panthers got the job done.
Pitt is one of 11 FBS programs that remains unbeaten through Week 7. And the Panthers are one of seven Power Four programs and two ACC programs.
The undefeated teams include Army, BYU, Indiana, Iowa State, Liberty, Miami, Navy, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt and Texas — with Ohio State dropping out following a loss to Oregon.
Pitt entered the week 22nd in the AP Poll, and while the Panthers didn’t exactly show out against Cal, a win is a win. And there were a handful of losses from teams ranked higher, which could lead to a minor rise.
Pat Narduzzi was happy with the win, and the way his squad found a way to win with a lackluster performance from the typically high-scoring offense, but he’s well aware it wasn’t a complete game. He doesn’t think Pitt has played a complete game all season.
“I don’t know if there ever has been a complete game,” Narduzzi said Saturday night. “I wish — we strive for perfection and we’ll take excellence. It’s never going to be perfect. There’s too many guys on scholarship out there, and it’s never going to be perfect. That’s why you’ve just got to play one play at a time, not look at the scoreboard and just try to win every play. Every play matters.”
Pitt mustered just 17 points and 277 yards of offense against the Golden Bears. Eli Holstein wasn’t sharp, looking like a freshman quarterback for the first time in his brief career, but Pitt found a way to win.
Desmond Reid racked up 139 all-purpose yards and both touchdowns, and the defense clamped down on Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Bears in the second half — racking up six sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
“SO, it didn’t happen today for us offensively, it just — sometimes when it rains, it pours,” Narduzzi said. “But we’ll learn from our mistakes on offense today, and again, it’s just great to maybe not play well on offense and find a way to get a win. Defense played lights out.”
Pitt has the week off, its final bye of the season, before Syracuse comes to town for a Thursday night matchup at Acrisure Stadium later this month.
