College football\u2019s brightest spotlight will shine on Pittsburgh this Saturday. ESPN\u2019s College GameDay is broadcasting from outside Acrisure Stadium for just the second time in 20 years (espn.com), as No. 23 Pitt hosts No. 9 Notre Dame in a high-stakes showdown. The Panthers are heavy underdogs (Notre Dame is favored by 12.5 points), but a win could be transformational for Pitt\u2019s program.\u00a0 A victory could vault the Panthers into the ACC title game, boosting recruiting and proving that Western Pennsylvania\u2019s best should stay home rather than don the gold helmet in South Bend. Here are the keys to a Pitt upset victory over the Fighting Irish.<\/p>\n
Pitt\u2019s midseason revival has coincided with true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel<\/a> taking the reins of the offense. After the Panthers started 2\u20132, head coach Pat Narduzzi made a bold switch in early October, benching transfer quarterback Eli Holstein<\/a> in favor of Heintschel. The results have been electric. Pitt has ripped off five straight wins behind the first-year signal caller, averaging nearly 40 points per game (best in the ACC).<\/p>\n All Heintschel has done is throw for over 300 yards in four of his five starts, totaling 12 touchdown passes in that span. He even broke Pitt\u2019s freshman single-game passing record with 402 yards against NC State, showcasing the arm talent that was overlooked by bigger programs. \u201cI\u2019ve never been around a true freshman that prepares like an NFL 10-year vet,\u201d offensive coordinator Kade Bell said of Heintschel\u2019s work ethic (wtop.com). That maturity has translated to the field. Heintschel\u2019s poise and quick release have taken the offense to new heights.<\/p>\n For Pitt to beat Notre Dame, Heintschel must continue his hot streak while avoiding freshman mistakes. He has thrown 5 interceptions in his five starts, including two last week at Stanford, so ball security is paramount. Notre Dame\u2019s defense has been opportunistic (16 interceptions on the season) and will try to confuse the young QB with varied looks. However, the Irish secondary has shown vulnerability against strong passing attacks, especially earlier in the season. In fact, even unranked Purdue torched Notre Dame for over 300 passing yards and 3 TDs in a game, exposing a porous Irish back end. While Notre Dame\u2019s secondary has shown up lately, it remains the weak link on defense.<\/p>\n Notre Dame\u2019s defense ranks just 88th nationally in pass defense (ncaa.com), allowing 232.3 yards per game. Pitt\u2019s offense, on the other hand, is clicking. The Panthers average 302.6 passing yards per game, good for 10th in the country. Heintschel has proven capable of spreading the ball around. Pitt\u2019s offensive line must hold up against Notre Dame\u2019s pass rush, which has tallied 24 sacks this season, but if Heintschel gets time, he\u2019ll find open windows.<\/p>\n Notre Dame\u2019s offense leans heavily on its rushing attack. Junior tailback Jeremiyah Love<\/a> has emerged as a Heisman candidate, rushing for 988 yards (6.4 per carry) and 13 touchdowns. Backup Jadarian Price<\/a> has chipped in 598 yards and 9 TDs of his own, while also flashing on special teams. The Irish average just under 200 rushing yards per game and always rely on physicality from the offensive line.<\/p>\n Pitt\u2019s run defense gives them a chance to win this matchup. The Panthers allow only 80.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks third in the country. They stay disciplined and rarely lose gap control. If Pitt closes cutback lanes and wins early downs, Notre Dame will be forced into a different style of game. The Irish offense becomes far less comfortable when it has to play behind the chains.<\/p>\nPitt Must Attack the Irish Secondary<\/h3>\n
Containing Notre Dame\u2019s Ground Game<\/h3>\n
C.J. Carr Needs to Be Moved Off His Spot<\/h3>\n