The Pittsburgh Panthers have been one of college football’s biggest surprises this year.
While Pitt went 3-9 last year, just their second losing season in nine years under head coach Pat Narduzzi, they’re off to a 7-0 start this season and one of the ACC’s top contenders to win the conference and make the College Football Playoff.
If No.18 Pittsburgh wants to return to the ACC Championship for the first time since 2021, Saturday’s road meeting with the No. 20 SMU Mustangs will be crucial in deciding their fate. The two schools, along with the Clemson Tigers and Miami Hurricanes, are still undefeated in ACC play.
While it seemed possible that Pitt may be without starting quarterback Eli Holstein, who suffered an undisclosed injury late in Pitt’s 41-13 win over Syracuse last week, Narduzzi confirmed Wednesday on his radio show that the quarterback is good to go against SMU.
“Eli Holstein is ready to go and got cleared today. Eli Holstein is ready to roll. That’s excellent news,” Narduzzi said on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan.
Holstein has played a huge role in Pittsburgh’s success this season. After transferring from Alabama following the 2023 season, the redshirt freshman won Pitt’s starting job. He has gone 138-for-215 for 1,808 passing yards. The standout signal-caller has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for an additional three while throwing just five interceptions.
SMU and Pitt will play on November 2 at 7 p.m. CT and air on the ACC Network.
