Pitt defense picks off Syracuse on its way to 41-13 victory and 7-0 start

Not only do Pitt’s linebackers harass quarterbacks with their athleticism, step boldly into passing lanes and attack like sharks (which is what they want to be called), but now they’re also starting to take personally what they perceive as nationwide disrespect.

Everything came together in what turned into one fine mess for Syracuse on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium when Pitt linebackers Rasheem Biles, Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace returned three of quarterback Kyle McCord’s five interceptions for touchdowns in a 41-13 Panthers victory.

“We’re hungry for respect,” said Louis, who returned a pick 59 yards for a score in the first quarter. “Anybody who thinks they can disrespect us and think they can get away with it, we pride ourselves on being called sharks. You come in here, you better learn how to swim.”

Unbeaten in the ACC (3-0), No. 19 Pitt is 7-0 overall for the first time in 41 years and only the fifth time since 1929 (’29, ’76, ’81 and ’82). Louis sounded almost hurt — disrespected, perhaps — when he was asked if he thought before the season that a 7-0 record was possible.

“Of course I thought 7-0 definitely could happen,” he said. “Our goal is always to be undefeated. I don’t see nobody really messing with us. All this media talk, we’re never going to fall for that. We watch real film. We put real time into this. We have a shot against everybody.”

And Pitt’s ceiling?

“We definitely see more than just 7-0,” he said.

Lovelace, a Leechburg graduate whose pick-6 went for 33 yards, called the victory a statement.

“To the ACC, really to everybody that we’re going to keep shining every week.” he said.

Biles, whose 35-yard interception return in the game’s first three minutes set a tone, said it’s not enough to be a good defense.

“We want to be great,” he said. “We all have stuff to prove. We want to be the best in the nation. We really just want it bad.”

The difference, he said, is the players’ closeness.

“Years before, I don’t think we were really close like this year,” he said. “That’s really a big key.”

To a man, the three linebackers said film study revealed McCord’s tendencies and his favorite receivers. After that, it was just a matter of playing ball, they said.

“We changed up some passing concepts,” Louis said. “We knew who Kyle McCord wanted to throw to. If you throw it there, you get linebackers.”

“Precision execution is kind of what our deal was,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We certainly did that.”

Those linebackers also wanted to show that the duel between quarterbacks Eli Holstein and McCord belonged to the Pitt guy.

“Our defense took that personal,” Louis said.

McCord, who had been second in the nation in aerial yards per game (360), completed 35 of 64 passes for 321 yards, the attempts one short of a record for a Pitt opponent at Acrisure. He was part of the reason scouts from 14 NFL teams showed up in the press box.

“I mean, that’s a good quarterback that has had a ton of success,” Narduzzi said. “He just played the wrong team tonight.”

Meanwhile, Holstein threw only 15 times, completing 11 for 108 yards and touchdowns to wide receivers C.J. Lee and Pappi Williams. With the victory, he tied Rick Trocano for second all-time for most victories by a Pitt quarterback to start his career (seven). He left the game in the fourth quarter, went to the medical tent and did not return.

“Eli is going to be fine,” Narduzzi said. “He’s in (the locker room) smiling, happy, jumping around. Just added precaution. At first we just thought he had dirt in his eye. It was a little bit more than dirt, but he’s fine and happy.”

Narduzzi did have one bit of unfortunate injury news: Offensive tackle Branson Taylor, who hurt his knee in the California game, had surgery and is lost for the season.

Narduzzi said the offense never was able to find a rhythm because the defense was constantly going back onto the field after the pick-6s. After coming into the game with the third-most plays on defense in the nation, Pitt’s defense was on the field for 41 minutes, 12 seconds and 93 snaps.

Really can’t overstate this enough: Going to a tempo offense is often a huge blow to defense. Tons of examples of this. That Narduzzi did it anyway speaks volumes about how much he wants to win, and that he still has his D playing this well - in spite of playing the 3rd most…

— ????????️♈️???? (@ADavidHaleJoint) October 25, 2024

As a result, Pitt was outgained by the Orange in yardage (327-217).

“It would be nice to put the offense back out there,” Narduzzi said. “They won’t let us do that. Should be a new rule.”

But the coach will take those 21 quick points anytime. The three pick-6s marked only the sixth time since 2000 an FBS team has accomplished that feat. Pitt is the third ACC team in 20 years to record three defensive touchdowns in a half (Boston College, 2006, and Miami, 2018).

Pitt’s five total interceptions are the most by the Panthers since 2008. Safety P.J. O’Brien had one and middle linebacker Brandon George grabbed another almost off the turf while he was on the ground.

“That’s crazy,” Louis said. “Five picks, three pick-6s, four sacks, 6 rushing yards (allowed),” he said, apparently memorizing the defensive stat sheet. “C’mon. Somebody has to go to the history books.”

Added Narduzzi: “Our defense was our offense today. Score 21 points on defense, that’s national defense of the week material right there, I think. I’ve never been around three interceptions for touchdowns. Five total interceptions … that’s dominating. We’ve had some pick-6s wherever I’ve been. But to have three of them in one game. Hope we didn’t use ’em all up. We need to save a couple.”

Next up is a showdown against No. 22 SMU. The Mustangs (6-1, 3-0) are tied for second place in the ACC with Pitt and Miami. SMU travels to Duke and Miami is host to Florida State on Saturday.

“Moving on to the next, SMU,” Narduzzi said. “Big game down in Dallas. Looking forward to it.”