Pitt Take 5: There's no shame in an 8-4 record, but 7-5 would be a different story

There’s no shame in winning only eight games, and the College Football Playoff rankings provide hard evidence. Eight ranked teams have 8-3 records, including No. 13 Alabama.

When Pitt (7-4, 3-4 ACC) meets Boston College (6-5, 3-4) on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass., it can reach eight victories for the sixth time in coach Pat Narduzzi’s 10 seasons and only the 12th since 1990 (35 seasons). The only problem with an eight-victory season would be Pitt getting there by losing four of its last five regular-season games.

Still, there is plenty to gain Saturday, including pride, a sense of relief that the four-game losing streak would end, a better record to present to bowl committees, a chance to win nine games and another victory for All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kyle Louis to add to his resume.

On the other hand, a loss would add another layer to Pitt’s misery and put the Panthers in a group with their 1991 and 2006 cousins. In ‘91, Pitt started 5-0 and finished 6-5 under coach Paul Hackett. In ‘06, Pitt went from 6-1 to 6-6 for Dave Wannstedt.

You are what your record says you are, and there would be shame in finishing 7-5 when you started 7-0.

1. O’Brien, Castellanos and BC

Boston College coach Bill O’Brien was confronted with a tricky situation when he benched former starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos before the SMU game Nov. 16. Castellanos responded by announcing plans to transfer.

To the team’s credit, the turmoil didn’t prevent BC from defeating North Carolina on Saturday, 41-21. In two starts, including a 38-28 loss to SMU, new starter Grayson James has completed 36 of 59 passes for 429 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

CBS Sports Network reporter Andrea Kremer was intrigued by the situation and reached out to O’Brien for comment.

“He brought in Castellanos and told him he’s making him second team, and to view it as an opportunity to sit back, learn, improve, work hard and be ready,” Kremer said in an article on the USA Today Network. “Bill O’Brien said (Castellanos) didn’t like it and he left the team. I then asked (O’Brien), does this typify the issue with players transferring, and he said, ‘99% of our guys are tough and smart. He was an outlier at BC.’ “

Pitt linebackers coach Ryan Manalac said James is still nimble enough on his feet to create problems, but he doesn’t run as much as Castellanos.

“You look at Castellanos against us,” Manalac said of Pitt’s 24-16 victory last season against the Eagles. “He was like another running back.”

But Pitt corralled Castellanos by sacking him six times. Pitt will need to apply similar pressure to win Saturday.

“(James) is still a capable runner, can pick up a first down on a scramble or a short-yardage keeper or goal-line keeper,” Manalac said, “but not as many designed runs or options or counter read-type plays.”

2. The O’Brien and Lewis team

O’Brien is in his first season at BC after a long, successful career as an assistant coach, offensive coordinator and head coach at Penn State (2012-13) and the Houston Texans (2014-20). At Penn State, O’Brien replaced interim coach Tom Bradley, who followed Joe Paterno in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

“Love Billy,” Narduzzi said. “He’s done a super job up there in his first season since coming from the National Football League.”

O’Brien’s defensive coordinator is Tim Lewis, former Pitt cornerback, first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers and a veteran coach who has worked in three pro leagues, four universities (including Pitt in 1993-94) and Pinecrest Academy, a private Catholic school in Cumming, Ga., an Atlanta suburb of fewer than 10,000 people. Yes, Lewis has been around the football world and back during a 34-year career. Now 62 years old, he might be best known in these parts as the Steelers’ defensive coordinator from 2000-03.

3. Stopping the run won’t be easy

Pitt has struggled to stop good running games, and Boston College has one of the best in the ACC (sixth with an average of 180.7 yards per game). The bell cow is Kye Robichaux (6-foot, 217 pounds), a former walk-on at Western Kentucky who has rushed for 654 yards and 19 touchdowns.

BC’s offensive linemen have totaled 145 career starts.

“They’re physical. They know what they’re doing,” Narduzzi said.

On defense, Narduzzi said the man to watch is defensive end Donvan Ezeiruaku.

“You have to make sure (he) doesn’t wreck the game.”

4. Nate Temple comes back

For nearly four months from August to November, Pitt senior defensive end Nate Temple dutifully attended practice while rehabbing an ACL tear in his knee from spring ball. He worked with trainers off to the side most of this season until he recently returned to contact drills. Saturday at Louisville, he got in the game.

“He’s been dying to get on the field,” Narduzzi said. “He’s way, way ahead of schedule on the ACL. It’s a credit to (head trainer) Chris Hanks and our training staff.”

Temple was in the game for 16 snaps, “probably more than we wanted, didn’t do everything right, still rusty and raw,” his coach said. “That will come with time. It was good to have Nate back. He’s got a motor. He cares. Love his attitude.”

Temple, who started nine games in 2023, has been with the team since 2019 and could get another year of eligibility.

5. The backup RB situation

Narduzzi said running back Rodney Hammond wants to redshirt. He did not travel to Louisville last week and is not expected to play at Boston College. After he was suspended in August for reasons that never were made public, he returned to play in four games, saving a year of eligibility.

“I’m going to grant his wishes,” Narduzzi said. “Would I like him to play? Yeah. He’s gotta do what he’s gotta do. Everybody has to make a decision, a business decision.”

Hammond had three productive seasons before this one, serving as the closer in the ACC championship season of 2021 when Pitt was nailing down victories with the running game. He totaled 1,511 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry in ‘21, ‘22, and ‘23 and was MVP of the Sun Bowl in ‘22, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns in Pitt’s 37-35 victory against UCLA. This season, he had only 12 carries for 35 yards.

Hammond’s absence leaves the backup running back duties to Derrick Davis (Gateway) and Juelz Goff, a freshman who missed most of training camp with a hand injury.

Goff, whose strength is speed, was in the Louisville game for 12 snaps but didn’t get a rushing attempt because Pitt was trailing and in a passing mode.

Running backs coach Lindsey Lamar has been impressed by Goff’s work habits and how he handled his first action since high school.

“I just saw a kid who was big-eyed when he got to the lights,” Lamar said. “But he went out there. He was kind of fearless.”