FSU vs Pitt on Oct. 11: What FSU fans should know about Pitt football

Florida State University (FSU) meets the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in a pivotal stretch for the Panthers on Oct. 11 at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. 

Pitt opened the year with redshirt sophomore Eli Holstein at quarterback, following a breakout season under center. In 10 starts last year, he accounted for 20 touchdowns to seven interceptions, with 2,225 passing yards at a 61.9% completion rate. 

Holstein’s hot start helped Pitt start 7-0, but he was not immune to the team’s overall collapse down the stretch last season. Holstein recorded zero touchdowns — passing or rushing — in each of his final two full games, and exited a loss to Louisville early on with injury, not returning for the remainder of the year. 

There were areas to clean up and things he could do to improve his game, yet he had a solid first year to build on heading into 2025. 

This year, he helped the Panthers cruise to two nonconference blowout wins over Duquesne University and Central Michigan University to open the year, throwing four touchdowns in each game, matching a career high. Though both were games that Pitt was projected to win, the Panthers carried momentum into their matchup against West Virginia University. 

Things came to a screeching halt in Morgantown. In the final edition of the Backyard Brawl until 2029, as emotions and adrenaline were riding high, the Panthers saw their early-season success wane. 

The Panthers looked rattled in their first road test of the season, struggling in front of a Mountaineer crowd that was relentless. Pitt took a lead, but couldn’t stop West Virginia from storming back. The offense and defense each had a chance to close the game, but both units fell short, and the Mountaineers claimed the overtime victory. 

Coming out of their first bye week, Pitt looked to put that loss behind the program as the Panthers opened conference play, but the ghosts of blown leads haunted them once more. Pitt couldn’t hold onto leads of 17 and 10 in an eventual loss to Louisville. The loss marked a turning point in the season and sparked change at quarterback. 

At his best, Holstein is an effective quarterback who spreads the ball and makes the splash play when needed. Turnovers, however, have been the main issue this season. He totaled five interceptions, throwing a pick in each of his first four games. Three of them occurred within the opposing two-yard line, taking points off the board for Pitt at crucial times. 

Late against Louisville, Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi subbed Holstein out for senior backup Cole Gonzales, looking for a spark that never ignited. 

After the loss, with his back against the wall, Narduzzi handed the keys to true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel last week. The move set the stage for the former third-string quarterback to make his first collegiate start against Boston College at 18 years old. 

The result was something even the most positive Pitt fan didn’t see coming. 

Heintschel went 30-of-41 for 323 yards, four touchdowns and a 171.5 passer rating in Pitt’s 48-7 win over Boston College. He added 28 rushing yards on 10 carries. Narduzzi and offensive coordinator Kade Bell showed a considerable amount of trust in Heintschel early, allowing him to execute well over half of the offense’s plays on designed reads and quick decisions. 

He showed poise for a quarterback far younger than most starters and found ways to spread the wealth across the offense. 

Junior wide receiver Kenny Johnson was Heintschel’s favorite target, hauling in nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Still, Heintschel hit 11 different targets in the passing game, and each touchdown went to a different receiver. 

There was also another strong performance in the run game, which has blossomed into a pleasant surprise after the injury to senior running back Desmond Reid. In his absence, true freshman Ja’Kyrian Turner and redshirt freshman Juelz Goff have teamed up to split the workload. In the two games Reid has missed, the pair is averaging 5.7 and 3.8 yards per carry, respectively. 

While Heintschel was the lead story, it was a bounce-back performance for the whole team. After giving up a combined 65 points in their two losses, Pitt’s defense held Boston College scoreless until the final 1:57. 

Boston College’s seven points were the fewest put up against the Panthers this season, and the defense looked much more like the cohesive unit they’ve shown they can play as. 

While Pitt’s defense is headlined by redshirt junior linebacker Kyle Louis, who was named an All-American last season, already tallying an interception, two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, contributors extend across the depth chart. Six players have recorded at least one sack, and 11 different defenders have gotten to the quarterback behind the line. 

It was quite the feel-good win, but at 3-2, Pitt needs the momentum to keep rolling. The Seminoles present their biggest challenge yet. FSU is Pitt’s first-ranked opponent of the season, and the team’s first opportunity since the West Virginia loss to show they can play well on the road. 

As if this game didn’t already carry weight for Pitt, it also presents a massive test for the young Heintschel. After all, it’s one thing to make your first start in the friendly confines of Pittsburgh’s North Shore. It’s another to make your second start on the road against a ranked opponent, added with the raucous Doak S. Campbell crowd. 

If there’s a silver lining for Heintschel and the Panthers, they aren’t alone in feeling the pressure, as the ’Noles face just as much urgency.

Two weeks ago, the Garnet and Gold dropped an overtime thriller at the University of Virginia, 46-38, as the crowd rushed the field immediately after. Then last week, Florida State followed it up with a thud against No. 2 Miami, which beat the Seminoles 28-22. 

Yes, the undefeated Hurricanes are a tough opponent, but FSU struggled for the first three quarters — the ’Noles trailed 28-3 heading into the fourth. 

Now, the Garnet and Gold hosts a scrappy Pitt team while clinging to a ranked position and seeking a rebound of its own. 

It’s a massive test for the Panthers, who would need their most complete game of the year to defy the odds as they face Florida State Saturday, Oct. 11, at noon.

Alex Kiger is a guest writer from The Pitt News, the official student newspaper at the University of Pittsburgh.

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This article originally appeared on FSU News: FSU vs Pitt on Oct. 11: What FSU fans should know about Pitt football

Reporting by Alex Kiger, Senior Staff Writer / FSU News

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