Pitt races to the Derby City for second-to-last match against Louisville

After their third consecutive loss, Pitt football is set for a showdown with Louisville this Saturday at 4 p.m. The Panthers suffered a heartbreaker this past Saturday against Clemson on senior day and are looking to end a record-setting season on a positive note. 

Likewise, Louisville comes into this game off of an ugly loss against Stanford, one of the worst teams in the ACC. Though the Panthers have struggled mightily, they face a vulnerable Cardinal team that could propel them back into the win column. Pitt fans will remember last year’s stunning upset, where the Panthers pulled off three turnovers to upend the Cardinals’ undefeated start to the season. 

A lot rides on redshirt first-year quarterback Eli Holstein’s availability. The Panthers’ starting gunslinger missed the contest against Clemson after suffering a concussion the week prior against Virginia. Redshirt junior Nate Yarnell played adequately against the Tigers, posting 350 yards on 6.8 yards per attempt with a touchdown and a pick. While not disastrous by any means, yet not good enough to win the game, Panther fans may feel a lot more comfortable with Holstein under center. 

Junior running back Desmond Reid had another productive afternoon against Clemson, finishing the day with 176 all-purpose yards on offense, continuing his amazing 2024 season. Holstein and Reid are the biggest contributors to Pitt’s offensive success, and if they are both healthy and productive against the Cardinals, the Panthers will look more golden than nearby Fort Knox. 

The Panthers face a Louisville defense that is fairly underwhelming by all accounts. The Cardinals’ defense ranks in the bottom half in most defensive statistics, and their passing defense is particularly rough, allowing 251 yards per game. 

The magic number for Pitt is 30. All four of Louisville’s losses came when they surrendered 30 or more points, and the Cardinals are undefeated when they allow less than that. While not quite a guaranteed victory, hitting 30 greatly swings the pendulum in the Panthers’ favor. 

The biggest challenge for the Panthers is shutting down the Cardinal offense. Senior quarterback Tyler Shough has quietly put together one of the best passing campaigns this season and has thrown for 2774 yards with 21 passing touchdowns to only six interceptions on the year. 

In recent weeks, the Panthers’ defense has performed well against some of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. Last week the Panthers sacked Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik five times. Against Syracuse, the defense punked Orange senior Kyle McCord for five interceptions. 

The Panthers’ defense also shut down the Clemson running attack, holding Tigers’ senior running back Phil Mafah to 17 yards on 17 carries. The only big running play the Panthers surrendered was Klubnik’s 50-yard game winner. 

On the ground, the Cardinals are led by first-year back Isaac Brown, who has gained 803 rushing yards on a 7.4 average along with seven touchdowns. The Panthers’ run defense is their strongest asset as seen last week. If they can shut down the Cardinal running game, they can take their chances with Shough and force him to win the game for The Ville. 

Defense is the key this week for both sides. While the Cardinals have a more consistent offense, the Panthers’ defense has stepped up when the team needed it and put them into position to win against Virginia and Clemson while the offense stagnated. 

If Holstein is ready to go for the Panthers, that will add another dimension to their attack as well. Expect a gritty showdown between two teams aiming to avoid ending their promising seasons on a sour note.