Pitt halted its losing streak and secured its first ACC win of the season, blowing out Boston College 48-7 at Acrisure Stadium. Powered by a new quarterback and an offense that finally found rhythm, the Panthers look ready to reestablish themselves in the ACC. Here are three takeaways from the win.
Pitt may have found its quarterback.
The talk about true first-year quarterback Mason Heintschel turned into a statement on Saturday. In his first career start, Heintschel looked composed and confident, completing 30 of 41 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. His poise was impressive. He handled pressure, picked up yards when plays broke down and hit 10 different receivers, proving his ability to run the offense.
What stood out most was how comfortable Heintschel looked running an ACC offense from the first snap. He led Pitt to score on its first two possessions, setting the tone for sharp decision-making. He didn’t force deep passes recklessly — he hit Kenny Johnson on key plays and found open receivers in the red zone.
His confidence grew with every completion, and the team fed off it. Following several inconsistent quarterback performances, this was the kind of debut Pitt needed to reset the season and energize the locker room.
Heintschel didn’t just steady the offense — he made history. The true first-year became the first quarterback in Pitt program history to throw four touchdown passes in a single game and the first true first-year to win his first career start since Kenny Pickett in 2017. For a team searching for momentum, Heintschel’s composed, record-setting debut felt like the breakthrough Pitt needed.
Panthers’ offense clicks and executes.
For the first time this year, Pitt’s offense was balanced and effective. The run game provided a steady foundation. Redshirt first-year running back Juelz Goff tabbed 59 yards and one touchdown, and first-year running mate Ja’Kyrian Turner rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. The runs set up Heintschel for big-play opportunities and easy completions. The Panthers dominated possession, keeping the ball for nearly 39 minutes compared to BC’s 21.
The passing was equally clean. Kenny Johnson caught nine passes for 115 yards, while senior tight end Jake Overman, senior wide receiver Raphael “Poppi” Williams Jr. and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Zion Fowler-El made key catches. The Panthers scored on all seven red-zone possessions — six touchdowns and one field goal — a clear change from past inconsistencies. The Panthers had sustained drives of 76, 66 and 65 yards, showing they can control the game with consistent execution.
Special teams also added points, with first-year kicker Trey Butkowski making field goals from 31 and 47 yards. For an offense that looked unstable in September, Pitt showed that its pieces can fit together, and execution is possible for the future.
Defense and discipline still matter to extend the winning streak.
While offense wins games, defense wins championships. Pitt’s defense created the foundation for this ACC blowout. The Panthers kept Boston College to just 216 total yards and 27 rushing yards, repeatedly stopping plays before they could develop. The Panthers’ defense forced three turnovers — two fumbles and an interception.
Even with a dominant win, it was obvious that composure and situational awareness still need improvement. Pitt had nine penalties for 81 yards — the lack of discipline and focus under pressure was definitely apparent.
Still, this was the cleanest and most complete effort of the season. If the Panthers can keep this level of execution with accurate quarterback plays, a well-rounded offense and smart situational awareness, Pitt can threaten future ACC teams.