Syracuse football goes for 1st ACC win in one year at Pittsburgh Thursday

After a narrow 21-18 defeat to California Saturday, Syracuse (1-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) has a short week before it treks to the Keystone State Thursday for a night clash at Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0 ACC).

It's a new season, but it's hard to ignore the disaster that transpired for SU the last time it faced Pitt at Acrisure Stadium on a Thursday night. It was 2024, when former Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord tossed a season-high five interceptions and was benched in a blowout loss. Or even last year at the JMA Wireless Dome, where another former Orange quarterback, Rickie Collins, was benched in a 30-13 defeat.

With current SU signal caller Steve Angeli throwing a career-high three interceptions against Cal just a few days ago, it isn't far-fetched for the Panthers to repeat history. Nonetheless, Angeli is still the engine behind Syracuse's offense, as he still threw 260-plus yards twice in as many games.

"We moved on. Our staff moved on," SU head coach Fran Brown said Monday of his team's focus shifting away from Cal. "We can't change the past. We can only learn from it and get better."

While the Orange look to avenge last week's mishaps through the air, it's been Pittsburgh's forte thus far. Its quarterback, Mason Heintschel, diced Miami (Ohio) with 453 passing yards and seven touchdowns a week and a half ago in a 59-14 thrashing. He has the second-most yards in the ACC.

While Pitt's offense is a surefire positive ahead of Thursday, there's no telling what SU's looks like. If anything, it's reliant on hypotheticals. The Orange steamrolled New Hampshire a week and a half ago, running rampant for 239 yards. They were spearheaded by freshman Shavane Anderson's 102 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries.

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But he, like SU's entire backfield, crashed down to reality Saturday against Cal. Anderson had 18 yards on nine attempts, while sophomore Tylik Hill, who scored once on the ground against the Wildcats, had just two attempts and exited the Cal game in the first quarter.

The supposed top-two backs, LSU transfer Ju'Juan Johnson and Jackson State transfer Ahmad Miller, mildly underwhelmed Saturday, as Johnson put up a measly three yards per carry while Miller averaged one.

But the hypotheticals keep on rolling for SU's offense. When is five-star freshman wide receiver Calvin Russell III returning? He dressed Saturday but didn't play and would be an immediate top target for Angeli.

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"We're waiting for the doctors to say he's completely cleared," Brown said. "He's consistently coming in doing extra rehab. He's working a lot to get himself back to play, and we really want him to play. He's an electrifying football player, so if he's able to go, then he's going to go."

There are still more wide-receiver questions. They regard Justus Ross-Simmons, who is still awaiting more court case clarity, yet led the Orange in receiving yards against Cal with 106. It seems he's still playing despite the ongoing legal battle.

What Syracuse hasn't needed to worry about is its defense, which is bound for a wake-up call against Heintschel and Co.'s fire. The Orange conceded three points against New Hampshire, the lowest they'd conceded in three years. And even against Cal, they held quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagopolutele under 200 yards for the first time in his career. Keyshawn Johnson has been a pleasant surprise off the edge, recording multiple sacks thus far, and Chris Peal has shined in coverage.

But the Panthers, helmed by head coach Pat Narduzzi, have a prolific offense alongside Heintschel. Wide receiver Catarius Hicks has eight catches for 178 yards and a touchdown thus far. Censere Lee has also eclipsed 100. Pitt's defense also concedes under 250 yards a game, a top-five ACC mark.

"They like to hit. They're a physical team," Brown said. "Coach Narduzzi is a good football coach. I like how he has his defense sound, and they like to hit."

The Orange and Panthers duel Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium. WAER's McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff begins at 7 p.m. on 88.3 FM.