New Hampshire
N/A0-0
Pittsburgh
3rd Big East7-5
New Hampshire @ Pittsburgh preview
Acrisure Stadium
There are easier ways to open the season than on the road against a nationally ranked opponent.
Pittsburgh found that out the hard way when it suffered a 27-24 overtime loss to Utah on Sept. 2 – a defeat that knocked the Panthers out of the national polls.
With nine days off to let the loss soak in, Pitt (0-1) will look to take out its frustrations on the University of New Hampshire in its home opener Saturday.
New Hampshire (1-0) comes in with a rather lofty national ranking of No. 5 – albeit in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Wildcats opened their 12th season under coach Sean McDonnell on Saturday by dismantling Central Connecticut State 33-3.
It will mark the only time New Hampshire steps up in class this season, but the school has enjoyed spectacular success in the rarified air of Division I, winning all five matchups in the last six years against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
The Wildcats were content to ram the ball down Central Connecticut’s throats. Sophomore Dontra Peters rushed for a career-high 197 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries for New Hampshire, which got the season off to an electrifying start when Terrance Fox returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score.
It’s unlikely they will find such easy going against Pittsburgh, the overwhelming choice to win the Big East Conference title this season.
First, however, the Panthers need to work out their own issues. They committed 12 penalties against Utah, had two drives stall inside the 10-yard line and saw sophomore running back Dion Lewis held to a career-low 75 yards on 25 carries.
Lewis had a brilliant freshman season for the Panthers, rushing for 1,799 yards – second only to Tony Dorsett in school history – and going over 100 yards in his final eight games.
Thus, the first priority for Pitt will be to get the running game cranked up and alleviate the pressure on quarterback Tino Sunseri, who struggled in his first collegiate start.
Sunseri finished 16-of-28 for 184 yards with one touchdown and one costly interception. Sunseri rallied Pitt from a 24-13 fourth-quarter deficit, but he was picked off in overtime, setting up Utah’s winning field goal.
Expect Sunseri to target junior wide receiver Jon Baldwin more this week. Coming off a 1,000-season, Baldwin was a non-factor for most of last week’s game until hauling in a 44-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter. He finished with four catches for 71 yards.
Pitt, which is 15-5 in its last 20 home openers, also will be looking for more of a contribution on the other side of the ball, particularly from senior defensive lineman Greg Romeus. He was limited to four tackles against the Utes.
The reigning Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Romeus was plagued by back spasms last month and is playing himself into shape, coach Dave Wannstedt said.
The Panthers look to remain perfect against FCS schools. They improved to 8-0 all-time with a 38-3 rout of Youngstown State on Sept. 5, 2009.
Pittsburgh found that out the hard way when it suffered a 27-24 overtime loss to Utah on Sept. 2 – a defeat that knocked the Panthers out of the national polls.
With nine days off to let the loss soak in, Pitt (0-1) will look to take out its frustrations on the University of New Hampshire in its home opener Saturday.
New Hampshire (1-0) comes in with a rather lofty national ranking of No. 5 – albeit in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Wildcats opened their 12th season under coach Sean McDonnell on Saturday by dismantling Central Connecticut State 33-3.
It will mark the only time New Hampshire steps up in class this season, but the school has enjoyed spectacular success in the rarified air of Division I, winning all five matchups in the last six years against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
The Wildcats were content to ram the ball down Central Connecticut’s throats. Sophomore Dontra Peters rushed for a career-high 197 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries for New Hampshire, which got the season off to an electrifying start when Terrance Fox returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score.
It’s unlikely they will find such easy going against Pittsburgh, the overwhelming choice to win the Big East Conference title this season.
First, however, the Panthers need to work out their own issues. They committed 12 penalties against Utah, had two drives stall inside the 10-yard line and saw sophomore running back Dion Lewis held to a career-low 75 yards on 25 carries.
Lewis had a brilliant freshman season for the Panthers, rushing for 1,799 yards – second only to Tony Dorsett in school history – and going over 100 yards in his final eight games.
Thus, the first priority for Pitt will be to get the running game cranked up and alleviate the pressure on quarterback Tino Sunseri, who struggled in his first collegiate start.
Sunseri finished 16-of-28 for 184 yards with one touchdown and one costly interception. Sunseri rallied Pitt from a 24-13 fourth-quarter deficit, but he was picked off in overtime, setting up Utah’s winning field goal.
Expect Sunseri to target junior wide receiver Jon Baldwin more this week. Coming off a 1,000-season, Baldwin was a non-factor for most of last week’s game until hauling in a 44-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter. He finished with four catches for 71 yards.
Pitt, which is 15-5 in its last 20 home openers, also will be looking for more of a contribution on the other side of the ball, particularly from senior defensive lineman Greg Romeus. He was limited to four tackles against the Utes.
The reigning Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Romeus was plagued by back spasms last month and is playing himself into shape, coach Dave Wannstedt said.
The Panthers look to remain perfect against FCS schools. They improved to 8-0 all-time with a 38-3 rout of Youngstown State on Sept. 5, 2009.