Youngstown State @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2009 ) Youngstown State 3, Pittsburgh 38

ACC-bound Pittsburgh enters its final year as a Big East member hoping new head coach Paul Chryst can quickly rid the sour taste of Todd Graham's departure and bring stability to the sidelines. Hosting FCS member Youngstown State should help Chryst - who makes his head coaching debut after 23 years as an assistant, including the last six seasons as Wisconsin's offensive coordinator. The Penguins are no FCS slouch, ranked 13th in The Sports Network poll and 18th in the FCS Coaches Poll, but lost by a combined 79-3 in their only previous visits to Pitt in 2005 and '09.

TV: 6 p.m., ESPN3.com Line: None

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2011 record: 6-7, 4-3 Big East): The Panthers' lone season under Graham was punctuated by a 28-6 loss to SMU in the BBVA Compass Bowl, a game coached by defensive coordinator Keith Patterson after Graham left for Arizona State. Chryst inherits an offense that returns eight starters, led by senior QB Tino Sunseri, who makes his 27th straight start and ranks sixth on the school's career passing yards list (5,302). Senior RB Ray Graham – who gained nearly 1,000 yards last season before tearing an ACL in the eighth game versus Connecticut – will be a gametime decision. Expect to see a lot of sophomore Isaac Bennett and true freshman Rushel Shell, Pennsylvania's all-time high school rushing leader with 9,078 yards.

ABOUT YOUNGSTOWN STATE (2011 record: 6-5, 4-4 Missouri Valley): Penguins backers expect continued improvement under third-year coach Eric Wolford (9-13), whose club is picked third in the MVFC. The 2011 campaign included a November victory over then-No.1 and eventual national champ North Dakota State. Nine starters return from an offense that averaged 458.6 yards and 36.2 points. Junior QB Kurt Hess (2,460 yards, school-record 26 TDs in 2011) and senior RB Jamaine Cook (1,386 yards, 13 TDs) are on the Walter Payton Award watch list. Junior LB Dom Rich, a team captain, returns after missing last season's final eight games with a hip fracture.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pittsburgh is 10-0 all-time against FCS teams, the most recent win a sluggish 35-29 decision over Maine last season.

2. The Panthers are 79-41-2 in season openers; Youngstown is 39-30-2 but has dropped five straight.

3. Pitt's defense has a sack in 25 consecutive games; junior DT Aaron Donald recorded 11 last year.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 38, Youngstown State 17