PITTSBURGH — On an afternoon in which Pitt fans united to "rock the royal" garb at Heinz Field, only Clemson was feeling blue.
Pitt, propelled by the play of Heisman Trophy contender Kenny Pickett and an opportunistic defense, took down Clemson, 27-17, on the North Shore. The win moves Pat Narduzzi's No. 23-ranked Panthers to 6-1 on the season and cements them as one of the top contenders for the ACC title, if not the favorite.
At the very least, Pitt was the betting favorite over Clemson on Saturday, something few would have believed before the season. The Tigers had won six consecutive ACC titles, making as many College Football Playoff appearances. But Dabo Swinney's team won't be representing the ACC in the national semifinals this year — and in all likelihood, won't be playing for the conference title in Charlotte.
Pitt, though, looked like a conference winner guided by a quarterback poised for a spot in New York City. Pickett, whose Heisman and NFL stock has continued to rise week by week, exorcised the demons of past games against Clemson and proved on a national stage why he's one of the top quarterbacks in the country. He completed 25 of 39 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns while orchestrating five scoring series.
Pickett spread the ball around, hitting 10 different receivers. But Jordan Addison, especially, performed. The star sophomore had five catches for 84 yards, including a 23-yard score late in the second quarter that sent Pitt's student section into a frenzy. Addison and later running back Israel Abanikanda (12 touches, 76 yards) left the game to be evaluated for concussions, according to ESPN's broadcast.
They weren't the only Panthers making plays, though.
Taysir Mack hauled in a momentous 39-yard touchdown — a gutty and correct call by Narduzzi to go for it on fourth-and-5, giving Pitt a 14-7 lead going into halftime. SirVocea Dennis secured a 50-yard pick-six on a shovel pass, prompting Clemson to bench preseason Heisman candidate D.J. Uiagalelei. As the Tigers experienced growing pains with backup Taisun Phommachanh, Pitt's Sam Scarton tacked on two field goals, extending the Panthers' lead to 27-10 with nine minutes left in regulation.
Uiagalelei re-entered and engineered a 72-yard touchdown drive with 7:56 to go on the clock, aided by two of Pitt's nine penalties. But holding a 10-point lead, Pickett ensured the Tigers — who thwarted his ACC title hopes in 2018 and punished him last season in a 52-17 drubbing — wouldn't beat him again.
Facing a third-and-7 at Pitt's 28, Pickett scrambled for an 8-yard gain, diving to the first-down marker on a play that embodied the spirit with which he plays. Moments later, Pickett stared down a third-and-6. He converted, running up the middle of Brent Venables' defense and leaping forward for a 7-yard gain. Pickett bounced to his feet and let out a guttural scream as the crowd backed him in celebration.
Record-setter
On Pickett's 23-yard touchdown to Addison, the fourth-year starter not only knotted the score at 7, but he also made a little history. It was Pickett's 14th completion of the day and the 868th of his career — passing Alex Van Pelt for most all-time by a Pitt player.
It was understood that Pickett would be in-line to set Pitt records as a super senior. But the next and biggest one — Van Pelt's passing yards mark — is closer to being broken than anyone probably thought it would be in October.
Pickett left Heinz Field on Saturday only 1,048 yards away from taking over the top spot. And with at least five regular-season games to go, that seems likely.
Up next
Next week's opponent shouldn't be as daunting as the Tigers.
Miami entered this week on shaky ground. The Hurricanes have already lost to Virginia and North Carolina in Coastal play. They're also forced to start third-string freshman Tyler Van Dyke after star senior D'Eriq King suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Miami and Pitt kick off at noon next Saturday at Heinz Field. The game, televised on the ACC Network, will be yet another opportunity for Narduzzi's Panthers to distance themselves in the divisional standings and take one more step toward Charlotte.
