Pittsburgh asserted itself on the West Coast with a 35-20 victory over Stanford, blending efficient passing, a physical ground game and opportunistic defense to secure the road win. The Panthers built a lead in the first half and protected it through a strong third-quarter push that swung momentum firmly in their favor.
Quarterback Heintschel paced the attack, finishing 23 of 38 for 304 yards and three touchdown passes, but his day wasn’t spotless, he also threw 2 interceptions and suffered a couple of fumbles that kept Stanford alive at times. Even with those miscues, Heintschel’s ability to rebound and hit timely throws in the red zone proved decisive for Pitt’s scoring drives.
Ja’Kyrian Turner anchored the running game, carrying the ball between the tackles and finishing with a season‑high 127 rushing yards, including several third‑down conversions that sustained drives and flipped the clock in Pitt’s favor. The offensive line opened lanes consistently, giving the Panthers a balanced attack that stretched Stanford’s defense horizontally and vertically.
Pitt’s defense delivered key moments, forcing four turnovers and converting one into points when Shawn Lee Jr. returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. The unit tightened up in the second half, limiting explosive plays and bending without breaking on several Stanford drives, which preserved the margin when Pitt’s offense cooled off after halftime.
The box score reflected Pitt’s control of the game: 466 total yards to Stanford’s 326 and a dominant time of possession that kept Stanford’s offense off the field. Stanford’s CJ Williams managed seven catches for 122 yards and two scores, but those bright spots couldn’t overcome Pitt’s complementary football and the Panthers’ knack for making game‑changing plays.
Beyond the scoreboard, the weekend’s results elsewhere in the ACC shifted the landscape, with Georgia Tech and Miami both losing, Pittsburgh’s path forward looks much clearer. Those losses by division rivals mean Pitt can largely control its own destiny in the race if the Panthers continue to win their remaining conference games and limit self-inflicted errors. Pitt’s final three games could shape not just the ACC playoff picture but the overall college football playoff as well. They finish the season playing home against Notre Dame, then travel to Georgia Tech, and then finish up at home against Miami, Fla.
If Pitt can tighten up turnover issues — particularly cleaning up Heintschel’s interceptions and ball security on scrambles — while maintaining the balanced rushing and passing attack that produced 35 points at Stanford and 53 the week before against NC State, the Panthers will be well positioned to ride momentum into the stretch and fight for a top spot in the division.
(Photo courtesy of Pitt Athletics)