No. 19 Pitt prepares for Syracuse tilt as schedule gets tougher

No. 19 Pitt is off to its best start in more than 40 years, but Syracuse should present a formidable challenge when the teams match up Thursday night on the Panthers’ home field.The Panthers (6-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have not been 7-0 since 1982, but they can continue their splendid season with a win over the Orange (5-1, 2-1). Syracuse, which landed two spots out of the Top 25 this week, likely will join the rankings with a win over Pitt, adding an element of intrigue to Thursday’s affair.Both teams are coming off a bye week, as each squad is taking the field for the first time since Oct. 12.That day, Pitt survived a 17-15 nailbiter against Cal as Desmond Reid ran for two touchdowns in the first half and the Panthers’ defense stepped up with six sacks. However, Pitt managed just 277 yards of total offense — nearly 250 below its season average entering the day — and did not score a point in the second half.Coach Pat Narduzzi was glad to escape with the win, but he said Monday that he knows his team must continue to improve.”I’m not surprised (that we’re undefeated),” Narduzzi said. “I’m never surprised at anything in this world, but we need to respond.”With a tough stretch of games coming up — including ranked foes SMU and Clemson in November — the Panthers cannot afford to go through a tough stretch. Beginning this week, they’ll likely need to be at their best to defeat the talented Orange.”It’s great we’re undefeated,” defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons said, “but we’re focused on the week that we’re going to. We’ve got Syracuse and we’ve got to go 1-0 vs. them.”That won’t be easy, given the play of Orange quarterback Kyle McCord. The Ohio State transfer ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing yards (2,160) and passing touchdowns (19). He threw for 346 yards and two scores in a 24-17 triumph over North Carolina State in Syracuse’s most recent game.The Orange need one more victory to match their win total from 2023. In either case, their first season under coach Fran Brown has already been a major step in the right direction.”He’s transformed that football team,” Narduzzi said. “I think they’re elite.”