On September 13, Pitt had just lost to a bad West Virginia team 31-24 after blowing a double-digit 4th quarter lead. Florida State was relaxing after a 2-0 start and moved from unranked to top 15 after thumping a top 10 Alabama team and beating East Texas A&M 77-3.
Not even a month later, and their seasons are going in opposite directions.
Pitt changed QBs to freshman Mason Heintschel, and suddenly the Panhters have won their last 2 ACC games including a 34-31 win over Florida State. A season that seemed on the brink for Pitt has them now 4-2 (2-1) and a great shot to get to 7-2 (5-1) before hosting Notre Dame. Syracuse, NC State, and Stanford are all teams that Pitt is capable of beating during that stretch.
If you’re a Pitt fan, you’re excited about what you’re seeing from Heintschel. He doesn’t look or play like a freshman, and he will only continue to improve. The season certainly has new renewed hope.
Florida State is moving in the opposite direction, and the season is going off the rails faster than anyone could have imagined possible. After losing at Virginia, the prevailing thought is the Hoos are much improved, and they are. Miami beats you 28-22 after leading 28-3 going into the 4th quarter, but the Canes are a team that can compete for a national title.
You get Pitt at home Saturday and lose, and now it becomes a body of work problem for FSU head coach Mike Norvell.
The Noles are 0-3 in the ACC this year. They’ve lost 8 straight ACC games, and are 1-10 in their last 11 ACC games, going back to last year.
This would be unacceptable for any school in the ACC, but in particular if you are supposed to be one of the conference’s flagship it’s humiliating.
You are now out of the playoffs and the even conference race before the leaves change.
This is not what FSU is paying for, and now Mike Norvell needs a flourish of finish to not get fired or go into next season with his seat on fire.
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