Following a surprising 3-0 start to the 2024 campaign–including back-to-back come-from-behind victories over longtime rivals after trailing by multiple scores in the fourth quarter–Panthers fans were afraid that Pitt would “Pitt it” in its non-conference finale at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Why? The Panthers have a history of allowing flies to get into the ointment of promising campaigns.

As far as the fans were concerned, all the ingredients were there for a Panthers hibernation as kickoff time approached at 3:30 p.m. EST: The Penguins were an FCS school, one that had defeated Pitt in the not-so-distant past (31-17 in 2012). Second…okay, there was no second thing.

Just the simple fact that Youngstown State was an FCS school that had defeated the Panthers 12 years earlier was enough for their long-suffering fans to worry.

However, Pitt’s offense was just too strong, as it grounded the Penguins, 73-17, in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score may indicate.

Eli Holstein, the redshirt freshman quarterback, continued to make a name for himself, as he completed 16 of 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Holstein added 93 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on nine carries.

You might say Holstein was the dual threat that Pitt was missing on Saturday afternoon.

That’s right, the fans may have been worried about a letdown vs. an FCS school, but Pitt’s coaches were not and sat dynamic dual-threat running back, Desmond Reid, for the game. Daniel Carter, a sixth-year senior, picked up Reid’s slack, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Sophomore Che Nwabuko carried three times for 65 yards–including a 57-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that gave the Panthers their final points on the day.

Nate Yarnell relieved Holstein in the second half and completed eight of 11 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Wideouts Censere Lee, Raphael Williams and Kenny Johnson were on the receiving end of three of the four touchdown passes thrown by Holstein and Yarnell, while running back Carter picked up the fourth.

As for the defense, defensive back Tamarion Crumpley intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards for a score midway through the final period.

Pitt’s offense was the story on the day, tallying an astounding 644 yards and eclipsing the 70-point mark for the first time in three years.

Maybe it wasn’t astounding. Again, the Penguins are an FCS school (Division I-AA), but what would we have said if Pitt struggled or even lost the game?

As they prepare for conference play, these new-look Panthers seem like they will be a handful for an ACC that tormented them last year.

Speaking of conference play and tormentors, the 4-0 Panthers will now enjoy their first bye week before opening their ACC schedule vs. North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 5.