Eric Boggs 
Pitt turns Syracuse over five times.
Pittsburgh handed Syracuse a crushing 41-13 defeat at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night, as the Panthers’ defense intercepted Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord five times, returning three for touchdowns. Pittsburgh (7-0, 3-0 ACC) remains undefeated, while the Orange (5-2, 2-2) saw their College Football Playoff hopes dashed.
The Panthers needed only 178 yards of total offense to pile on 41 points, taking advantage of McCord’s struggles in a game that highlighted Pittsburgh’s defensive dominance. Head coach Pat Narduzzi’s relentless blitzing overwhelmed Syracuse, allowing four sacks and eight quarterback hurries. With this win, Pitt has now claimed 17 of the last 20 matchups against Syracuse, a series marked by the Panthers’ defensive prowess.
McCord’s rough outing began immediately, as Pitt’s defense intercepted him on Syracuse’s first three drives. Linebacker Rasheem Biles got the ball rolling with a 35-yard pick-six less than three minutes into the game, putting the Panthers up 7-0. Syracuse’s second drive ended with another interception by Pitt linebacker Brandon George, leading to a field goal and a 10-0 advantage. Linebacker Kyle Louis followed up on the Orange’s next possession with a 59-yard pick-six, weaving past defenders to stretch Pitt’s lead to 17-0 before the end of the first quarter.
By halftime, the Panthers had four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Linebacker Braylan Lovelace joined the scoring spree with a 33-yard pick-six to make it 31-0 late in the second quarter. The final interception came in the third quarter when Pitt’s defensive back Phillip O’Brien Jr. snagged another McCord pass, cementing the Panthers’ victory.
McCord’s five interceptions tied a Syracuse school record, putting him alongside Todd Norley and Greg Paulus in an unfortunate distinction. He finished the game 35 of 64 for 321 yards but couldn’t find the end zone. Thursday’s loss continues a troubling trend for Syracuse, who has scored fewer than 20 points in five of their last six games against Pitt.
Pittsburgh’s three pick-sixes marked the first time any FBS team has recorded three in one half since 2005, demonstrating the Panthers’ defensive firepower that’s been instrumental in their unbeaten season. Ranked No. 19, Pitt now looks forward to facing No. 22 SMU on November 2, aiming to maintain their perfect record and ACC dominance in their quest for a standout season.
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