Narduzzi: Pitt Looks to Keep Building in Second Half of the Season
10/13/2025 6:30:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH — As the Panthers enter the final half of the 2025 season, head coach Pat Narduzzi said Monday that his team has "closed the chapter" on last week's road win at No. 25 Florida State and is now focused on continuing its momentum into Saturday night's matchup at Syracuse.
Narduzzi called the Florida State game a "great team win," praising the offensive execution and play calling that fueled the upset victory. "Going on the road is never easy against a talented team like that," he said. "I thought our execution was pretty darned good."
Still, Narduzzi pointed to areas for improvement on defense, citing six explosive plays allowed and communication breakdowns in the secondary. "We've got to make them earn it," he said. "We didn't play the coverage correctly, and that's on us as a staff. We'll get it cleaned up."
True freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel continued to earn his coach's trust after another composed performance on the road. "He wasn't shaken by the environment or by throwing interceptions," Narduzzi said. "He's got a swagger about him and a confidence that doesn't change."
Narduzzi also praised the play of Pitt's young contributors and credited the team's overall development. "Our guys have taken advantage of opportunities," he said. "We've done as good a job as anybody in the country at developing talent."
The Panthers now shift their attention to Syracuse, marking their first night game of the season. Narduzzi praised Syracuse head coach Fran Brown for the toughness and energy his program has displayed. "Fran does an excellent job," Narduzzi said. "You see his toughness on tape—his team plays that way. They're top 10 in the country in passing offense, and they mix it up well."
As Pitt prepares for its final six regular season games, Narduzzi said all the team's goals remain within reach. "We've got a really talented football team that's fun to watch," he said. "We're going to be in every game. We've just got to take care of business, worry about being 1-0 each week, and the rest will take care of itself."
Pitt travels to Syracuse to face the Orange on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The game will air nationally on ACC Network.
