University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
7-2 , 5-1
Stanford
3-6 , 2-4
Pitt Storms Past Stanford, 35-20
11/1/2025 8:10:00 PM | Football
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Mason Heintschel threw for 304 yards with three touchdown passes, leading Pittsburgh to a 35-20 win over Stanford on Saturday.
Pitt's first true freshman starting quarterback since Kenny Pickett in 2017, Heintschel completed 23 of 38 passes and had a rating of 143.3 while guiding the Panthers (7-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) to their fifth consecutive victory.
Ja'Kyrian Turner ran for a career-high 127 yards while Kenny Johnson, Raphael Williams Jr. and Jake Overman each caught touchdown passes for Pitt in its first game at Stanford since 1922.
Shawn Lee Jr. scored on a 30-yard interception, one of four turnovers forced by the Panthers.
That was part of a dominant day by Pitt's defense, which had five sacks and limited Stanford to minus-10 yards rushing and twice forced turnovers on downs.
Ben Gulbranson completed 17 of 30 throws for 228 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for Stanford (3-6, 2-4) before getting benched in the second half.
The Panthers never trailed, scoring their first touchdown four plays after dropping Stanford for a two-yard loss on 4th-and-1 from the Cardinal 37 on the game's opening drive.
Heintschel, the ACC's leading passer, had touchdown throws of 17, 5 and 14 yards. It's his third game this season with 300 yards or more and third with three touchdowns. Heintschel was intercepted twice.
Deuce Spann scored on a 4-yard run off a direct snap for the Panthers early in the second quarter.
Emmet Kenney had field goals from 39 and 45 yards for the Cardinal.
The takeaway
Pittsburgh: Heintschel has tremendous poise and pocket presence, making big plays with his arm and feet. The Panthers' defense matched the QB's day with consistent pressure and forcing turnovers.
Stanford: The offense as a whole looked flat. The running game was non-existent and the pass protection was weak. The Cardinal made a few plays but not enough against Heintschel.
Up next
Pittsburgh: Hosts No. 12 Notre Dame on Nov. 15.
Stanford: Plays at North Carolina on Saturday
Team Stats
PIT 7, STA 0
PIT - Johnson,Kenny 17 yd pass from Heintschel,Mason (Butkowski,Trey kick) 4 plays, 35 yards, TOP 01:33
PIT 7, STA 3
STA - Kenney,Emmet 39 yd field goal 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:35
PIT 7, STA 10
STA - Williams,CJ 35 yd pass from Gulbranson,Ben (Kenney,Emmet kick) 3 plays, 36 yards, TOP 00:41
PIT 14, STA 10
PIT - Spann,Deuce 4 yd run (Butkowski,Trey kick), 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 03:23
PIT 21, STA 10
PIT - Williams Jr.,Raphael 5 yd pass from Heintschel,Mason (Butkowski,Trey kick) 7 plays, 50 yards, TOP 02:23
PIT 21, STA 13
STA - Kenney,Emmet 45 yd field goal 10 plays, 48 yards, TOP 01:47
PIT 28, STA 13
PIT - Overman,Jake 14 yd pass from Heintschel,Mason (Butkowski,Trey kick) 7 plays, 89 yards, TOP 02:55
PIT 35, STA 13
PIT - Lee Jr.,Shawn 30 yd interception (Butkowski,Trey kick)
PIT 35, STA 20
STA - Williams,CJ 19 yd pass from Brown,Elijah (Seidler,AJ kick) 11 plays, 97 yards, TOP 03:29
