Both the Boston College and Pitt football teams share some similarities heading into their Atlantic Coast Conference contest at noon Saturday inside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Both squads will be looking to end losing streaks when they battle at noon Saturday inside Acrisure Stadium. The Eagles and Panthers each start an Alabama transfer at quarterback and both teams average over 300 passing yards per game.
Dylan Lonergan is a redshirt sophomore in his first season at Boston College. Coach Bill O’Brien, who was Penn State’s coach from 2012-13, recruited Lonergan to Alabama when he was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2021-22.
Pitt’s expected starter, Eli Holstein, redshirted at Alabama in 2023 when he was teammates with Lonergan. Holstein was benched in the fourth quarter for Cole Gonzales, who was the 2023 Southern Conference offensive player of the year at Football Championship Subdivision member Western Carolina with current Pitt offensive coordinator Cade Bell running the unit, after throwing his second interception of the game Sept. 27 against Louisville.
Holstein has thrown for 1,050 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, including one in each of the four games. Three of his picks have come in or near the opponent’s end zone.
“You know what, he’s had a good week of practice,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “I’ve been impressed, you know, just the way he’s bounced back from last Saturday.”
True freshman Mason Heintschel could play if Holstein’s struggles continue. Heintschel, an Ohio native, completed 3 of 4 passes against Central Michigan Sept. 6 for 36 yards.
Pitt (2-2, 0-1 ACC) has dropped two straight games by a touchdown each to rival West Virginia (31-24 in overtime) and Louisville (34-27).
Boston College (1-3, 0-2) beat FCS member Fordham 66-10 in the opener, then lost to Michigan State (42-40 in double overtime), Stanford (30-20) and California (28-24).
Pitt is averaging 39.3 points and per game and allowing 22.8. The Panthers average 102 yards on the ground and 301 through the air.
Boston College averages 37.5 points per contest and allows 27.5. The Eagles rack up 99.5 rushing yards per game and average 344.5 passing yards.
“They are simple, but complex,” Narduzzi said of Boston College’s passing game. “I just think they do a really good job in the passing game. Obviously, they’re fourth in the country in passing offense. Lonergan, he’s the one that makes it go.”
Pitt running back Desmond Reid (142 rushing, 71 receiving, 105 punt return yards in three games), defensive ends Zach Crothers and Blaine Spires, cornerbacks Tamon Lynum and Rashan Murray, safety Javon McIntyre and long snapper Nilay Upadhyayula are all listed as questionable. Left guard Keith Gouveia is out for the season, and Ryan Carretta will start after he came in when Gouveia was injured Sept. 27.
Pitt’s Juelz Goff has 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Raphael “Poppi” Williams Jr. has 16 catches for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Kenny Johnson has 12 grabs for 177 yards and a score. Cataurus “Blue” Hicks has 11 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns.
Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles leads the team with 42 tackles.
He returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against Louisville.
Francis Brewu, Kyle Louis and Spires each have two sacks.
Boston College left tackle Jude Bowry is expected to return Saturday after missing the Sept. 27 game against California.
Turbo Richard leads Boston College’s run game with 329 yards and four touchdowns.
Lonergan is 111 of 160 for 1,188 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Lewis Bond tops the receivers with 36 catches for 352 yards. Reed Harris, a 6-foot-5 target who hauled in three passes for 85 yards and a score against Pitt in 2024, has 15 receptions for 250 yards and two scores. Tight end Jeremiah Franklin has 20 grabs for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Richard also has 16 catches for 168 yards.
Boston College kicker Luca Lombardo is 6-for-6 on field goals, including two from 50 yards or longer. He has made all 18 of his extra-point kicks.
Strong safety KP Price tops the defense with 27 tackles.
Three different players have 21 stops apiece.
Linebacker Daveon Crouch and safety Omar Thornton each have an interception. Crouch is questionable for Saturday’s game.
Tim Lewis is Boston College’s defensive coordinator. He played at Pitt and was the 11th overall pick in the 1983 NFL draft. Lewis served as Pitt’s defensive backs coach from 1993-94. He was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive backs coach from 1995-99, then was elevated to be the team’s defensive coordinator from 2000-03 under coach Bill Cowher.
Eagles quarterbacks coach Jonathan DiBiaso was an offensive graduate assistant at Pitt in 2022.
The Eagles have outscored their opponents 78-45 in the second and third quarters.
Pitt is 18-16 against Boston College. The Eagles won 34-23 at home in 2024. Pitt prevailed 24-16 in 2023. Boston College also won contests against Pitt in 2019 and 2020.
