Pitt stop needed

That won’t be an easy task for Hurricanes with standout QB Pickett guiding Panthers

Manny Diaz remembers the Miami Hurricanes’ first game against a Kenny Pickett-led Pittsburgh team all too well.

Pickett made his first college start against UM as a true freshman in Miami’s 2017 regular-season finale, when the 4-7 Panthers pulled off a 24-14 upset over the previously unbeaten No. 2 Hurricanes behind Pickett’s three-touchdown performance.

Diaz, who was in his second of three seasons as Miami’s defensive coordinator under Mark Richt, recalled the toughness Pickett showed on the first score of his college career when he jumped over Jaquan Johnson on a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish en route to upsetting the Hurricanes.

“From that day, to me [are] the same things you see with him right now,” Diaz said of Pickett. “Obviously he’s got an arm. His toughness — he made a touchdown run where we helicoptered him around the goal line and stuck it in there.

“You kind of knew that he was the guy.”

To Diaz, what Pickett showed in that win over Miami on Nov. 24, 2017, was a glimpse of what would come for his career.

“You see what happens with quarterbacks where they can ignite a locker room and a program,” Diaz said. “That’s the impact Kenny’s had.

“[It’s] no different than what D’Eriq [King] did for our program a year ago and what you’re starting to see with Tyler [Van Dyke], last week especially, with us.

“When the team believes in the quarterback, you can see how it raises everybody’s level. You can see the entire Pitt football program and what’s happened as Pickett’s gotten better.”

Nearly four years later, Pickett, now a fifth-year senior, is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the tables have essentially turned between the two programs since that matchup in 2017.

No. 17 Pittsburgh (6-1, 3-0 ACC) is at the top of the Coastal Division entering Saturday’s matchup with the Hurricanes (noon on the ACC Network) at Heinz Field, while Miami (3-4, 1-2 ACC) is the underdog that’s looking to spoil the Panthers’ season.

Butforthattohappen,Miamimust find a way to contain Pickett, who’s having the best season of his career: a 68.9completionpercentagefor2,236 passing yards and 23 touchdowns to justoneinterception.He’salsoadded three rushing touchdowns.

“Kenny Pickett right now,” Diaz said, “he may be the best quarterback in the country. And we’ve played some really, really good quarterbacks this year.”

Added linebacker Keontra Smith: “This guy does a great job finding his targets down the field and using his feet to make explosive plays.”

Even though the Panthers may be without two of their top playmakers in wide receiver Jordan Addison (39 catches for 670 yards and 11 touchdowns) and running back Izzy Abanikanda (73 carries for 403 yards and four rushing touchdowns; 13 catches for 108 yards), Miami’s defense knows it’ll be in for a tough challenge, especially since the Hurricanes are expected to start two true freshman safeties.

With Bubba Bolden sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury, Kam Kinchens is expected to take over Bolden’s starting role alongside James Williams, who’s started in UM’s last few games.

“The leadership role on the defense changes,” Williams said. “Now we need players to step up, be the leaders of the defense, and I’m willing to take control and do whatever it takes to for this defense to be a successful defense that we’re trying to get it to be.”

Bolden’s injury puts pressure on Kinchens and Williams to maintain good communication on the back end of UM’s defense, which has had its struggles throughout the season, allowing 30 points per game (No. 97 nationally) and 245 passing yards per game (No. 93 nationally).

“This’ll be our first time playing a full game together,” Williams said of himself and Kinchens. “We got to communicate, stay on task and stay focused.”

As for the offense, Van Dyke helped put together one of Miami’s most complete offensive performances in its 31-30 win over then-No. 18 N.C. State last Saturday to end the team’s six-game losing streak to Power Five programs dating back to last season.

But UM’s second-year freshman quarterback isn’t concerned with keeping pace with Pickett.

“I’m just going to worry about my game and worry about what the offense has to do,” Van Dyke said. “After that, hopefully we can get that win.”

KEITH SRAKOCIC / AP Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett has emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He has thrown 23 touchdown passes.