US LBM Coaches Poll: Texas A&M pushes for No. 2
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest US LBM Coaches Poll and why Texas A&M has a case for No. 2 over Indiana
When Pat Narduzzi decided to make a change at quarterback from Eli Holstein to Mason Heintschel at the start of October, the veteran Pitt football coach was looking for some new energy from his playmaking in hopes of turning the season around.
Mission accomplished.
The 18-year-old starting quarterback has rejuvenated the Panthers, leading them to five consecutive wins and a No. 23 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll, a winning streak that has also put Pitt into the mix for a spot in the ACC conference championship game.
He has received the ACC Player of the Week honors numerous times, has been named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, has been mentioned in the same vein as former Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett by his coach and has received praise from former NFL coach Jon Gruden.
In Week 11, Heintschel will face one of his toughest challenges yet of his early Pitt career, as No. 9 Notre Dame comes to town for a game that has College Football Playoff elimination implications for both teams. The Fighting Irish kick off a gruesome three-game stretch for the Panthers, where they will face three consecutive top-25 teams to finish the regular season.
Here’s what to know on Heintschel:
Who is Pitt QB Mason Heintschel?
Heintschel is a true freshman starting quarterback for Pitt, who started the season as the Panthers’ backup quarterback.
He was named the Panthers’ starting quarterback ahead of their Week 6 game vs. Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 4. The move by Narduzzi came after Pitt lost back-to-back games against West Virginia and Louisville to fall to 2-2 under Holstein through the first five weeks of the season.
“That was a really exciting opportunity for me,” Heintschel told Gruden in an interview. “Just sitting on the sidelines and watching the games go by, there’s only so much you can do. I try to prepare myself like the starter every week, even when I wasn’t, trying to stay ready for any possible situation.
“When they finally called my number it was one of those things where (it was like), ‘Alright, hey, this is a time to go make the most of our opportunity.'”
The Ohio native led the Panthers to a commanding 48-7 win over the Eagles in his first collegiate start, which made him the first Pitt true freshman quarterback to win his first career start since Pickett led the Panthers to a 24-14 win over No. 2 Miami in 2017.
“Last time we went with a starting freshman quarterback was the last game of the season when we beat No. 2 Miami, and it was Kenny Pickett,” Narduzzi said of Heintschel after the Boston College win. “We think (Heintschel) has that kind of ability. One game doesn’t define you. He’s got a lot of work to do. But it’s stacking those wins and stacking the execution.”
Since taking over as Pitt’s starting quarterback, Heintschel has led the Panthers to a 5-0 record and has them once again in the mix for a spot in the ACC championship game for the second consecutive season. At 7-2 on the season entering Week 12, the Panthers are bowl-eligible in two consecutive seasons for the first time since 2021 and 2022.
Mason Heintschel 247 rating
Heintschel was not a highly recruited prospect out of high school — 247Sports’ Composite Rankings had him as a 3-star recruit and the No. 721-ranked player in last year’s recruiting class. He held no other offers from a Power Four program outside of Pitt.
Heintschel has largely out-played his 247 rating, such as in Week 9 against North Carolina State, against whom he threw 423 yards and three touchdowns with zero sacks and zero interceptions. Heintschel’s 423 passing yards marked the first time a Pitt quarterback has thrown for at least 400 yards in a game since Pickett in 2021, and the most passing yards in a single game by a freshman quarterback in program history.
“He makes plays,” Narduzzi said following Pitt’s win over NC State on Saturday, Oct. 25. “He’s getting the ball out of his hand. …. He just knows where to go with the ball. Mason is making plays, and guys are going to rally around those guys that make everybody look good.”
Mason Heintschel stats
Since taking over the reins of the Panthers’ offense, Heintschel has completed 115 of 180 passes (63.9%) for 1,511 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of Heintschel’s stats this season at Pitt:
- vs. Central Michigan: 3 of 4 passing for 36 yards
- vs. Boston College: 30 of 41 passing for 323 yards with four touchdowns and two sacks; 10 carries for 28 rushing yards *
- vs. Florida State: 21 of 29 passing for 321 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and five sacks; 16 carries for 64 rushing yards *
- vs. Syracuse: 13 of 24 passing for 140 yards with an interception and seven sacks; 12 carries for 23 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown *
- vs. NC State: 28 of 48 passing for 423 yards with three touchdowns; three carries for seven rushing yards *
- vs. Stanford: 23 of 38 passing for 304 yards with three touchdowns, two interceptions and two sacks; eight carries for 21 rushing yards *
* Denotes start
