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PITTSBURGH AT STANFORD
Records: Stanford (3-5, 2-3 ACC); Pittsburgh (6-2,4-1 ACC)
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. at Stanford Stadium
TV:Â ACC Network
Radio:Â KNBR 1050 AM
Series history:Â Tied 2-2. Pitt won 16-7 at Stanford Stadium in 1922. Stanford won in the 1928 Rose Bowl (its first bowl win) and the 2018 Sun Bowl (its most recent bowl appearance).
Stanford storylines:Â Stanford is in the bottom 10 in the country in scoring offense, though it does much better at home (80 points in three wins) than on the road (60 points in five losses). Some of that has to do with the strength of its opponents â the Cardinal has faced three losing teams at home and three AP Top 15 teams on the road. So this will be a test to see if Stanfordâs 3-0 home record is due to home-field advantage or a quirk of the schedule.
Pittsburgh storylines: After a 2-2 start, the Panthers have caught fire since freshman QB Mason Heintschel became a starter, with four wins by a combined 80 points. Since Week 6, Heintschel ranks second nationally in passing yards (1,210) and first in the ACC in yards, touchdowns, and QB rating. ⊠After Saturday, the Panthers close against AP Top 12 teams Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Miami.
Stats that matter: The Cardinalâs defense is top-50 in the country in rush defense, allowing just 127.5 yards per game on the ground, good for ninth in the ACC. That is on pace to be Stanfordâs best rushing defense since 2014 (104.5 yards per game). ⊠Pittâs defense is forcing its opponentsâ offense into 3-and-outs on 30.9 percent of defensive drives this season, most in the ACC and 11th most in the FBS. ⊠Stanfordâs defense ranks 14th in opponentsâ red zone touchdown percentage (46.3%).
â HAROLD GUTMANN