Pittsburgh Dominates NC State 53-34 in Week 9 Matchup
Pittsburgh overwhelmed NC State 53-34 on Saturday in Week 9, with the Panthers' defense making several critical plays to control the game. Pittsburgh covered the 5-point spread and pushed the total over 53 points.
The Panthers established early dominance, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and 21 in the second to build a commanding 31-14 halftime lead. NC State's Teddy Hoffmann connected with J. Joly on a 59-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and Daylan Smothers rushed for 86 yards, but the Wolfpack couldn't keep pace.
Pittsburgh's defense made the game's most impactful play in the third quarter when M. Heintschel threw an 84-yard touchdown pass to C. Hicks, extending the home team's advantage. NC State scored 13 points in the fourth quarter but couldn't mount a complete comeback. Pittsburgh added 7 points in the final quarter to seal the victory.
Bryce Yates led Pittsburgh's receiving corps with 8 catches in the winning effort.
AI-generated recap · Aug 2, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 NC State | 7 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
 Pittsburgh | 10 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 53 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | NC State | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 25-41 | 28-49 |
| Pass Yards | 284 | 423 |
| Rush Yards | 161 | 106 |
| Total Yards | 445 | 529 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 4-13 | 6-14 |
| Penalties | 9-97 | 5-46 |
| Possession | 25:04 | 34:56 |
Player Leaders
Player stats unavailable for this game.