Pittsburgh dominates Syracuse 30-13 in Week 8 matchup
Pittsburgh cruised to a 30-13 victory over Syracuse in Week 8, with the Panthers' defense controlling much of the contest. Pittsburgh scored touchdowns in the first and third quarters, building an early lead that Syracuse could never overcome.
Mason Heintschel led Pittsburgh's offense, completing 143 passing yards while also recording a touchdown run. The Panthers' defense generated the game's most impactful play in the first quarter, a pivotal 4.55 EPA swing that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Syracuse's Rickie Collins connected on multiple passing touchdowns, including a 26-yard completion to Johntay Cook in the fourth quarter and a 12-yard touchdown to Emanuel Ross. Will Nixon was Syracuse's leading receiver with 8 catches and also rushed for 9 yards.
Pittsburgh's scoring proved too much to overcome, with the Panthers outscoring Syracuse 20-6 after the first quarter. The game finished under the 54.5-point over-under, and Pittsburgh covered the 9.5-point spread comfortably.
AI-generated recap · Aug 7, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pittsburgh | 7 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
 Syracuse | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Pittsburgh | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 13-24 | 17-34 |
| Pass Yards | 143 | 136 |
| Rush Yards | 117 | 76 |
| Total Yards | 260 | 212 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| 3rd Down | 4-15 | 4-15 |
| Penalties | 13-114 | 12-107 |
| Possession | 29:58 | 30:02 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Sam Carpenter kickoff for 60 yds , Tylik Hill return for 19 yds to the SYR 24
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the SYR 28
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 3 yards to the SYR 25
Rickie Collins pass intercepted Tamon Lynum return for no gain to the SYR 37
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for no gain to the SYR 37
Mason Heintschel run for 6 yds to the SYR 31
(12:23) PENALTY PITT False Start 5 yards from SYRA31 to SYRA36. NO PLAY.
Mason Heintschel run for 36 yds for a TD (Trey Butkowski KICK)
Sam Carpenter kickoff for 62 yds , Tylik Hill return for 17 yds to the SYR 48 Syracuse Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the SYR 10
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the SYR 11
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Yasin Willis
Rickie Collins pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 7 yds to the SYR 18
Jack Stonehouse punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Kenny Johnson at the PITT 39
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for no gain to the PITT 39
PENALTY PITT False Start 5 yards from PITT39 to PITT34. NO PLAY.
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Cataurus Hicks for 7 yds to the PITT 41
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Malachi Thomas
Caleb Junko punt for 48 yds
Rickie Collins pass complete to Yasin Willis for 3 yds to the SYR 8
Rickie Collins pass complete to Dan Villari for 3 yds to the SYR 11
Rickie Collins pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 11 yds to the SYR 22 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the SYR 25
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the SYR 26
PENALTY SYRA False Start 5 yards from SYRA26 to SYRA21. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins run for no gain to the SYR 21
Jack Stonehouse punt for 55 yds
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Kenny Johnson
Mason Heintschel sacked for a loss of 6 yards to the PITT 18
(03:37) PENALTY PITT False Start 5 yards from PITT18 to PITT13. NO PLAY.
Mason Heintschel pass intercepted Davien Kerr return for 34 yds to the PITT 12
Yasin Willis run for 1 yd to the PITT 11
Rickie Collins pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 11 yds for a TD (Tripp Woody KICK)
Desmond Reid run for a loss of 4 yards to the PITT 21
Syracuse Penalty, Personal Foul (David Omopariola) to the PITT 44 for a 1ST down
Desmond Reid run for 7 yds to the SYR 49
Desmond Reid run for 3 yds to the SYR 46 for a 1ST down
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Cataurus Hicks
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 1 yd to the SYR 45
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Kenny Johnson for 10 yds to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Juelz Goff
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Cataurus Hicks for 12 yds to the SYR 23 for a 1ST down
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 18 yds to the SYR 5 for a 1ST down
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for a loss of 1 yard to the SYR 6
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Raphael Williams Jr. for 2 yds to the SYR 4
Mason Heintschel sacked by Devin Grant for a loss of 9 yards to the SYR 13
Trey Butkowski 31 yd FG GOOD
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 9 yds to the SYR 34
Will Nixon run for 1 yd to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 7 yds to the SYR 42
Will Nixon run for 2 yds to the SYR 44
Rickie Collins run for 3 yds to the SYR 47 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass complete to Dan Villari for 7 yds to the PITT 46
(07:47) No Huddle-Shotgun Willis,Yasin rush middle for 1 yard gain to the PITT45 (Lindsey,Cameron) PENALTY SYRA Holding 10 yards from PITT46 to SYRA44. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 5 yds to the SYR 49
Rickie Collins run for 3 yds to the PITT 48
Jack Stonehouse punt for 43 yds
Desmond Reid run for 19 yds to the PITT 24 for a 1ST down Pittsburgh Penalty, Personal Foul (Desmond Reid) to the PITT 12 for a 1ST down
Mason Heintschel sacked by David Reese for a loss of 3 yards to the PITT 9
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Jake Overman for 10 yds to the PITT 19 for a 1ST down
Desmond Reid run for no gain to the PITT 19
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Jake Overman for 5 yds to the PITT 24
PENALTY PITT False Start 5 yards from PITT24 to PITT19. NO PLAY.
Pittsburgh Penalty, Offensive Holding (Yards) declined
Caleb Junko punt for 49 yds
(02:36) No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass incomplete deep right to Cook II,Johntay thrown to PITT40 PENALTY PITT Personal Foul 15 yards from SYRA37 to PITT48, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 2 yards to the 50 yard line
Rickie Collins pass intercepted Cruce Brookins return for 19 yds to the PITT 39
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 5 yds Pittsburgh Penalty, Offensive Holding (Desmond Reid) to the PITT 34
Pittsburgh Penalty, Personal Foul (-15 Yards) to the PITT 30
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 4 yds to the PITT 34
(00:53) No Huddle-Shotgun Heintschel,Mason pass complete short right to Thomas,Malachi caught at PITT36, for 2 yards to the PITT36 (Tremble,Jamie) PENALTY PITT Holding 10 yards from PITT34 to PITT24. NO PLAY.
Mason Heintschel run for 11 yds to the PITT 35
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Kenny Johnson
Caleb Junko punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 20
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Dan Villari
Rickie Collins pass complete to Will Nixon for 3 yds to the SYR 23
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Dan Villari
Jack Stonehouse punt for 43 yds , Kenny Johnson returns for 66 yds for a TD (Trey Butkowski KICK)
End of 2nd Quarter
Sam Carpenter kickoff for 59 yds , Tylik Hill return for 38 yds to the SYR 44
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for a loss of 1 yard to the PITT 24
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Kenny Johnson for 24 yds to the PITT 48 for a 1ST down
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 9 yds to the SYR 41 for a 1ST down
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Malachi Thomas for 20 yds to the SYR 21 for a 1ST down
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 1 yd to the SYR 20
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Kenny Johnson
Mason Heintschel sacked by Kevin Jobity Jr. for a loss of 4 yards to the SYR 24
Trey Butkowski 42 yd FG GOOD
Sam Carpenter kickoff for 59 yds , Tylik Hill return for 16 yds to the SYR 22
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 1 yard to the SYR 21
Luke Carney run for 6 yds to the SYR 27
Will Nixon run for 3 yds to the SYR 30
Jack Stonehouse punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Kenny Johnson at the PITT 28
Juelz Goff run for 1 yd to the PITT 29
Mason Heintschel run for 3 yds to the PITT 32
Mason Heintschel sacked by Kevin Jobity Jr. for a loss of 6 yards to the PITT 26
Caleb Junko punt for 60 yds , Davien Kerr returns for 6 yds to the SYR 20
Luke Carney pass complete to Darrell Gill Jr. for 5 yds to the SYR 25
Luke Carney run for 1 yd to the SYR 26
Luke Carney pass complete to Will Nixon for 5 yds to the SYR 31 for a 1ST down
Will Nixon run for no gain to the SYR 31
Luke Carney run for 2 yds to the SYR 33
Luke Carney pass incomplete
Jack Stonehouse punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Kenny Johnson at the PITT 20
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for a loss of 1 yard to the PITT 19
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Ja'Kyrian Turner
Mason Heintschel sacked by Jamie Tremble for a loss of 2 yards to the PITT 17
Caleb Junko punt for 36 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the SYR 47
Yasin Willis run for 3 yds to the 50 yard line
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 2 yards to the SYR 48
Rickie Collins sacked by Nick Lapi for a loss of 12 yards to the SYR 36
Jack Stonehouse punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Kenny Johnson at the PITT 17
Desmond Reid run for 13 yds to the PITT 30 for a 1ST down
(00:04) No Huddle-Shotgun Heintschel,Mason pass incomplete deep left to Hicks,Cataurus thrown to SYRA45 PENALTY SYRA Offside 5 yards from PITT30 to PITT35. NO PLAY.
Juelz Goff run for 7 yds to the PITT 42 for a 1ST down
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Raphael Williams Jr.
Juelz Goff run for a loss of 2 yards to the PITT 40
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Deuce Spann for 2 yds to the PITT 42
Caleb Junko punt for 49 yds, fair catch by Davien Kerr at the SYR 9
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 9 yds to the SYR 18
Yasin Willis run for 5 yds to the SYR 23 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Rickie Collins run for 17 yds to the SYR 40 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass intercepted Kavir Bains-Marquez return for 57 yds to the SYR 18
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 4 yds to the SYR 14
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Cataurus Hicks
Mason Heintschel pass incomplete to Raphael Williams Jr.
Trey Butkowski 32 yd FG GOOD
Sam Carpenter kickoff for 59 yds , Tylik Hill return for 29 yds to the SYR 35
Rickie Collins pass complete to Dan Villari for 9 yds to the SYR 44
Syracuse Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the SYR 39
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Syracuse Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the SYR 29
Rickie Collins run for 13 yds to the SYR 37
Pittsburgh Penalty, Defensive Offside (Desmond Reid) declined
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 26 yds to the PITT 37 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins run for 24 yds to the PITT 13 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for 4 yds to the PITT 9
Yasin Willis run for 6 yds to the PITT 3 for a 1ST down
Yasin Willis run for a loss of 1 yard to the PITT 4
(06:47) No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass incomplete short left to Ross-Simmons,Justus thrown to PITT00 PENALTY PITT Pass Interference 2 yards from PITT04 to PITT02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
(06:41) No Huddle-Shotgun Willis,Yasin rush left for 2 yards loss to the PITT04 (Ibrahim,Abe) PENALTY SYRA Holding 10 yards from PITT02 to PITT12. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass complete to Emanuel Ross for 12 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Yasin Willis
(06:13) No Huddle-Shotgun Collins,Rickie pass incomplete deep right to Ross,Emanuel thrown to PITT35 PENALTY PITT Offside 5 yards from SYRA45 to SYRA50. NO PLAY.
PENALTY SYRA False Start 5 yards from SYRA50 to SYRA45. NO PLAY.
Syracuse Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the SYR 40
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
PENALTY SYRA False Start 5 yards from SYRA40 to SYRA35. NO PLAY.
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Jaylan Hornsby
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Jaylan Hornsby
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for no gain to the SYR 35
Kenny Johnson run for 9 yds to the SYR 26
Mason Heintschel run for 2 yds to the SYR 24 for a 1ST down Syracuse Penalty, Personal Foul (12 Yards) to the SYR 12 for a 1ST down
PENALTY PITT Illegal Use Of Hands 10 yards from SYRA12 to SYRA22. NO PLAY.
PENALTY PITT Personal Foul 15 yards from SYRA22 to SYRA37. NO PLAY.
Ja'Kyrian Turner run for 1 yd to the SYR 36
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Kenny Johnson for 17 yds to the SYR 19
Mason Heintschel pass complete to Raphael Williams Jr. for 15 yds to the SYR 4
Juelz Goff run for 2 yds to the SYR 2 for a 1ST down
Juelz Goff run for 1 yd to the SYR 1
Juelz Goff run for no gain to the SYR 1
Juelz Goff run for 1 yd for a TD (Trey Butkowski KICK)
Rickie Collins pass complete to Johntay Cook for 10 yds to the SYR 35 for a 1ST down
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Darrell Gill Jr.
Rickie Collins sacked by Isaiah Neal for a loss of 11 yards to the SYR 24
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Jaylan Hornsby
Rickie Collins pass incomplete to Emanuel Ross
M. Heintschel takes a knee
M. Heintschel takes a knee