TJ Chapman
Editor
When the No. 22 Pitt Panthers (7-2, 5-2) take on the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2) on Saturday, the Panthers will have All-American RB Desmond Reid back to full health.
Reid has been fighting through injuries all season, but according to head coach Pat Narduzzi, Reid is ready to play.
“He’s as healthy as he’s been,” Narduzzi said while speaking with the media on Thursday. “You know, he wasn’t healthy going in, even to Florida State, to be honest with you. He’s practiced more this week than he has.”
A healthy Reid is just what the doctor ordered for Pitt. The Panthers are going to need Reid’s all-purpose abilities if they’re going to keep Notre Dame’s defense at bay.
When healthy, Reid is one of the premier RBs in the country. In 2024, Reid was an All-American All-Purpose player, finishing the season with 1,700 total yards and 10 total TDs.
The more popular matchup in this game is the stout Notre Dame run offense against Pitt’s tough run defense. However, the more impactful matchup will be Pitt’s potent pass attack against the Irish pass defense.
The good news for true freshman QB Mason Heintschel and the Pitt offense is that Notre Dame is currently No. 88 in the FBS in pass defense. The Irish surrender 232.3 passing yards per game, giving Reid plenty of opportunities to do some damage.
Reid will be matched up with LBs Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa for the majority of the game. The duo struggled early in the season but has been Notre Dame’s primary coverage LBs. They have tightened up their coverage recently, but covering Reid will be a challenge.
Pitt is currently 10th in the FBS in passing offense, gaining an astounding 302.6 yards per game. Getting Reid to have a game against the Irish similar to what he did against Florida State will go a long way toward a Pitt victory. Reid had 8 catches for 155 yards and 2 TDs against the Seminoles.
Using the bye this past week was key in getting Reid back to full health. Reid’s breakaway speed will cause fits for the Irish LBs and secondary. And when the Irish drop the LBs and DBs for coverage, Reid will make them pay with a big run.
Saturday will be a chance for Reid and the Panthers to springboard themselves into the national spotlight. A noon kickoff on ABC, with ESPN’s College GameDay and the ACC Network’s ACC Huddle on site, means a lot of eyeballs will be watching. And that is when Reid will shine the brightest.
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