PITTSBURGH — No. 19 Pitt continued its historic undefeated start with a statement 41-13 win in primetime Thursday night over the Syracuse Orange that pushed the Panthers to 7-0.

The 7-0 record matches Pitt’s best start to a season since 1982. The last time Pitt began a season with eight-straight wins came the year prior in 1981 when the Panthers went 11-1 and claimed a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia 24-20.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX 🔵🟡#HailToPitt pic.twitter.com/oowl4KljCH

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 25, 2024

With a win over the Orange, Pitt improves to 3-0 in ACC. It’s the best start in conference play since 2021 when the Panthers won their first three games before falling to Miami. That season, Pitt would claim its first ACC title over Wake Forest.

The 28-point differential is the most against a Power Four opponent since Pitt beat Miami 42-16 to close out the 2022 regular season.

Pitt has now won 11-straight against Syracuse in Pittsburgh.

Pitt’s defense thrived in the Panthers win on Thursday with five interceptions against one of the top quarterbacks in the country entering the game in Kyle McCord. Pitt scored 31 points off of turnovers.

The three pick-sixes are the most in a half since 2005 when FIU had three against FAU. The five interceptions by Pitt are the most in a game since Dec. 6, 2008 in a 34-10 victory against UConn.

Three of those five interceptions were returned for touchdowns with Rasheem Biles igniting the defense with a 35-yard pick-six on the fourth play for Syracuse.

On the ensuing drive, linebacker Brandon George grabbed a gift-wrapped interception by holding it off the ground. While Pitt was settled for a field goal on offense, the defense stepped up yet again with Kyle Louis grabbing his third interception of the season and taking it to the house to make it 17-0.

The Pitt defense was not done as a third linebacker in Braylan Lovelace grabbed a deflected pass and rumbled to the end zone late in the second quarter for a 33-yard score. Safety P.J. O’Brien would add the Panthers’ fifth interception in the third quarter.

As the defense shined, Pitt’s offense added a pair of passing touchdown as quarterback Eli Holstein hit Censere Lee for a 20-yard touchdown connection in the second quarter. Holstein then found Raphael Williams in the middle of the end zone for a 29-yard score in the third to make it 38-6 Pitt.

With a dominating win against an Orange team that was 5-1 entering the matchup, Pitt will certainly jump in the AP Top 25 Poll on Sunday.

Pitt will receive a few extra days of preparation before traveling for an all-important ACC clash in Dallas, Texas against No. 22 SMU.