Realizing this is stating the obvious, I wanted to look at what his stats looked like only in games he finished (SMU and YSU count). 250 YPG, and looking at 26 TDs across a full season. It finished so poorly that it's easy to forget how great it started. 300 yards passing in every game except YSU because he was both pulled and we rushed for 295 yards. Until the Cal game, he had 3 TD passes in each of the first five games.
He should be able to give us a chance in every game. I see Duq, CMU as locks. BC and NCSU are likely wins. But other than ND, I don't really see a game that we don't at least have a shot of...and that's only because they are getting $25MM from the playoff which is going to load up their NIL. Wish we had GT/STanford/Cuse at home.
Why he'll start: The Alabama transfer put together Pitt's best season by a freshman quarterback since Alex Van Pelt in 1989. He matched Van Pelt's 17 touchdown passes while completing 62% of his passes for 2,228 yards. Holstein also provided a true dual threat for coordinator Kade Bell's offense with 328 rushing yards, which ranked second on the team, and three touchdowns. He's coming off a late-season leg injury and will need to be monitored in the spring, but when healthy, he gives Pitt a real spark.
Competition: Freshman Julian Dugger finally saw the field in the GameAbove Sports Bowl and provided a spark with two passing touchdowns to complement 88 rushing yards and a score. After the strong debut, he could be good insurance behind Holstein in 2025.
He should be able to give us a chance in every game. I see Duq, CMU as locks. BC and NCSU are likely wins. But other than ND, I don't really see a game that we don't at least have a shot of...and that's only because they are getting $25MM from the playoff which is going to load up their NIL. Wish we had GT/STanford/Cuse at home.
Pittsburgh Panthers
2025 starter: Eli Holstein, redshirt sophomoreWhy he'll start: The Alabama transfer put together Pitt's best season by a freshman quarterback since Alex Van Pelt in 1989. He matched Van Pelt's 17 touchdown passes while completing 62% of his passes for 2,228 yards. Holstein also provided a true dual threat for coordinator Kade Bell's offense with 328 rushing yards, which ranked second on the team, and three touchdowns. He's coming off a late-season leg injury and will need to be monitored in the spring, but when healthy, he gives Pitt a real spark.
Competition: Freshman Julian Dugger finally saw the field in the GameAbove Sports Bowl and provided a spark with two passing touchdowns to complement 88 rushing yards and a score. After the strong debut, he could be good insurance behind Holstein in 2025.
