Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Some thoughts on this game:

The Bad -

1.  I don't usually mention officiating, but that had to have been the worst officiating I have ever seen.  Two targeting hits in a row?  No call, no review.  Kick catch interference on a perfectly executed tackle.  Choking of PSU's QB -- no call.  Pitt players executing punches to the face and to the back of the head -- no call.  Stepping on an injured player while he is down on the ground? No call.  Some of the most blatant holding I have ever seen -- not a single holding call during the entire game.  I'm not even scratching the surface.  Man do I miss Big 10 refs.

2.  YGM was held without a sack.  Or a tackle for loss.  Or a TACKLE?  WTF?  I know Pitt's O-Line was holding on nearly every play, but that is completely nuts.  He's supposed to be Penn State's best player on defense.

3.  Sean Clifford was rattled.  His deep ball has been money all season.  Pitt brought pressure early and managed to hit Clifford often.  He completely lost the feel for the deep ball.  Without the fear of being burned deep, Pitt just edged up the pressure. 

4.  The offensive line in the first half was really bad.  Like back when Penn State only had 2 scholarship lineman bad.  They improved in the second half, but it was far from good.

5.  Third and long - For the 3rd game in a row, teams continuously convert on third and long, or even fourth and long.  Third and short?  They get stuffed.  Third and long?  Automatic first down.  Although the Penn State defense was good, they need to get the other team off the field!

6.  The sheer number of substitutions seems to be preventing the Penn State offense from getting any kind of rhythm.  

The Good

1.  Penn State's run defense was fantastic.  Pitt averaged less than 1 yard per rush.  First and goal at the one?  Pitt was afraid to run the ball.  Narduzzi made a puzzling choice by trying for the FG on the one yard line, but I honestly don't think he thought Pitt could score from the 1.

2.  Penn State's linebackers were all over the field, and they were amazing.

3.  Penn State special teams continue to be amazing.  I don't think Stout has had a single kickoff returned all year, and he's booted two 50+ yard field goals, including a school record 57 yarder.  Penn State hasn't missed a field goal all year.  Penn State's punter continues to pin opposing teams deep, as well. 

4.  I like Penn State's running backs.  They may be the strength of the offense.  I just wish they'd stop rotating 4 guys.

5.  A win is a win.  I'm glad that Penn State has a bye week before they play Maryland.  There is a lot to improve.

I thought I heard the TV guys say that the on-field officials were from the Big Ten and the replay guys were from the ACC.
Or maybe I'm remembering that backward.
Either way, B1G officials were part of the process.

You had it reversed.  The on field guys were ACC.

On a side note, Buffalo also lost to Liberty pretty big.  Eeesh.  PSU needs to get it together on this bye week.

Pitt obviously needs a dual threat QB for all that running

No matter the motivation, running your QB like that between snaps is dumb.

So regarding all this signal stealing I just heard Holly Rowe on ESPNU who covered this game.  She said the entire game Pitt’s QB was running to the sideline to get the play and then running back and calling the play in the huddle.  Far hash, goal line, every situation.  There were times he was running 30 yards to get the play and then 30 yards back to call it.

She asked Narduzzi about it at halftime and he said they didn’t want PSU stealing their signs.  She felt it really affected Pitt’s offense.

No for some reason the OC and pickett do that and have been all season. It doesn't really affect them, Pickett played well. Pickett says he likes doing it too. what affected the pitt offense was the total lack of run blocking.