If you walked into Acrisure Stadium on September 21, 2024, you probably expected a football game. What you actually saw was a 60-minute offensive explosion that looked more like a video game set to "Rookie" mode. The final tally of Youngstown St vs Pittsburgh was a staggering 73-17. Honestly, it was the kind of score that makes you double-check the TV screen.
But if you just look at the 73 points, you're missing the soul of this matchup.
This isn't just a random FBS vs. FCS blowout. It's a game rooted in a 70-mile stretch of highway and a coach, Pat Narduzzi, whose family tree is basically planted in the Youngstown turf. His dad, Bill Narduzzi, won 74 games as the head man for the Penguins. Pat was a ball boy there. He played there. When Youngstown State comes to town, it’s not just an opponent; it’s a homecoming that usually results in a fistfight.
Before 2024, the Penguins were Pitt's nightmare. They won in 2012. They took the Panthers to overtime in 2017. They were the scrappy neighbor that refused to leave the porch.
Then Eli Holstein happened.
Why the 2024 Matchup Was Different
Usually, when these two play, Pitt is sleepwalking. Not this time. The Panthers were 3-0 and smelling their first 4-0 start since the year 2000. They didn't just want to win; they wanted to erase the ghost of 2012.
Eli Holstein, the redshirt freshman transfer from Alabama, looked like he was playing a different sport. He completed 16 of 24 passes. He accounted for five touchdowns—three through the air and two on the ground. By the time the first quarter ended, Pitt led 21-0. It was efficient. It was brutal. It was over before the nacho cheese at the concession stands even got warm.
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The Statistical Carnage
- Total Yards: Pitt churned out 644 yards. That is the fifth-most in the history of the program.
- The Quarterback Run: Holstein ran for 93 yards. That’s the most by a Pitt QB since Chad Voytik back in 2014.
- Rapid Fire: At one point in the second quarter, Pitt scored 42 points in a span of less than ten minutes of game clock.
- The Long Bomb: Censere Lee caught an 82-yard touchdown pass that basically sucked the remaining air out of the Penguins' sideline.
Youngstown State didn't just roll over, though. Beau Brungard is a tough kid. He threw for a career-high 233 yards. Cyrus Traugh was a bright spot, snagging two touchdowns and proving that the Penguins have athletes who can play at the Power 4 level. But when you’re facing a Pitt team that scores on its first six possessions, "bright spots" feel like a flashlight in a hurricane.
Youngstown St vs Pittsburgh: The 2012 Upset That Still Haunts Fans
You can't talk about Youngstown St vs Pittsburgh without talking about the 2012 season opener. Ask any Pitt fan over the age of 30 about that game, and they’ll probably start twitching.
Paul Chryst was making his debut as the Pitt head coach. The Panthers were heavy favorites. But the Penguins, led by Kurt Hess, didn't care about the spread. They walked into Heinz Field and physically beat the Panthers 31-17.
It was a disaster. Pitt had six players suspended right before kickoff. The vibes were terrible. Youngstown State outgained them, won the time of possession, and forced two turnovers. It remains the only time an FCS team has ever beaten the Panthers.
That 2012 game changed the way Pitt approaches this "regional" game. It's why Pat Narduzzi was so focused in 2024. He knows that in the Mahoning Valley, football is a religion, and those players come to Pittsburgh with a massive chip on their shoulders.
Why the Penguins Usually Keep it Close
Youngstown State isn't your average FCS cupcake. They are a powerhouse in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Think of it this way:
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- The Coaching Ties: Many YSU coaches have worked at Pitt or vice-versa. There are no secrets.
- Recruiting: These schools often fight for the same three-star recruits in Western PA and Northeast Ohio.
- Physicality: YSU plays a "ground and pound" style that usually limits the number of possessions. In 2024, they actually won the time of possession battle (37 minutes to Pitt's 22), but they just couldn't stop the big play.
The Narduzzi Factor
Pat Narduzzi’s connection to Youngstown is deep. Like, "video of him as a third-grade ball boy" deep. He calls Youngstown home.
When he took the Pitt job in 2015, his first game was against—you guessed it—Youngstown State. Pitt won that one 45-37, but it was way too close for comfort. Then came 2017, a 28-21 overtime nail-biter where Pitt nearly choked away a lead.
Narduzzi uses these games to remind his players about "Youngstown tough." It's a blue-collar identity. In 2024, he finally got his team to play with that same edge, but with superior talent. The 73 points weren't just about the scoreboard; they were about a coach finally asserting dominance over his own history.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
Most national media outlets see Youngstown St vs Pittsburgh and assume it's a "buy game"—a game where a big school pays a small school to come get beat up.
Kinda. But not really.
For the Penguins, this is their Super Bowl. It’s a chance for a kid from a small town to show he belongs on the same field as the ACC stars. For Pitt, it's a dangerous trap. If you win by 20, nobody cares. If you struggle, the fans start calling for your head.
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In 2024, Pitt flipped the script. They treated it like a conference game. They used it to solidify their identity as a high-speed, vertical offense. It was the game that proved Eli Holstein wasn't just a "good for a freshman" quarterback; he was a "good for any level" quarterback.
The Fallout for Youngstown State
Losing by 56 points is miserable. There's no way around it. Doug Phillips, the YSU coach, had to find a way to keep his locker room together after that.
But honestly? Playing a team like Pitt helps a team like YSU prepare for the gauntlet of the MVFC. They saw speed in the 2024 game that they won't see again the rest of the year. When they go up against teams like North Dakota State or South Dakota State, they’ll be better for having chased Censere Lee and Raphael Williams Jr. around the field for four quarters.
Key Takeaways and What to Watch For
The history of Youngstown St vs Pittsburgh tells us that the 2024 blowout might be an outlier. Usually, these games are gritty, low-scoring affairs or late-game heart attacks.
If you're following these two programs, keep an eye on these factors:
- The "Valley" Pipelines: Look at how many players from the Youngstown area end up on the Pitt roster. Narduzzi will always recruit that area hard.
- The Quarterback Trajectory: Eli Holstein’s performance in this specific game served as his "arrival" moment. It proved Pitt's offense had moved into the 21st century.
- Scheduling Trends: Don't expect these two to stop playing. The proximity and the history make it too valuable for both schools, even if the scores get lopsided.
If you're a betting person or a die-hard fan, never assume the point spread matters when the Penguins cross the state line. 2012 proved that anything can happen. 2024 proved that when Pitt is actually focused, the gap between the Power 4 and the FCS is still a massive canyon.
To really understand the impact of these games, keep a close eye on the Pitt recruiting classes over the next two years. You'll see several players from the Youngstown area choosing the Panthers specifically because of the visibility this matchup provides. Additionally, watch the development of the Penguins' secondary; after facing an elite passing attack like Pitt's, their performance in conference play will be a direct reflection of how they've adjusted to high-level competition.