Pitt is set to enter the AP Top 25 on Sunday. However, the Panthers are going to be without their starting QB for the rest of the season.
According to ESPN, Heintschel suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the second half of the Panthers’ 35-33 win over Virginia Tech on Friday night. Heintschel was injured when he slid towards the sideline and was hit at the same time. He immediately grabbed his knee and was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the locker room.
Heintschel later returned to the sideline in street clothes with the assistance of crutches. He was replaced by former Auburn and Texas State quarterback Holden Geriner. The 26 passes Geriner has thrown so far in 2026 are more than he’ had thrown in the first four years of his college career combined.
Heintschel was 10-of-18 passing for 113 yards and a TD before he injured his knee. His season ends as he’s 98-of-148 passing for 1,304 yards and 14 TDs with just one interception through five games.
He set the ACC record for TD passes in a game with seven in Pitt’s season-opening win over Miami (Ohio). While that number was an ACC record, it simply tied a school record. Pete Gonzalez threw for seven TDs in 1997 when Pitt was a member of the Big East.
Pitt beat Virginia Tech as Hokies’ kicker John Love narrowly missed a game-winning field goal as time expired. Love’s kick appeared to either go over or just past wide of the left upright. The ball has to be entirely through the uprights to be considered a make.
The win pushed Pitt to 5-0 and dropped Virginia Tech to 4-1. The Panthers have games against North Carolina and Boston College before heading to No. 4 Miami on Oct. 24.