PITTSBURGH -- Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi walks across the field to get a closer look at his quarterbacks. On this open date practice the week before the Notre Dame game, the Panthers are not in full pads, but they are playing tempo offense like always.

He points out Mason Heintschel .

"Look at the urgency he has when he drops back," Narduzzi said.

Every pass is delivered on time and on target, thrown with the authority of a veteran.

But Heintschel is far from a veteran. He is an 18-year-old true freshman with five career college starts. Heintschel also happens to be 5-0 and perhaps the player who will have the most influence on where Pitt's season goes.

No. 22 Pitt is 7-2 and has a chance to put a hammer to the College Football Playoff chances of their final three regular-season op

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