Pitt’s defensive line spent the first half of the season building a reputation.

For all the questions around depth at defensive end, for all the rotating pieces and patched-together alignments, the Panthers were one of the nation’s toughest teams to run on.

Through their first stretch of games, Pitt ranked among the country’s best, holding opponents to 80.9 rushing yards per game and just 2.4 yards per carry. It was production good enough to anchor an identity while the offense worked through its inconsistencies.

And then Notre Dame happened.

The 175 rushing yards, the 4.9 yards per carry, the explosive 56-yard Jeremiyah Love touchdown created by a spin move that left Kavir Bains-Marquez reaching — all of it hit the defensive line in a way the players didn’t hide from this week. The wo

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