In the simplest terms, for Pitt to win the offense has to produce like it did against Duke and the defense has to perform along the lines of what it did against Virginia. Ever game so far has been a test. Has had importance in a different way. This is the latest and feels like the most important — in no small part because it is the next game.

It would be Pitt’s biggest win since, well, last year against Virginia Tech. But a quality road win? We probably have to back to South Bend and four overtimes in 2008. Even then, ND wasn’t ranked. To find a road win against a ranked team? There’s that win over USF in 2008 when the Bulls were actually believed to be a top-10 team.

Now, there haven’t been a lot of chances to beat ranked road teams in the Big East the last few years (okay, there haven’t been any), but that bleeping ND game last year still pisses me off. Iowa a couple years ago. Utah before that. Road games that Pitt didn’t get. That were there for them.

This isn’t about showing how Pitt belongs in the ACC. This isn’t about firmly lodging Pitt in the psyche of Tech fans. Those are just perks. This is about getting a big win. About doing more than show potential and possibilities.