Open Thread will be tossed up a little closer to game time. 7:30 on Root Sports if you want the early reminder.

The glow from the good news of Jordan Whitehead’s verbal is still there, but it is giving way to the reality of this game.

Starting with the bad news, the O-line is going to be down another starter for the game. Left Tackle Adam Bisnowaty has been suspended for the game for violation of team rules. It is a one game suspension, and no other information as to the why is being given.

Jarryd Jones-Smith will be starting in his place. Jones-Smith has seen a good amount of playing time this year at that position. He has been rotated in there with Bisnowaty moved to guard and Dorian Johnson coming out of the game.

Still, this terrifying as Virginia loves. Repeat, loves to blitz under  blitz-master DC Jon Tenuta.

Voytik said the Cavaliers don’t try to fool the other team; they merely employ their athleticism to great effect (19 sacks, 18 turnovers).

Defensive end Eli Harold (5 1?2 sacks), middle linebacker Henry Coley (five) and outside linebacker Max Valles (4 1?2) have been the targets this week of detailed film study by Pitt players and coaches.

Not only does Virginia rush the passer furiously, but it stops the run better than most teams, allowing an average of only 86.6 yards per game (second in the ACC).

“They have done a tremendous job of forcing (teams) into those (passing) situations and then eating them up,” Rudolph said.

I can’t understand why Pitt should be worried. Hopefully if Pitt is passing it means seeing a little more Adonis Jennings at WR to help provide another option other than Tyler Boyd.

It isn’t like Pitt isn’t aware of the defense, and isn’t trying to find ways to combat it.

It also helps that one of the few newcomers on the Virginia defense is freshman safety Quin Blanding, a former five-star recruit who has started every game. He leads the team in tackles and has one interception.

To combat that aggressive nature, Voytik said the offense has worked on plenty of short, quick passes this week designed to get out of Voytik’s hand before the defenders have time to get to him.

As for the secret behind the Cavaliers’ defensive success, coach Mike London said it really isn’t a secret at all — just talented players that are comfortable playing in an aggressive system.

In the second year of defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s blitz-happy scheme, Virginia defenders know where they’re supposed to be and when.

The quick short passes seem like a good idea, but it means Pitt has to execute them. In the blocking schemes and Voytik has to put the ball in the right place quickly. I’m not as down on Voytik as some, but my concern is his fear of throwing the ball in the middle of the field. He is trying to be so risk-averse, and afraid of letting his passes sail — creating an easy interception when going over the middle — that he looks almost exclusively to the sidelines. If you want a reason why the TEs have been so underutilized this season, I suspect that is a pretty big reason. Or at least it is my pet theory that I won’t let go.

Pitt is trying to avoid a 3-game losing streak.

Fortunes change quickly when you can’t score more than 20 points two weeks in a row while your defenders find themselves out of position far too often.

On Saturday night, Pitt (3-2, 1-0) gets a chance to fix some of its problems when it visits Virginia (3-2, 1-0) in a battle of ACC Coastal Division co-leaders (along with Georgia Tech).

“We need this one,” quarterback Chad Voytik said.

Pitt’s hopes hinge on normal football-type issues — running the ball, protecting the quarterback and the defense getting off the field on third down — but there is the matter of whether the Panthers are equipped to reverse their fifth two-game losing streak under coach Paul Chryst.

“It’s how you respond,” Chryst said.

That is a question. We were expecting an “angry” or “focused” response to the Iowa loss. Instead, there was lethargy and no intensity. So, now what? How do they come out to start this game? How do they respond if Virginia punches the team right in the mouth early? What if Virginia surges late?

There are no more non-con games. There’s no more claiming that the games aren’t as damaging to aspirations within the ACC.

As for Virginia, there is an attitude that this could be a big deal.

However, the atmosphere at Scott could reach fever pitch if fans show up to see if Virginia can improve to 2-0 in ACC play and 4-2 overall, only two games shy of bowl eligibility.

Embattled UVa coach Mike London is literally fighting for his job. Three losing seasons in four years, including a 2-10 stinker last year, has put him on the hot seat. Yet, should his Wahoos win tonight, London and his staff could find themselves in good shape.

Should the Cavaliers win (they are a five-point favorite), they will enjoy a well-timed bye week, giving them two weeks to prepare for reigning Coastal champion Duke on the road. That’s important because UVa has lost five of the last six to the Blue Devils and have struggled to stop offensive guru David Cutcliffe’s offense.

Hey, look past Pitt a little. Please?

They shouldn’t, and not even because of last year’s meeting. Fun fact for Virginia, they haven’t won a game in October since 2011. They were favored in 4 of the 7 games over the past two years and couldn’t do it. That includes losses to Ball State and Wake Forest. Doubt the players really think about the particular month, but if Pitt can get out to some sort of lead, the fans in Charlottesville might create a very different vibe.