When you’re down three or four running backs, you need all the help you can get, and fortunately for Utah they could turn to a familiar name. After the BYU game, Utah running back Joe Williams hung them up, citing the physical and mental exhaustion from the game. Four weeks later, and three running back down, Utah has their original starting running back returning as Joe returned to practice today for the Utes.

Jon La Follette (former Block U contributor and current ESPN 700 producer) tweeted out that Joe is day by day, but could play on Saturday. He also stated that the team/coaches reached out to Joe first, after consulting with the team, and that he’s back for the full season and the team has his full support. (Check out Jon’s Twitter timeline for more twitter.com/espn700jon)

What does this mean? First, it means that Utah is getting some much needed running back depth, but their are some questions that come along with Joe’s return. Does he have the passion and energy to return? I’m guessing so, or else why return? Can he fix his ball security issues? Williams has fumbled in all but one game that he’s started (4 of 5). Also, how in shape is he? Being a month out, he can’t be too bad, but it’ll be interesting to see. Lastly, where would he fall in the depth chart? Of course, that will depend on Zack Moss and Troy McCormick’s health. Moss is probable for this game against OSU and McCormick (per Jon from Dennis Erickson) isn’t far behind.

There’s no doubt that he’s a very talented running back, and shouldered a great load last year when Devontae Booker went down, the hope for Utah fans and coaches are if he can recapture that talent. Williams told our Alex this fall that he wanted to be a 1500 yard back, and I believe he has that kind of ability (of course not in 6 games).

If Joe can come back to the team and be a contributor, and help this team win the Pac-12 South, this would make for a great redemption story. Joe’s a great young man, and I’m hoping he comes back how we all expected him to at the beginning of the season.

What are your thoughts on Joe’s return?

It’s not just football—this is a huge week for many Badger teams.

Holy Manitowoc, ladies and gentlemen, we have a perfect storm.

Two (!!) No. 1 Wisconsin teams. A top-10 clash at Camp Randall Stadium. A 2015 Frozen Four finalist visiting the Kohl Center. Wisconsin sports fans, we have an embarrassment of riches this week; let’s fire up the hype train.

Ranked teams galore come to Madison this week, with huge implications for programs across the Badger sports spectrum. To give you a sense of scale, this week is to Wisconsin athletics as UFC 200 was supposed to be for MMA. For you musical theatre lovers, it’s Hamilton in rep with Les Misérables, Wicked and Avenue Q. From Wednesday through Sunday, the women and men of Wisconsin face Big Ten rivals in critical regular-season games. Mostly at home. Nearly all already sold out.

Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for National Archives Foundation

93% of you have no idea who this is.

Crank it up to 11. This is the biggest, most important Wisconsin regular-season week Madison has ever seen.

Let’s break it down. Sousaphone roll, please…

UW Athletic Department Communications

Wednesday, 8 p.m. at the Field House: Volleyball vs. No. 3 Minnesota (SOLD OUT; watch on BTN)

On Monday, the Badgers were named American Volleyball Coaches Association No. 1 for the first time in program history. This thoroughly entertaining and talented team has been steamrolling through the competition this year, knocking off a host of ranked teams this year including current No. 4 Texas, No. 5 San Diego, No. 17 Hawaii and No. 19 Ohio State.

All signs pointed to a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown when the Gophers were voted No. 1 in last week’s poll, but an upset at Penn State last Wednesday dropped Minnesota down to No. 3. Despite the loss, this match has huge postseason implications.

The Gophers, 2015 Big Ten champions and a Final Four team last year, are loaded. Coached by 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year Hugh McCutcheon, they are led by senior middle blocker Hannah Tapp (2015 AVCA First Team All-American). Senior outside hitter Sarah Wilhite (two-time Big Ten Player of the Week this season), setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson (AVCA Second-Team All-American and last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year) and freshman outside hitter Alexis Hart (three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week in 2016) are all big contributors to a Minnesota team with aspirations for a national championship.

The Border Battle starts a punishing stretch of Big Ten play for the Badgers, as matches at No. 18 Michigan, at No. 2 Nebraska (themselves the consensus No. 1 for most of the year) and home against No. 10 Penn State loom over the next few weeks. It’s important to kick this tough stretch off with a bang.

Bottom line: This may be the biggest home match in program history and critical for a team with its eyes on a title.

Thursday: Rest, hydrate, study, sleep. You’ll need it.

Friday, 2 p.m.: No. 1 women’s hockey at No. 7 Clarkson (stream on Clarkson TV)

This one’s on the road and in the afternoon, so you’ll have to stream while you are gearing up for the rest of the weekend’s action. The No. 1 Badgers are WCHA and title favorites backed by stonewall senior goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens, who just set a Wisconsin record for shutouts and who might be the best Badger goaltender the women’s side has ever seen.

No. 7 Clarkson looks to be down a touch from last year’s Frozen Four team, but is still the real deal and only two years removed from a national title.

In some ways, I’m glad this series is on the road (and early enough to get the lowdown without using multiple screens). If this game was at LaBahn Arena, I suspect that Madison would collapse into an infinitely dense singularity of sports from which nothing would ever escape.

Bottom Line: Yet another top-10 game with a No. 1 Badger team, just in time to get into the weekend. Stream it, baby.

Friday, 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center: Men’s hockey vs. No. 6 Boston College (Inexplicably tickets available; watch on FS Wisconsin)

For the first time in the Tony Granato era, a ranked team skates in the Kohl Center as Boston College (No. 6 USCHO, No. 9 USA Today Coaches Poll) pays a visit. The Eagles, a Frozen Four participant in the 2015-16 season’s Wisconsin-hosted tournament in Tampa, come to town with big expectations and picked to finish first in Hockey East this year.

Back before the basketball team was being hosed out of national championships (ah, god, it still hurts so much), the hockey team was the biggest indoor ticket in town. With the boys Granato and Osiecki leading five four NHL draft picks, including two first-rounders, this team is poised for a comeback year. This weekend is going to be a huge early test.

If you have not attended a UW hockey game and you are within 350 miles of Madison on Friday, do yourself a favor and hit the Kohl Center. Hockey live is amazing, and this young and talented Badgers team should be an entertaining watch. In years past, this would be a no-brainer Friday-night event. With Uncle Tony calling the shots for Kunin, Besse, Hughes, et. al, I suspect this one’s going to be fun.

Bottom Line: There’s a top-10 opponent at the Kohl Center. ‘nough said.

Saturday, 2 p.m.: No. 1 women’s hockey at No. 7 Clarkson (stream on Clarkson TV)

Clarkson we talked about already above. A tough early-season test for the Badgers (and women’s college hockey has already had a weird few weeks).

Saturday, 6 p.m.: No. 1 volleyball at No. 18 Michigan (Watch on BTN Plus; listen at The Mic 92.1)

For the volleyball team, Michigan is tough (the Big Ten is just hard across the board with nine teams in the AVCA Top 25), particularly following an emotional home matchup with the Gophers earlier in the week. Led by 2015 second-team AVCA All-American Abby Cole, this is a dangerous squad in a hostile environment.

Bottom Line: Your tailgating playlist is set for the weekend with both Nos. 1 conveniently stacked back-to-back leading up to the big game. Why listen to the same tired pre-game chatter when you can listen to top-ranked Badger teams making runs at a title?

Saturday, 7 p.m. at Camp Randall: No. 8 football vs. No. 2 Ohio State (SOLD OUT; Watch on ABC)

A ranked Badgers team vs. a highly-ranked Ohio State team under the lights at Camp Randall. Yeah, I remember this. Much ink will be spilled this week previewing this matchup, so I’ll save the space… but this is going to be crazy.

Oh, and the boys and gals from College Gameday will be camped out on Bascom Hill as well.

Bottom Line: Be safe, drink Wisconsibly and pace yourself. It’s a long day until kick-off.

Sunday, 3 p.m. at the Kohl Center: men’s hockey vs. No. 6 Boston College (Seriously?!? Tickets available; Watch on ESPNU)

Sleep in. Have a nice brunch. Savor the past few days. Maybe take a nap and then get up and head on down to cap off the week in style.

Bottom Line: Seriously, there’s nothing like the Kohl Center when Badger hockey is rocking. This is a team returning to national relevance—be there on the ground floor.

So there it is: seven games in five days. All with huge implications. All potentially season-changing. I am exhausted just writing about it. This is an epic time to be a Badger fan—take full advantage and enjoy this most amazing, epic week.

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Kelly met with the media on Tuesday to answer questions about this week’s upcoming game against Stanford.

This seems like a common theme with Kelly in every Tuesday presser. Almost every week he saying they need to coach better. Maybe it’s the players who just aren’t getting it, but moreover maybe it is the actual coaching isn’t up to par. At the moment this is an all around poorly coached team.

It’d be one thing if Notre Dame was 2-4 and looked like a well coached team, but they aren’t. They are getting out-coached in almost every game. They are a bad 2-4. Stanford and Michigan State are both 2-3, but at least you can say that they are a well coached team. It’s hard to say that with the Irish.

Again Kelly pointing to the coaching not being up to snuff. On one hand fans want Kelly and the coaching staff to shoulder the blame for Notre Dame’s poor play, but at the same time it is kind of disheartening to hear the seventh year head coach say they aren’t coaching well enough. The Irish program is an a very tough spot at the moment.

A few weeks ago Kelly said that he would be a little more animated on the sidelines. When he said that we thought we would be seeing more of the purple-in-the-face Kelly, but we really haven’t. I’d have to agree that Kelly hasn’t crossed any lines lately. Of course he gets in the faces of his players at times, but what coach doesn’t do that from time to time?

I didn’t get to watch the press conference today like I usually do, so I didn’t see how this question came up. I wonder why this question was even asked. Where would they even move Zaire to? Defensive back? No, you’d rather have your younger guys get experience. Wide receiver? No, you’re already loaded at that position. Zaire got dealt an unfortunate hand last year, but he clearly does not have a spot on this football team at the moment.

This stat doesn’t bode well for a Notre Dame win on Saturday. It’s hard to think Stanford will drop a third straight game, I mean they haven’t done it in quite some time.

Other News and Notes

• Kelly said that he’s been working with the defensive backs more than any other position group. He loves the group eagerness and willingness to learn and be coached.
• Kelly said he’s doing everything to create a winning identity for this year’s team, as well as ‘17, ‘18 and ‘19.
• Kelly kept preaching that the offensive line will get better from week to week.
• Kelly denied that he had blamed players for losses in the past. He said the blame falls on everyone in the program.
• Stanford All-American running back, Christian McCaffrey, will most likely be a game time decision for Saturday’s game.

More depth up front for the ‘Noles.

Florida State’s top-ten 2017 recruiting class added its first offensive lineman on Tuesday evening, gaining the verbal commitment of tackle Brady Scott of Kennesaw, Georgia’s Mount Paran Christian School. Scott earned a scholarship offer from the ‘Noles after attending Jimbo Fisher Camp earlier this year in July, and he also visited for the Seminoles’ game against North Carolina.

Scott is currently a three-star composite prospect, but he has an impressive 6-6 frame that is currently carrying just 260 pounds. That’s small, but then again, Florida State will be able to add the kind of weight it wants within collegiate nutrition and strength programs.

Presently considered the country’s 96th best OT, Scott also had football offers from Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Western Kentucky, and Appalachian State. He was previously a baseball commitment to South Carolina.

This story was first reported by Chris Nee of Noles 247.

The ‘Horns head coach doesn’t have much margin for error going forward

If Charlie Strong’s seat were any hotter, his future as the Texas Longhorns head coach would completely melt away, much to the delight of those hopeful of Houston’s Tom Herman’s services. But despite Strong’s ‘Horns having dropped their last three after the 2-0 start, the third-year head coach still has time to save his job in Austin, but his margin for error is at an all-time low and the wins need to start coming in bulk.

Strong may be face-to-face with his final seven games as Texas’ head coach, but he can alter the current narrative and earn himself another season depending on how he closes the season.

Of the seven remaining games, which ones are must-wins for Strong and his Longhorns?

Iowa State Cyclones (1-5) – Home

Must win

Texas has seen its share of losing streaks under Strong, but the program is yet to lose four in a row since his arrival. Strong can’t find himself on the wrong side of history once again on Saturday and drop a fourth consecutive game, or the previous report that Texas wouldn’t fire Strong mid-season may no longer be valid.

To make matters worse, a loss to a 1-5 team—one that embarrassed Texas 23-0 in Ames last season—is one many within the program wouldn’t take lightly, even if Strong weren’t on the hot seat.

There’s still hope for Strong to save his job in Austin and his ‘Horns will finally be back at home after the miserable 0-3 stretch away from Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. Strong needs to win nearly every game remaining at Texas and that begins with Iowa State on Saturday.

Kansas State Wildcats (3-2) – Away

Must win

Manhattan, Kansas is always a tough place to steal a win, and that will become an even taller task for Texas with Kansas State owning the Big 12’s top defense.

But Strong has to find a way to escape victorious.

Considering Strong’s current job security, losing to Kansas State and dropping his fourth game in five outings would be nearly as damning to his future in Austin as simply losing to Iowa State on Saturday. And at some point, sooner rather than later, Strong has to prove his team can win on the road and he’ll need to do just that against Kansas State to continue icing his hot seat.

No. 11 Baylor Bears (5-0) – Home

Must win

There was a point in time when then-No. 10 Notre Dame looked to be a defining victory for Strong at Texas, but the Fighting Irish are now 2-4 this season and the ‘Horns victory loses value with each Irish loss. That staple win over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown fell just out of Texas’ grasp and when the Bears come to Austin at the end of October, they’ll almost surely be 6-0 and ranked within the top 10 in the country.

Here’s Strong’s chance to earn his statement victory over a rival in front of the home fans at DKR.

West Virginia could potentially drop three of its four meetings before heading to Austin and TCU hasn’t looked like its usual self this season, so beating a likely top 10 Baylor team in Austin could ultimately become a deciding factor for Strong’s future.

Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-2) – Away

Can lose, but must remain competitive

Regardless of the two remaining ranked games on Texas’ schedule the season and the daunting road meeting with Kansas State, it seems likely that Texas Tech in Lubbock will be the ‘Horns toughest remaining matchup. It doesn’t help that Texas will be on the road, where it has struggled this season, but the Red Raiders boast the nation’s No. 2 total offense (3,249 yards) and the No. 1 passing offense (2,720 yards).

That doesn’t bode well for a Texas secondary in shambles at the moment, and even with significant strides in the right direction, it seems likely that the Longhorns will need to survive a road shootout to win. Until Strong’s group can prove capable of doing just that away from Austin, it’s hard to believe they’ll reach such heights against one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks.

If Strong can afford one more loss, Texas’ November 5 meeting with Texas Tech is seemingly the most understandable.

No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers (4-0) – Home

Must win

If Texas is able to steal a win on the road against Texas Tech, the narrative around the ‘Horns meeting with West Virginia may change a bit, but for various reasons, this one looks to be a must-win for Strong. If the Longhorns can meet West Virginia riding high on a four-game win streak, and if the Mountaineers can continue their winning ways and be 7-0 and hovering around the top 10, Strong could possibly afford a loss here.

But as noted, there’s a few factors that make Texas winning here a near necessity.

For Strong, considering the final two regular season games will be against Kansas and a less-than-stellar TCU squad, he’ll need all the momentum he can gain to conclude the season and a win over a likely-ranked West Virginia team would help to that end. If Texas has another loss prior to this meeting, dropping one at home and reaching five losses on the season is in all likelihood one-too-many defeats to keep his job next season. Additionally, if Texas can manage to be 6-3 with four connective victories by this point, adding another statement victory to his resume before a nearly-given victory over Kansas and the season finale against TCU would seemingly have the majority back on his side.

Kansas Jayhawks (1-4) – Away

Must win

This one couldn’t be any clearer—Texas quite simply can’t lose to Kansas if Strong is to remain the head coach next season. If you think people are loudly calling for change now, a loss to Kansas for the first time since the Big 12 was formed and for the first time since 1938 would spur deafening discussions.

In all likelihood, Kansas will own a 1-9 record when Texas comes to Lawrence. Not only can the Strong’s ‘Horns not afford to lose to the Jayhawks, but anything less than a complete blowout would do more harm than good for the third-year coach, regardless of if Texas entered this game undefeated after the Red River Showdown.

TCU Horned Frogs (4-2) – Home

Must win

If Strong has any hopes of returning to Texas as the head coach in 2017, losing what could potentially be his last game at DKR would be the nail in his burnt orange coffin—he has to end the season on a positive note.

As is, nearly every one of his seven remaining games this season is a must-win and if Texas’ decision makers last evaluation opportunity is a loss, that won’t bode well for Strong with many eyes already turned towards Herman. And by this point, Strong will have been operating as the defensive play-caller for eight games and an offense led by a true freshman quarterback will have an entire season of experience under Sterlin Gilbert beneath its belt. Point being, in what will likely be Strong’s final opportunity to prove he’s the man for the job, at least for another season—a potential bowl game excluded—an offensive onslaught and the defense not getting torched like it has of late would go a long way to assuring folks are on Strong’s side entering the offseason.

Even if Texas won out prior to the TCU game, Strong needs to do everything he can to keep eyes on him and not wandering towards the looming Herman sweepstakes.

What better way to show the widely-craved progress than flipping the script on a TCU team that’s dominated Strong’s Longhorns the past two seasons, scoring 98 points to Texas’ 17?

Stanford may be without the greatest player in college football this Saturday.

Stanford may be without its best player against Notre Dame this Saturday. “[Christian McCaffrey]’s pretty beaten up,” David Shaw said, indicating that a decision may not be made until Friday, or possibly not even until game time.

Christian McCaffrey was taken out in the 3rd quarter against Washington State. He jogged off the field to the locker room with a team physician, and later returned to the sideline to complete agility drills. He did not, however, return to the field for the remainder of the game.

Prior to the injury, Christian McCaffrey held the longest streak in the country with at least 100 all-purpose yards. After getting pulled out of the game, his streak was broken at 19 games.

The Wolverines were in control from start to finish, led by the electric Jabrill Peppers.

The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines absolutely crushed the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in New Jersey, wining 78-0 and moving to 3-0 in Big Ten play.

Michigan’s first couple possessions were sloppy at best. With the rain coming down, the offense struggled to a pair of punts and a De’Veon Smith fumble to lead off the game. However, Rutgers was finding success just as difficult to come by, as the Michigan defense forced a trio of three-and-outs.

The Wolverine offense was finally jump-started by, guess who, Jabrill Peppers. Coming from a Wildcat formation, Peppers burst down the sideline for a 63-yard gain. On the very next play, Ty Issac took a pitch from four yards out into the end zone for the game’s first score. A Kenny Allen extra point made it 7-0 Michigan with 7:44 to go in the first.

On the next Rutgers punt, Peppers made an electric 47-yard return for a touchdown that was negated by a block in the back. Michigan ended up scoring anyway, as Wilton Speight threw a perfectly placed ball in the end zone that fell into the outstretched arms of Jehu Chesson. The 30-yard connection helped Michigan go up 14-0 with 4:27 left in the first.

The first quarter ended with a Rutgers’ fumble recovered by Bryan Mone. Quarterback Zach Allen had enough for the Scarlet Knights’ first first down of the game, but instead the turnover gave Michigan the ball at the 7-yard line. Rutgers ended the quarter with -1 total yards, compared to Michigan’s 138.

Though his punt return did not count, Peppers found his way onto the score sheet, coming out of the Wildcat again. The New Jersey product’s juke and scamper five seconds into the second quarter gave Michigan a 21-0 advantage.

The next Michigan possession saw Chris Evans take a handoff and streak 44 yards down the field. Multiple spins and broken tackles left Evans just inches short of the goal line, and Khalid Hill punched it in for his sixth touchdown of the year. A fake on the extra point by holder Garrett Moores put Michigan ahead 29-0 with 11:57 left in the second.

Though Speight struggled with some accuracy early on, he threw a great deep ball to Amara Darboh for 48 yards down to the Rutgers 8-yard line the next time Michigan at the ball. On fourth down Hill found the end zone again, and with 7:18 left, Michigan was up 36-0.

For the fourth-straight possession, Michigan quickly drove down the field to score. Again it was Peppers playing out of the Wildcat, scoring from four yards out. The scoreboard showed 43-0 Michigan with 2:10 remaining in the second quarter.

The stats were not pretty at halftime. Michigan had 309 total yards; Rutgers had six on the air and zero on the ground. The Scarlet Knights completed a total of one pass and went 0-for-10 on third downs. It was an absolute domination through 30 minutes.

John O’Korn came out under center to start the second half. He hit Hill on a short pass for an 11-yard touchdown — Hill’s third of the day — to give Michigan a 50-0 lead five minutes into the third quarter.

Shane Morris was the third quarterback to take the field in the game (excluding Peppers, of course). A 57-yard run by Evans put him over 150 yards on the day, and Karan Higdon’s rush from 15 yards out made it 57-0 Wolverines with 8:17 to go in the third.

Meanwhile, the Michigan defensive line continued to be in complete control, racking up the sacks, quarterback hurries, and tackles for loss. Rutgers was unable to sustain any sort of drive and entered the fourth quarter still without any first downs. They sat at 16 total yards through 45 minutes.

Bobby Henderson got his first carry of the season and took it for a touchdown, diving in from 13 yards out. With 12:45 left in the game, the score stood 64-0 Michigan. Three minutes later, Higdon took a handoff on a third down and sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown virtually untouched, making the score 71-0.

51 minutes into the game, Rutgers got their first first down of the game. Three plays later, they punted.

Isaac added another touchdown on a 34-yard run with 3:46 remaining in the game. Michigan went ahead an astounding 78-0.

When it was all said and done, six different Wolverines found the end zone. Michigan outgained Rutgers 600 yards to 39, and the Scarlet Knights earned just one first down and finished 0-for-17 on third down conversion attempts.

This looked more like 2015 Syracuse than 2016 Syracuse

What was that?

To be sure, we assumed the high-powered Syracuse offense would be tamped down thanks to inclimate weather. But even when the Orange emerged in the second half to dry skies, the offense refused to reemerge with it. Instead, we watched a 2016 Syracuse Orange football team rely on it’s defense to keep them it the game while the offense absolutely sputtered in a 28-9 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The Orange had every opportunity to win this game, thanks not only to their defense but also multiple Wake miscues. The Deacs botched their first punt of the night, leading to a safety that easily could have been an SU touchdown. Wake also coughed up a fumble and interception but the Orange were unable to convert either into points.

Instead, it was an evening in which SU relied on the running game with predictable results. Dontae Strickland led the way with 74 yards on 13 carries but Eric Dungey ended up doing the most scampering. 18 carries for 13 yards with a long of 27, if that’s any indication of how his night went.

Eric Dungey had what might of been his worst game as SU’s quarterback. Dungey looked lost at times and it might have been because his favorite target was mostly unavailable all night. The sophomore quarterback ended up with a pedestrian line of 13-for-22 for 153 yards and an interception. Amba Etta-Tawo’s streak of 100-yard games ends at five as he ends up with 36 yards on four catches. Steve Ishmael led the way with five receptions for 56 yards.

It’s hard to fault the Syracuse defense for once. They held the Deacons to 14 points for most of the game, surrendering the third touchdown with four minutes left in the game. The fourth touchdown, a fumble recovery, wasn’t their fault. They bent and bent but rarely broke. This one is not on them.

More to come on this but this was a much more frustrating loss than I expected. I thought that SU might lose because the weather limited the impact of the Orange offense. But for half of the game, there was no impediment except for the one they created for themselves.

Before coming back for a 37-34 Homecoming win against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Pitt got off to a great start offensively. Their first drive was capped by a trick play that went for a touchdown by offensive lineman Brian O’Neill.

O’Neill isn’t new to catching passes since he was formerly a tight end. But obviously, it was a shock to just about everyone to see him get the ball. He found out early in the week that they’d be calling his number and he wasn’t expecting to hear that.

“They told me about it Tuesday morning and I was kind of surprised, kind of caught off-guard,” O’Neill said. “The O-line had a big joke that we weren’t going to run it.”

Head coach Pat Narduzzi completely believed Georgia Tech would be caught off guard by his tackle running out for a catch. In fact, the coach expected O’Neill to score.

“He [Coach Narduzzi] told me before the game that, ‘if we get down there, anywhere between the 20- or 25-yard line on the left hash, we’re running it,” O’Neill added, recounting the words of his coach. “Be ready. Don’t do anything stupid when you score a touchdown, because you’re going to score a touchdown.'”

Despite Narduzzi’s confidence in the play, O’Neill talked about being surprised at being so wide open. His immediate thoughts after he caught the ball?

“Don’t fumble.”

O’Neill’s play call there from coordinator Matt Canada was just another great trick play we’ve seen this year. The Pitt offense has had some problems but is incredibly exciting to watch and, as O’Neill’s play demonstrated, you never know what they’ll run.

Be sure to join Cardiac Hill’s Facebook page and follow us on Twitter@PittPantherBlog for our regular updates on Pitt athletics. Follow the author and founder/editor @AnsonWhaley.