ACC Football Power Rankings 2017: Week 2 edition

The Pittsburgh Panthers take a hit in this week’s rankings after struggling with an FCS squad. The Panthers won their game against the Youngstown State Penguins, but they blew a 21-0 halftime lead before pulling out a 28-21 victory in overtime.

Graduate transfer quarterback Max Browne played decent enough, although he did have a fumble in the game. He was 17-for-24 for 140 passing yards and a touchdown. The Panthers’ running attack was decent enough as well. Running back Qadree Ollison had 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Quadree Henderson had nine carries for 77 rushing yards.

It was a missed field goal off of a 66-yard punt return by Jazzee Stocker that was the turning point in the game. Alex Kessman missed a 28-yard field goal and the tides changed after that.

Browne fumbled the ball after Youngstown State made it 21-14. Then kicker Alex Kessman missed another field goal, this time for 28 yards, as time expired in regulation with the score tied at 21-21.

It was an interception by redshirt freshman safety Bricen Garner in overtime that saved the game for the Pittsburgh Panthers defense. It was their only turnover forced of the game. The defense gave up 418 yards of offense to the Penguins, 311 of those yards passing.

It could be a long Saturday when the Panthers travel to face fourth-ranked Penn State this week. The Nittany Lions made easy work of the Akron Zips in Week One with an impressive showing from quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley.