Pittsburgh "true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel is 140th in the nation with a 34.3 passing grade under pressure," according to Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus. Chadwick also said, "The Hurricanes have the only defensive line in America that has 90-plus grades in pass rushing and in run defense this year."
Pittsburgh is 127th nationally, allowing 3.27 sacks per game. Dalton Wasserman of PFF reported that Heintschel has the 12th highest average time to throw nationally on his podcast with Chadwick, previewing the Miami game. Miami only allows opposing QBs about 2.5 seconds to throw per Wasserman.
Miami is 19th nationally, averaging 2.73 sacks per game. Pressuring the QB has been a huge formula for Miami winning in 2025. Miami is averaging 3.0 sacks per game in wins and 1.5 in losses. The Hurricanes have thrived against teams with losing records, averaging 4.0 sacks per game.
Miami averages 1.8 sacks per game in 2025 against teams with losing records. Pittsburgh is 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the ACC entering the game on Saturday versus Miami. Heintschel improved in the 42-28 win over Georgia Tech last week, averaging 2.84 seconds to throw. Heintschel might need longer than 2.84 seconds against Miami.
How Louisville and Pittsburgh beat Miami
Louisville and SMU utilized quick throws to defeat Miami. Quarterback Miller Moss had 2.32 seconds to throw for Louisville in the Cardinals' 24-21 win over Miami, per PFF via David Lake of Inside the U. Moss completed 23 passes in 37 attempts for 248 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against Miami.
Miami had three QB hurries and one sack on Moss against Louisville. Head coach Jeff Brohm called nearly a perfect game for Louisville. Brohm gave SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, a former Miami offensive coordinator, the perfect blueprint of how to beat the Miami pass rush.
Jennings completed 29 passes in 44 attempts for a career high 365 yards with one TD and no interceptions versus Miami. Miami had 6.0 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, 2.0 sacks and two QB hurries against SMU. Two Miami pass breakups from its defensive line, two from its linebackers and four from the secondary. versus SMU.
Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is going to have to devise a way to counter Pittsburgh if Heintschel is releasing his passes quickly. Jennings is the only QB to throw for over 300 yards against Miami in 2025. South Florida had 272 passing yards and Florida State 272. How Miami defends Heintschel will have a huge outcome versus Pittsburgh.