It is not an exaggeration to say Pitt is about to embark on a three-game stretch that will define its season.
The Panthers host Virginia Tech later Thursday in a crucial Coastal Division matchup, then travel to play at Miami and at Clemson. It's a three-game gauntlet that rivals one the Panthers went through at the start of the season against Penn State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.
Beating the rival Nittany Lions was a milestone victory.