Avoiding a catastrophic letdown might be the best takeaway from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s narrow 19-14 victory over the Pitt Panthers on Saturday. The teeth-rattling win wasn’t assured until the final moments, with Notre Dame not even taking their first lead until there was just under six minutes left in the contest.
Coming off two emotional wins and entering the game as three-touchdown favorites, the fears of looking past the Panthers began to take shape early in the second half. That was when Notre Dame trailed 14-6 and just after Ian Book had thrown his second interception of the game.