We don't have direct access to Pitt's game plan or call sheet from Saturday's 45-24 win against Football Championship Series foe Rhode Island, but it read something like this:
Israel Abanikanda, blue No. 2, Izzy, and RB1.
It was the four-touchdown performance by the No. 24 Panthers' starting running back that vaulted them to victory, despite speculation of the potential for taking some of the load off of his shoulders after a 31-carry game at Western Michigan and back-to-back 100-yard performances.
Pat Narduzzi told us earlier this week that he wasn't going to consider lightening Abanikanda's workload, and he stuck to his guns.