PITTSBURGH — Miami opened its 2026 season with a difficult measuring stick Saturday afternoon.
Pittsburgh scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, built a 21-point first-quarter lead and pulled away in the second half for a 59-14 victory over the RedHawks at Acrisure Stadium.
The Panthers piled up 646 yards of offense — including 480 through the air — while Miami finished with 289 total yards. Pittsburgh sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel was at the center of the onslaught, throwing for 453 yards and seven touchdowns.
Miami coach Chuck Martin gave the Panthers credit for the dominant performance but made it clear the RedHawks didn’t play anywhere near the level he expects.
“I know we’re better than this. They’re really good,” Martin said. “Pitt imposed their will on us, so I’m giving 1,000 percent credit to Pitt. But I know we’re better than we played today.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got a long, long season … we’ve got to take a giant step in the right direction next week and then keep improving. Because we’re a ways away, as we showed today.”
There were some positives for Miami despite the lopsided result, particularly from a pair of young players making their college debuts. There were also several areas that will demand immediate attention as the RedHawks move forward.
Here are five takeaways from Miami’s season-opening loss:
1. David McComb settled in after a rough introduction
David McComb’s first quarter looked like what might be expected from a redshirt freshman making his first college start on the road against an ACC opponent.
Miami went three-and-out on each of its first three possessions and managed just 15 yards in the opening quarter while Pittsburgh raced to a 21-0 lead.
But McComb didn’t unravel.
Instead, the Kansas transfer gradually settled into the game and helped Miami put together its best stretch in the second quarter. The RedHawks scored twice, including McComb’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Damarion Witten that pulled Miami within 28-14 with 4:44 remaining before halftime.
McComb finished 16 of 33 for 240 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in his first college appearance.
“He was calm. He was competitive. He gave us a chance,” Martin said of McComb. “Started off really slow as a team in the first quarter, and then he bounced back. That was the biggest thing for me at this stage. I know he has ability. I know he’s smart. I know he’s a good kid. [I’ve] just never seen him in a hostile environment. I thought he handled it — all day long — well. Zero excuses.”
That was perhaps the most important evaluation Miami could take away from McComb’s debut.
McComb faced an immediate 21-point deficit, a pass rush that knew Miami needed to throw and the pressure of making his first college appearance in an NFL stadium. Despite all of that, he continued competing and eventually showed some of the playmaking ability Miami saw throughout camp.
“Overall, very pleased with his makeup and demeanor,” Martin said. “And he showed he could make some plays.”
There were certainly freshman moments, and completing fewer than half of his passes leaves plenty to improve. But McComb didn’t compound Miami’s problems with turnovers, and his demeanor didn’t appear to change as Pittsburgh took control.
For a player who hadn’t appeared in a college game before Saturday, that’s something Miami can build on.
2. Scoop Smith looks ready for a role immediately
It didn’t take long for freshman Scoop Smith to show that his size isn’t going to prevent him from making an impact at the college level.
The 5-foot-5, 150-pound Pittsburgh native and Woodland Hills graduate opened his college career by providing Miami with one of its biggest sparks of the afternoon. Smith broke loose for a 55-yard kickoff return to give the RedHawks excellent field position on their opening possession.
Smith wasn’t limited to special teams, either. He caught three passes for 50 yards, including a 30-yard reception, and finished as Miami’s second-leading receiver in his college debut.
“(That’s) what we see from him every day (and) what we saw from him in high school,” Martin said. “Don’t judge somebody by their size … we’re excited to have him..”
Smith was Pennsylvania’s player of the year in 2024 and 2025 at Woodland Hills and owns the school’s career records for receptions and receiving yards. He caught 57 passes and scored 23 touchdowns during his senior season.
His ability in the return game could be especially valuable for Miami this season. Smith nearly broke another return before going down in the open field.
“He would have scored on the last one,” Martin said. “I don’t know if he cramped up in the middle of the play. He went down. He was in the open.”
In a game where there weren’t many positives for the RedHawks, special teams provided one, and Smith was at the center of it.
“Our kick return unit was … by far the best unit we had all day,” Martin said.
3. Miami’s third-down defense has to get better
This might be the biggest defensive concern coming out of Pittsburgh.
Miami couldn’t get off the field early, and it allowed Pittsburgh’s offense to establish complete control of the game.
The Panthers converted all four of their third-down opportunities during their first three possessions while building a 21-0 lead.
One play in particular summarized the problem.
Facing third-and-11 on its opening possession, Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel escaped pressure, extended the play and found Censere Lee for 31 yards. Two plays later, Heintschel hit Malik Knight for the game’s first touchdown.
Miami entered the game knowing Heintschel could extend plays. The RedHawks still couldn’t consistently finish them.
The RedHawks gave up 646 total yards and 8.6 yards per play. Those are numbers Miami can’t allow to become a trend once MAC play arrives.
4. Was Miami too conservative on its opening possession?
Miami couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the game.
Smith’s 55-yard kickoff return immediately gave the RedHawks good field position and an opportunity to put pressure on Pittsburgh before its offense ever touched the ball.
Instead, Miami’s drive stalled and the RedHawks punted on fourth-and-5 at the Pittsburgh 39 yard line.
Considering everything that followed, it’s fair to wonder whether Miami should have been more aggressive.
Going for fourth-and-5 would have carried risk. Failing would have handed Pittsburgh favorable field position. But converting would have extended a drive that began with momentum and potentially allowed McComb to settle into his first start before Pittsburgh took control.
Instead, Miami punted. Pitt drove for a touchdown, and the RedHawks never again played with the score tied.
5. Mason Heintschel shredded Miami from beginning to end
There isn’t much nuance required here.
Heintschel was sensational.
The Pittsburgh sophomore completed 31 of 41 passes for a career-high 453 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. His seven touchdown passes tied the Pittsburgh single-game record set by Pete Gonzalez against Rutgers in 1997.
Even more remarkable — all seven scores went to different receivers.
Miami couldn’t solve him underneath, couldn’t consistently pressure him into mistakes and couldn’t prevent explosive plays downfield. Five Pittsburgh receivers finished with at least 50 yards, and four of Heintschel’s touchdown passes covered at least 25 yards.
The RedHawks were still within striking distance at halftime, trailing 31-14. Heintschel made sure that didn’t last.
He threw touchdown passes of 53, 35 and 27 yards on Pittsburgh’s first three possessions of the third quarter. His 15-yard touchdown to Damon Ferguson Jr. in the fourth tied the school record and completed the rout.
It’s worth putting 453 yards into perspective. Miami allowed only two 300-yard passing performances all of last season, and neither approached what Heintschel produced Saturday.
There will be plenty for Miami’s defense to correct on film, particularly in coverage and on third down.
Heintschel didn’t merely take advantage of Miami’s mistakes.
He produced one of the best quarterback performances a Miami defense has faced in quite some time — and one of the best in Pittsburgh history.
