Stanford Cardinal wide receiver CJ Williams (3) falls into the end zone while the Pitt Panthers cornerback Rashad Battle (15) and defensive back Kavir Bains-Marquez (23) couldn’t put the stop on Williams. It was one of two touchdowns for Williams at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)
By Michael Roberson
STANFORD, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (3-6, 2-4 ACC) discontinued their perfect home record, with a 35-20 defeat to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foe Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 5-1) on a sunny Saturday afternoon battle in Palo Alto.
The Cardinal started the game with possession of the ball. That turned out to be not as advantageous as originally anticipated. Their drive lasted a little over two minutes, before turning the ball over on downs. A fourth down attempt was denied in their own territory (35).
The Panthers wasted no time with that early gift. They parlayed that into a touchdown in less than two minutes. Freshman QB Mason Heintschel tossed a 17-yard TD pass to junior WR Kenny Johnson. The Quaker State visitors took the lead by seven, 7-0. The Cardinal needed something to happen on their second drive.
Stanford did respond with a scoring drive of their own shortly thereafter. Senior kicker Emmett Kenney booted a 39-yard FG. That conversion brought the home team within four, 7-3. They would unexpectedly receive the ball back to the offensive side.
Pitt’s possession ended abruptly when they fumbled and turned over the ball 2 1/2 minutes into their drive. Instead of increasing their advantage, they gave Stanford the opportunity to take over the lead.
The Cardinal did just that, with hopes of keeping their undefeated streak at home alive and Coach Reich’s interim season. In less than a minute upon snatching the ball from their guest from the Keystone State, redshirt-senior QB Ben Gulbranson launched a 35-yard TD pass to senior WR C.J. Williams. Stanford was on top by three, 10-7. Although there was nearly 6 1/2 minutes left in the quarter, that lead lasted to the end of the first quarter.
Four seconds into the second quarter, Pitt’s sophomore WR Deuce Spann scampered into the endzone from four yards away. The Panthers regained the lead by four, 14-10. They had the ball back in their collective hands less than a minute later, due to a Gulbranson interception. Pittsburgh did not capitalize on that particular turnover.
Just under 10 minutes left in the half, Gulbranson threw another INT to their feline opponents, Nearly eight minutes later, Pitt was on the scoreboard again. Heintschel lofted a five-yard TD to redshirt-senior WR Raphael “Poppi” Williams Jr. to increase their margin to 11, 21-10. That almost was the score at recess, but something else transpired.
Kenney came through at the whistle, with triple zeroes on the scoreboard, he booted a 45-yard FG. At halftime, Stanford closed the deficit to eight, 21-13.
With a one possession lead, Pittsburgh was starting the second half with the ball on their side. Unfortunately for them, their time with the pigskin was short lived. Although, later in the stanza, the Panthers did add more points to their total.
Heintsghel dished a 14-yard TD strike to senior TE Jake Overman, to put the ungrateful guests up by two scores, 28-13. They were not finished with the scoring opportunities; however, the next points addition was provided by the defense.
Freshman cornerback Shawn Lee Jr. orchestrated a 30-yard pick-6 on Gulbranson, giving them a three score advantage, and seemingly total control of the game, 35-13.
About five minutes later, Pitt was on the verge of blowing the game completely wide open, with the ball on the goal line. To the contrary, Heintschel inexplicably threw an ill-advised interception in the endzone, to Cardinal sophomore cornerback Brandon Nicholson. Instead of a touchdown for the Panther, it was a touchback for Stanford.
Gulbranson was replaced by his backup redshirt-freshman Elijah Brown, presumably after throwing three interceptions in three quarters. 35-13 was also the score after 45 minutes of game time.
Less than 10 minutes left in the final quadrant, Deja Vu happened for both teams when the combination of Heintschel and Nicholson in the end zone reoccurred. Another chance to debark the Cardinal thwarted. Nearly six minutes later, the Panthers let another scoring opportunity slip through their claws, when they fumbled near Stanford’s goal line. 21 potential points left on the field, despite the already 22 points advantage.
The Cardinal showed their pride inside Stanford Stadium, with :18 left in the game, Brown hit senior WR C.J. Brown for a 19-yard TD strike and a little salvation. Instead of being down by 43, they were within 15 by the completion of 60 minutes, 35-20.
The Cardinal will next be in action Saturday, November 11 in Chapel Hill, as they face the North Carolina Tar Heels at 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM PT on The CW Network. The Panthers will be back in Pittsburgh November 16 hosting Notre Dame at TBD.
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