ISRAEL ABANIKANDA

Pittsburgh got off to as fast a start as a defense can at Virginia.

PITTSBURGH — (AP) — Israel Abanikanda ran for 320 yards to break Tony Dorsett's Pittsburgh record and scored six touchdowns in the Panthers' 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Abanikanda scored his fourth touchdown on the Panthers’ next drive, capping a seven-play, 56-yard series, putting Pitt in front, 31-16. William Ross kicked an 18-yard field goal, giving Virginia Tech a 9-7 lead. Only once in those eight meetings has Pitt scored fewer than 31 points against Virginia Tech. Pitt: Pitt is off next week.

Israel Abanikanda ran for 320 yards to break Tony Dorsett’s Pittsburgh record and scored six touchdowns in the Panthers’ 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

MJ Devonshire returned a tipped pass 56 yards for a touchdown with 2:58 remaining and No. 17 Pittsburgh beat West Virginia 38-31 on Thursday night in the return of the Backyard Brawl.

Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions for a touchdown to help the No. 17 Panthers beat No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 in Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.