PITTSBURGH - No wild, second-half comebacks needed. No overtime razzle dazzle necessary. This time, Connecticut came out, punched Pitt in the mouth early and made sure there would be no repeat of last year's frantic double-overtime victory.
And the Huskies, who needed an official's call to go their way last week to escape with a win over lowly Temple, didn't resort to anything Pitt hasn't seen before. As usual, they just spread the field.
Connecticut knows Pitt's history against the spread is less than stellar. As a result, the Panthers' record against the Huskies is getting downright embarrassing.
For the third time in four meetings, Connecticut proved Pitt isn't ready to contend in the Big East Conference, let alone at the national level. Neither of Connecticut's previous two wins, however, were as thorough as Saturday night's 34-14 thrashing at Heinz Field. And none of Wannstedt's 14 losses at Pitt was as humbling.
"Everybody, and that's starting with me, needs to be accountable for this," Wannstedt said. "We have some guys that have a lot of talent. We're trying to use that talent to the best of our ability."
Hard to tell that from Saturday's performance.
How bad were things for Pitt (2-2, 0-1)? Well, the Panthers drew a delay-of-game penalty while attempting an onside kick.
And when the basketball team has a better record against Connecticut in recent years than the football team, it's no wonder fans pelted Pitt with a chorus of jeers throughout the contest.
Benching quarterback Kevan Smith, who hyperextended his right elbow, for Pat Bostick didn't work. Both threw interceptions that led to Connecticut touchdowns. Smith's first-quarter interception was returned by Huskies linebacker Danny Lansanah to the Pitt six. It led to a one-yard touchdown run for Lou Allen and a 7-0 lead Connecticut (4-0, 1-0) never relinquished.
All told, Pitt committed six turnovers: four interceptions and two fumbles.
"You can't win when you have turnovers, make penalties and give up sacks," offensive lineman Mike McGlynn said. "We all have to get better. I have to get better."
The "Wildcat" offensive formation, which puts either LeSean McCoy or LaRod Stephens-Howling behind center and moves the quarterback to receiver mostly proved ineffective. It did produce one touchdown, when McCoy completed an 18-yard pass to tight end Nate Byham and covered the remaining 44 yards of the drive on the ground. His 19-yard touchdown run put Pitt behind 10-7.
The Panthers seemed to have some serious momentum. A touchdown and a three-and-out got the crowd into the game, but some predictable offensive calls, an inability to get McCoy involved and soft defense quickly erased any opportunity for Pitt.
Connecticut scored on its final three drives of the second quarter to build a 27-7 lead.
Bostick started the second half and he'll start Saturday at Virginia, but he did little to ignite the offense.
The heralded freshman threw three interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown.
It's been a season-long slump for Pitt's offense. Through three quarters against Connecticut, the Panthers made six first downs but they did convert a third-down attempt for the first time in 23 tries. That amazing streak of ineptitude stretches back to the second half of the Grambling State game.
"That's horrible, horrible, horrible," Wannstedt said. "We can't win that way. You should be 40 or 50 percent. I think we were 0-for-21 before we converted one."
The defense wasn't much better.
Huskies quarterback Tyler Lorenzen looked like Pat White the way he ran through the Panthers. Take away sacks and Lorenzen had 50 yards rushing, most coming on third-and-longs that he turned into first downs. He also threw for 174 yards.
"Two scrambles killed us on third-and-long situations," Wannstedt said.
The numbers weren't staggering - Pitt actually outgained the Huskies, 349-289 - but Connecticut's offensive effectiveness was impressive. Then again, any time an opponent uses the spread against Pitt, it works.
"I can't understand it," Wannstedt said. "We're playing hard and banging around. We're going to face it every week and face a lot more athletic guys."