Starting QBs questionable for No. 18 Pitt-No. 20 SMU showdown

The status of both starting quarterbacks is the top storyline heading into Saturday’s Top 25 matchup between No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU in Dallas.Coach Pat Narduzzi said the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 ACC) are taking a “wait-and-see” approach when it comes to Eli Holstein. Similarly, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said Kevin Jennings is questionable for the Mustangs (7-1, 4-0).Holstein sustained an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter of Pitt’s 41-13 victory over Syracuse last week.Narduzzi reiterated that he does not discuss injuries publicly during his news conference.If Holstein is unavailable, Pitt’s backup is Nate Yarnell. Yarnell has seen action in three games this season, going 17-of-26 passing for 171 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Holstein, meanwhile, has thrown for 1,808 yards with 17 TDs and five interceptions in seven games.Whoever is at quarterback will face a challenge against SMU’s defense, which ranks tied for 33rd in the country in total defense (327 yards per game) and tied for seventh in interceptions (12).”Defensively, they’re four-down, change it up coverage-wise a little bit, but to me they’re very similar to us defensively in my opinion because I think they’re simple,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t think they do a lot. I think what they do is sound and they just play hard and play fast. That’s why they’ve had so much success.”For SMU, if Jennings is not cleared, backup Preston Stone would get the nod. Jennings was injured Saturday but did not miss a drive during SMU’s 28-27 overtime win over Duke.”Our guy’s availability is up in the air,” Lashlee said. “We got a bunch of guys beat up and most of them practiced today, not all of them, but even Kevin, not 100 percent sure he’s cleared yet.”