SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- No. 25 Pitt had a golden opportunity in front of it.
After failing to pounce on that opportunity, the final week-and-a-half leading up to Selection Sunday just became much more of a cart ride on gravel as opposed to a cruise down I-79 South.
Two days after at last earning an Associated Press Top 25 ranking for the first time in seven years and with the chance to clinch at least a share of the regular-season ACC championship, Pitt played as if it was in the bottom of its league, against competition from the bottom of its league.