Pitt’s 4-3 record looks suspiciously like it could turn into one of those Todd Graham/Paul Chryst six- and seven-victory seasons from 2011-14. Remember how you suffered, Pitt fans?

But it’s unfair to tell the ending while you’re still in the middle of a story, especially when the game Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C., against No. 21 North Carolina could reverse Pitt’s fortunes.

Pitt has defeated a team ranked in the Associated Top 25 in each of the past six seasons. The list includes — in chronological order from 2016 — No. 2 Clemson, No. 2 Miami, No. 25 Virginia, No. 15 UCF, No. 24 Louisville and No. 16 Wake Forest.

While Pitt fans dream of a mild upset — North Carolina is only a three-point home favorite — here are some thoughts to ponder:

1. Put this one on the ACC marquee

The ACC Network has an attractive matchup for its 8 p.m. time slot, with the conference’s leading passer (Drake Maye) and No. 1 running back (Izzy Abanikanda).

North Carolina coach Mack Brown called Abanikanda the “best running back in the country.”

Brown said Abanikanda is leading the nation in rushing. He’s actually fourth with 958 yards, behind Illinois’ Chase Brown (1,059), Marshall’s Khalan Laborn (1,002) and UAB’s DeWayne McBride (975). But you get the coach’s point.

“I’m really honored for the respect,” Abanikanda said, “but we’re not done yet. I just want to keep going for my team.”

Abanikanda said opponents are bringing safeties close to the line of scrimmage to stop him, but he shrugs it off. “I continue to play my game, keep working and try to be great,” he said.

It will be interesting to see if offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. tries to revive the wildcat formation (direct snap to the running back). It was working well at Louisville until Rodney Hammond Jr. lost a fumble.

But Abanikanda said he likes it. “I’ve been doing wildcat since I was in Little League.”

Abanikanda claims he’s the fastest runner on the team, and he’ll get no argument from tackle Matt Goncalves.

“He’s already way ahead of me, and I’m trying to reach out (to block) my guy,” he said. “I’ll run after him, but by the time I’ve reached the 50, he’s already in the end zone.”

2. ‘Another Homecoming?’

Back in the day, high schools and colleges scheduled Homecoming games to coincide with an easy victory. That may not be what Louisville and North Carolina were thinking when they scheduled Homecoming for the day Pitt comes to town, but linebacker Tylar Wiltz isn’t happy about it.

“We have to feel some kind of disrespect. As a defense, we sat down (and said), ‘Another Homecoming? Are they doing this on purpose?’

“Do they think just because we lost a few games, it’s over? We’re going to go out there. We’re going to do what we do. Work hard. Play hard. And the outcome, it has to happen. We’re not working hard for no reason. I have faith it will happen.”

3. ‘Copycat guy’

Pat Narduzzi called North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo “a copycat guy.”

“He’s going to take every play that hurt us this year, and they’re going to run it.”

Meanwhile, Narduzzi said he and his coaches planned to look back at the plays that worked against Pitt and also “fits into (North Carolina’s) DNA” and focus on them at practice.

Longo, a former offensive coordinator at Slippery Rock, has been mentioned as a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Charlotte.

Will Healy has been fired at Charlotte. One of the more attractive G5 jobs is open. FSU's Alex Atkins; NC State's Tony Gibson; UNC's Phil Longo and Gamecocks' Clayton White and Pete Lembo are among a strong group of assistants we expect to be in the mix: https://t.co/7BCvrs9cpe

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 23, 2022

4. Trying to make sense of NCAA rulebook

Bylaw 13.10.1.1 in the NCAA rulebook prohibits coaches from commenting publicly on an unsigned recruit. Narduzzi follows it religiously, although he does send out a tweet — name not included — when he gets a verbal commitment.

But Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph recently violated the bylaw when he acknowledged that wide receiver Malachi Coleman, the No. 1 prospect in the state, had given the Cornhuskers a verbal commitment.

Apprised of the incident Thursday, Narduzzi said he feels bad for Joseph.

“You’re allowed to pay him, but you can’t say his name,” Narduzzi said, referencing the NCAA now permitting athletes to capitalize on their name, image and likeness. “You’re allowed to (retweet) about him, but you can’t say (publicly), ‘Glad to have you.’ ”

Narduzzi said it’s a “dumb rule,” but he said it should be followed until the NCAA changes it.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of things that change (in the future),” he said.

With less than two months until the Dec. 21 signing day, Pitt has 18 verbal pledges from the class of 2023 to rank 38th in the nation — eighth in the ACC — according to Rivals.com.

5. This doesn’t make sense

Narduzzi wanted to control the clock with the running game this season, and he has done that. Pitt leads the ACC and is ninth in the nation in time of possession (an average of 33 minutes, 36 seconds per game). Which is an impressive feat when you consider Pitt is tied with Louisville for most turnovers lost among ACC teams (12).

Pitt is averaging nearly two fumbles per game (total, 13), and has lost seven.

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