Miami scored seven times on its first eight possessions, six touchdowns and a Jake Weinberg field goal, and converted 10 of its first 12 third downs. Mensah's 53-yard strike to Toney and a 3-yard touchdown to Gavin Mueller came 71 seconds apart late in the second quarter, and the Hurricanes led 31-7 at the half.
Pitt did hit one big play to end the half, a week after Florida State nearly beat Miami on Hail Mary throws in double overtime. Holden Geriner found Cataurus Hicks for 53 yards on the final snap, and Hicks was tackled at the Miami 1. Hicks, a Miami native, finished with five catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Geriner started and went 18 of 32 for 268 yards. Pitt got a safety and a late touchdown pass from Corey Dailey to Cam Sapp to account for its fourth-quarter points.
Dozens of players from Miami's 2001 national championship team were on hand for the 25th anniversary of that title, and the current team wore throwback jerseys. "I've been excited for the guys from Day 1. ... It just brings those memories back that we had," Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed said in a televised in-game interview, according to the AP.
Miami (7-0, 5-0 ACC) is 43-6 as the No. 1 team, and the win should keep it on top of the AP poll after three straight weeks in which the No. 1 team lost. Pitt (5-3, 2-3) has lost three in a row and is 0-14-1 against No. 1 teams.
Miami visits North Carolina on Oct. 31. Pitt hosts Georgia Tech the same day.
