Kenny Pickett sets Pitt record for career completions

Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett became Pitt’s all-time leader in career completions on Saturday afternoon, as he threw the 868th completion of his career on his 23rd pass attempt of the day in Pitt’s matchup with Clemson. The record-setting pass broke a benchmark that was set by Pitt signal-caller Alex Van Pelt in 1992 and gave Pitt life after a slow start in the ACC showdown.

The fateful completion was thrown by Pickett late in the second quarter of Pitt’s matchup with Clemson. At the time, the situation looked desperate, as Pitt was down 7-0 and was facing a third-and-long situation. However, everything came together for Pitt on that play, as Pitt receiver Jordan Addison beat Clemson safety Nolan Turner and got free in the end zone to reel in a touchdown pass.

The completion evened the score at 7-7 and gave the Panthers a chance to compete in a game that they had been shut down in up to that point. And they took full advantage, as they scored once more before the half to make it 14-7. Pickett would pass another milestone on that score, a 39-yard pass to Pitt receiver Taysir Mack, as he reached 10,136 career passing yards. That mark ranks fifth in ACC history, and it puts Pickett ahead of former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

While Van Pelt had one record topped by Pickett, he still holds the program record for career passing yards, with 10,913 yards accrued between 1989 and 1992. However, that 29-year-old record is in jeopardy as well, as Pickett entered halftime 777 yards away from matching Van Pelt's mark.