LINCOLN, Neb. -- A season of grand expectations -- a new coach, a new philosophy -- continues to crumble around the Pitt Panthers.

A team that was expected to be offensively dominant has been offensively impotent and the result is an immensely disappointing 0-3 record, the latest defeat being a 7-6 loss yesterday to Nebraska at Memorial Stadium.

It isn't so much the record as how it has been accomplished.

With the passing combination of Tyler Palko and Greg Lee returning, the Panthers were expected to feature a high-scoring offense. Palko, who threw for 3,080 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions last season, figured to only be better.

But this was the second consecutive game the Panthers failed to score an offensive touchdown. They have scored two offensive touchdowns all season, only one of which was of any consequence.

All of a sudden, pass-happy Walt Harris is looking pretty good. People used to laugh at Harris when he turned his back on his defensive unit and plotted offensive strategy when the other team had the ball. No one is laughing today. Pitt could use the offensive mind of Harris -- who left after last season when he wasn't offered a contract extension -- to shake up this unit.

Palko, who Pitt was talking up as a Heisman candidate, misses Harris the most. Palko might not admit that, he might not believe that, but the facts state otherwise. He's a different quarterback than the one who flourished last season.

Palko completed only 11 of 26 passes yesterday for 190 yards.

The majority of those yards came on two plays. One was a 73-yard pass in the third quarter to Lee, which the Panthers could not convert into a touchdown. The other came on a desperation toss of 26 yards to Joe DelSardo, which might have set up a winning field goal if the 46-yard attempt with one second remaining hadn't been blocked.

It wasn't from lack of a running game that the offense stagnated. LaRod Stephens-Howling carried 17 times for 98 yards and displayed the kind of speed and elusiveness that should continue to make him an integral part of the offense. Raymond Kirkley added 40 yards on nine carries. Pitt's two tailbacks combined to average 5.3 yards a carry.

Who would have believed the Panthers couldn't score a touchdown with that kind of running game complementing Palko?

There were bright spots for the Panthers. The defense, which gave indications in the early going it might be shredded by the Cornhuskers' power offense, rallied to become a positive force. Just how much of that was a credit to Pitt and how much of it was a result of inept, penalty-prone Nebraska offense remains to be seen.

What is most clear is that Palko needs to regain his 2004 form. He was stunningly inconsistent yesterday and often out of sync with his receivers. That was never more obvious than on an early fourth-quarter drive where, on successive passes, he threw the ball nowhere near the intended receiver.

"Offensively, there's a little miscommunication," said Palko. "Our adjustments are iffy at times."

A first-quarter sequence showed just how much Palko was at the mercy of the Nebraska defense.

After Stephens-Howling had run for gains of 8, 3, 11, 16 and 5 yards, Pitt had second and 5 on its own 48. On successive plays, Palko was sacked for losses of 9 and 4 yards.

The next time Pitt got the ball on consecutive plays, Palko underthrew Derek Kinder, who had a step on his defender, was thrown for a 3-yard loss on what appeared to be a quarterback draw, and was sacked for a 9-yard loss.

Palko can't take the blame for all of this. His line isn't giving him enough protection, which had been somewhat expected, and offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh is not drawing up the plays the way Harris did. Palko was used to having several open options under Harris. This season he's lucky to have one.

The fact the Panthers botched three-field goal attempts -- two were blocked, one was foiled by a wildly inaccurate snap -- speaks to problems within the team.

No one needs to step up more than coach Dave Wannstedt, who should get his first college win Saturday against Youngstown State. But with this team, you never know.

There is some good news.

Pitt has a chance to get better with an upcoming schedule that "soft" doesn't begin to describe. The Panthers player Division I-AA Youngstown State Saturday at Heinz Field and follow that up with Big East lightweights Rutgers, Cincinnati and South Florida.

The Panthers could -- should -- have a winning record by mid-October.

The schedule gives Cavanaugh time to get on the same page with Palko and Palko to get on the same page with his receivers.

The season is not lost. But the one many had hoped for, is.