There are no preseason games in college football, which is why it is common in college football these days for teams to start the season by playing a home game against Division I-AA opponent or a lower level Division I-A opponent.

But the Pitt Panthers are taking the opposite approach this year, as they are not only playing a top team, they also are doing it on the road. Pitt will play at Utah, a team ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll and has not lost at home since 2007, 8:30 p.m. Thursday in a nationally televised game on Versus.

And the players and coaches insist they'd rather have it this way because they were a little more focused and intense in training camp knowing that the Utes awaited them.

The original schedule called for Pitt to open at home against Division I-AA New Hampshire, but when the opportunity came to push the Utah game to the opener, there was no hesitation among the coaches and administration to make the change.

"I thought from a focus standpoint and from a travel standpoint it was better to play [Utah] first," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said, "even though you are giving up the one game of getting the rust off. But both teams are going to have to deal with it and it gave us something to shoot for in camp.

"It kept the coaches focused, I know that. We are going to have to play this game clean. Little things will probably be the difference between winning and losing the game.

"It really shouldn't make a difference who we play in how we prepare, but the reality is this is going to be a big-time opponent on both sides of the ball and kids respond to those situations differently."

Wannstedt said one reason he didn't want to play Utah on the second Saturday of the season was, with the travel and time zone change, the Panthers would lose a day of practice from their normal routine on the back end.

He said this way, with the game being on a Thursday night, the Panthers will return to Pittsburgh early Friday morning, have two full days to get back into their routine and begin on Sunday their normal game week preparations for New Hampshire, which visits Heinz Field on Sept. 11.

Much like the coach, the players like starting with a tough opponent because they say there was no margin for error during training camp.

Easing into a season with a soft touch early doesn't appeal to most of them. Playing in the spotlight of being one of the biggest games in the first week of the season means the intensity will be high.

"You know when you are playing against a big-time team, a team that has won BCS games and is one of the best teams in the country, that everybody will be watching to see how you do," said safety Dom DeCicco. "That means you have to be ready to play and that, for us, started with the first day of camp."

Pitt center Alex Karabin, who will be making his first career start Thursday, added, "Right out of the gate, we'll see if we are prepared and see whether or not we can play or not as opposed to waiting a week after beating someone who you should be able to beat... but opening against quality competition makes everybody better because everybody comes out and wants to perform better knowing this is such a big stage.

"I'd rather have it this way than any other way."

Looking at the schedule across the nation, there are other showcase games this opening weekend including Oregon State-TCU, LSU-North Carolina and Boise State-Virginia Tech. Penn State opens with Youngstown State and West Virginia opens with Coastal Carolina.

NOTES -- Big East teams this year are required to list an official injury report two days before game day. Pitt has seven players on this week's report. Defensive end Greg Romeus (back) and tailback Ray Graham (knee) are listed as probable, while redshirt sophomore lineman Keith Coleman (knee), freshman lineman Arthur Doakes (shoulder), freshman defensive end Bryan Murphy (foot), freshman tailback T.J. Peeler (knee) and freshman defensive back Jeff Knox (shoulder) are out. ...Wannstedt said Greg Williams will most likely get the start over Tristan Roberts at weakside linebacker. ... One other interesting development is at defensive tackle, where it appears freshman Aaron Donald is ahead of redshirt freshman Tyrone Ezell for the third tackle spot.

• Game: No. 15 Pitt at Utah, Salt Lake City.

• When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

• TV: Versus.

• Favored: Utah by 3.

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