PITTSBURGH — Expectations are as high as ever for sixth-year head coach Dave Wannstedt and the Pitt football team, and the season-opener at Utah probably can’t arrive soon enough for all the Panthers coaches, players and fans.

However, that optimism must be tempered a bit, because Pitt’s matchup with Utah at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City should be the Panthers’ most-difficult since Wannstedt’s debut against Notre Dame in 2005. Expectations were running high in the preseason that year as well.

“The focus has really been on (Utah),” Wannstedt said Monday. “Our guys understand that when you play on national TV against a ranked team, your focus has to be there. You have to have a sense of urgency.

“We really haven’t talked about anything (except) Utah. ... It’s one of those games where one turnover might mean the difference in the game. A bad decision in the kicking game might mean the difference in the game or a broken coverage for a touchdown might make the difference in the game.

“There’s less room for error when you’re playing a very good, ranked football team at home compared to an opponent that you can maybe make a mistake and you’re strong enough in your talent to overcome,” Wannstedt added.

Redshirt junior fullback Henry Hynoski said emotion certainly won’t be a problem for the Panthers.

“I can’t wait to get this game started,” Hynoski said. “Every day, I wake up and look forward to it. The anticipation is building up now. I wish I was out there today in Utah and getting ready to play ball. ... We’re definitely ready to play the opening game to this football season.

“Granted, Utah is a great team, a quality opponent, but we’d be excited for this opener even if we were playing a Division II team. We’re just real excited to hit somebody else besides our own teammates, so we’re really excited for the opportunity to get this season off on the right foot.”

While 15th-ranked Pitt is favored against the No. 24 Utes, there are several reasons why the Panthers should be concerned.

Fifth-year senior Alex Karabin and redshirt sophomore Tino Sunseri are first-year starters at center and quarterback, respectively, in what are arguably the two most critical positions on offense.

“(Sunseri) is one of 11 players on offense,” Wannstedt said. “We’re not the type of offense where Tino’s the only one who needs to make plays. ... I want him to have the mindset of being confident, but also (having the) feeling that there’s no more of a burden on his shoulders than any other player.”

Along with Karabin, redshirt junior guards Chris Jacobson and Greg Gaskins also are first-year starters and give Pitt three inexperienced interior offensive linemen to face Utah’s veteran tackles Sealver Siliga and Dave Kruger. And the Panthers aren’t deep on the O-line, either, as redshirt freshmen are listed as backups at center, left guard, right tackle and tight end.

“We have a quality tackle (and) a quality guard, but we just don’t have the depth there that we have on the defensive line and a couple of other spots,” Wannstedt said. (But Karabin) is a smart player, one of the smartest. ... His playing experience will be the only thing that we’ll have to get caught up on.”

Defensively, the Panthers must face a spread offense that is high-powered and innovative with various pass, run and wildcat packages. Wannstedt also has his youngest team, with just four senior starters on each side of the line.

“I would say that they’re a little combination of West Virginia and South Florida,” Wannstedt said. “Then they’ll jump into a wildcat like Rutgers did with a receiver (at quarterback). ... Utah does a very good job. They have two quarterbacks, (and) they’re going to put some pressure on our defense mentally, to adjust and be sharp. But we feel good about our secondary.”

The positives are that Pitt’s offense could be explosive as well with All-America candidates in tailback Dion Lewis, wideout Jon Baldwin and left tackle Jason Pinkston. And defensively, ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus are among the best in the nation, while the secondary, which includes Greater Johnstown graduate Antwuan Reed, is the deepest it’s been in years.

Notes: Karabin finally was awarded a scholarship in his last season, but Pitt also gave out one to former-punter-now safety Pat Costello and renewed holder Andrew Janocko’s agreement. ... The Panthers are healthy, as Romeus (back) did not miss any time last week, and tailback Ray Graham (knee) practiced full-time Sunday and Monday with no problems. ... Two freshmen, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback K’Waun Williams will play this week and could be the only members of the incoming class to not be redshirted.