Pittsburgh ? If he had his choice, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer probably wouldn’t bench cornerback DeAngelo Hall for a single play against Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

One misread coverage, one false step, one missed tackle is all Fitzgerald needs to transform a routine play into a touchdown, as the Hokies know from experience.

No wonder Beamer can’t help but feel nervous knowing Hall must sit out the first half of Saturday’s game against the No. 25 Panthers for fighting with Miami’s Antrel Rolle last week.

Fitzgerald’s three touchdown catches led Pitt to a 28-21 victory over then-No. 3 Virginia Tech last season, a breakout performance against a previously undefeated team that signaled his arrival.

Before that, Fitzgerald had four touchdown catches in eight college games. Since then, the sophomore has caught 24 touchdown passes in 13 games — 16 in eight games this season — and has emerged as a top contender for the Heisman Trophy.

Hall’s 30-minute suspension follows the recent loss of cornerback Garnell Wilds to a knee injury and leaves No. 5 Virginia Tech (7-1, 3-1 in Big East) with only two experienced cornerbacks, Vinnie Fuller and Eric Green. The lack of depth could cause Beamer to move free safety Jimmy Williams to cornerback and play backup Mike Daniels at safety.

Count on Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford (25 touchdown passes, five interceptions) to throw frequently to the side where Hall normally plays, at least during the first half.

“I expect we’ll see a few balls in the air,” Beamer said.

Pitt coach Walt Harris is more concerned with what his players do than who is defending them, saying, “When the ball is in the air, it’s his (Fitzgerald’s). We just have to get him the ball.”

Other matchups between ranked teams this weekend are: No. 6 Miami vs. No. 18 Tennessee; No. 14 Michigan State at No. 7 Ohio State; No. 10 Iowa plays at No. 16 Purdue; and No. 11 Texas at No. 21 Oklahoma State.

Also Saturday will be No. 1 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M, No. 3 Florida State at Clemson, No. 12 Washington State vs. UCLA, No. 17 Florida vs. Vanderbilt, No. 19 Nebraska at Kansas University, No. 20 Mississippi at Auburn, No. 22 Missouri at Colorado, No. 23 Northern Illinois at Buffalo, and No. 24 Minnesota vs. Wisconsin.

Pitt’s problem heading into its first game against a ranked opponent this season isn’t who can catch the ball, but who can run it.

Last season, Brandon Miree’s 161-yard night helped Pitt rush for 275 yards, allowing the Panthers to secure the lead Fitzgerald’s scoring catches gave them. But Miree has a stress fracture in his foot and hasn’t played in six weeks, and Pitt (6-2, 3-0) hasn’t found a suitable replacement.

Tech’s Kevin Jones is the Big East’s most dynamic runner, averaging 107.9 yards per game and 5.5 per carry in an offense that has rushed for 1,736 yards. Pitt, by contrast, has run for only about half as many yards, 948, and has been outrushed in its last six games.

Notre Dame upended the Panthers 20-14 Oct. 11 by outrushing them 352-8, with Julius Jones running for a school-record 262 yards. Since then, Rutgers, Syracuse and Boston College combined for 427 yards rushing in losses to Pitt.