Pittsburgh got off to as fast a start as a defense can at Virginia.

Notre Dame wide receiver Ben Skowronek (11) celebrates as he goes in the end zone past Pittsburgh defensive back A.J. 3 Notre Dame overwhelmed reeling Pittsburgh 45-3 on Saturday. Notre Dame effectively ended any hope Pitt — which has developed a reputation in recent years of being the occasional giant killer — might have had late in the second quarter. Three Pitt plays went nowhere and Irish sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey raced in untouched to block Kirk Christodoulou's punt. THE TAKEAWAYNotre Dame: The Irish could ill afford a misstep with a showdown against No.