PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt talks repeatedly about wanting to have a streamlined offense, one that can run or pass equally well and creates matchup problems at nearly every skill position for the defense.

So why then, as Pitt heads into what could be its last game of the season, is the offense in almost exactly the same state it was before the Sept. 3 opener against Notre Dame?

Just as then, the offense is still overly reliant on the passing game to generate scoring and to keep drives going. Just as then, a No. 1 running back has not emerged. Just as then, Pitt never can seem to figure out whether it needs to go with a single running back and let him try to develop, or to use a multi-back rotation and go with whichever back is running well.

One thing is for certain: the Panthers (5-5, 4-2 Big East) are running out of time to find out the answers. If they lose to No. 12 West Virginia (8-1, 5-0) Thursday night in the 97th edition of their backyard rivalry, they will finish with a losing record and won't go to a bowl game for the first time since 1999.

Still, Wannstedt doesn't plan any changes in a running back rotation in which no back has gained even 500 yards this season. That means freshman LaRod Stephens-Howling could get the majority of the carries. Or freshman Rashad Jennings. Or senior Ray Kirkley.

"We don't expect to change anything," Wannstedt said. "We'll use the same guys in pretty much the same rotation, and we'll see how the game unfolds."

The Panthers can only hope it doesn't unfold as it did in their last visit to Morgantown, a 52-31 loss in 2003 in which the Panthers — even with Heisman Trophy runner-up Larry Fitzgerald on the field — had no answer for a balanced West Virginia offense.

And if Wannstedt is looking for a Big East Conference offense to emulate, he might look down the road at West Virginia.

Like Pitt, West Virginia probably won't have a 1,000-yard rusher — Steve Slaton, who had the six-touchdown game against Louisville, leads the team with 695 yards. And the Mountaineers have two quarterbacks, Pat White and Adam Bednarik, who have only about half as many yards passing combined as Tyler Palko's 2,084 yards.

Despite lacking a certifiable star on offense, and statistics that would seem to be comparable or worse than Pitt's, the Mountaineers have scored more points (274-254) have more total yards (3,279-3,264) and have five fewer turnovers (14 to Pitt's 19).

They also have more team speed than Pitt, a worry to Wannstedt as he prepares for his first Backyard Brawl game since 1973, when he was a senior offensive lineman on the Pitt team that beat West Virginia 35-7.

"They're probably as fast as anybody we've played, almost at every position," Wannstedt said. "Their running backs. They've got speed at the wide receivers. They have it on the defensive side of the ball. They've got speed everywhere."

Pitt linebacker H.B. Blades said that speed is visible whenever the Panthers watch West Virginia on tape.

"They have a very good team this year, a very fast team, so we're going to need a premier performance on defense to stop them," Blades said. "We have to be on top of our game, but I'm confident that we can do it because they bring out the best in us. We hate them, and they hate us."