PITTSBURGH — For the second straight year, quarterback Max Browne lost the starting job after three games.

Last season, it happened at Southern Cal, where he gave way to then-freshman Sam Darnold after an 0-3 start. This season, after transferring to Pittsburgh, Browne started 1-2 and lost the job to redshirt sophomore Ben DiNucci.

This time, Browne appears to have regained his starting job. Browne got the nod on Saturday and threw four touchdowns passes in the Panthers’ 42-10 rout of Rice.

DiNucci started against Georgia Tech a week ago, but couldn’t stop the slide as Pitt (2-3) lost its third game in a row. That led Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi to turn back to Browne and he responded by completing his first nine passes on the way to a 28-for-32 afternoon, with a career-high 410 yards and four touchdowns.

Pitt’s offense got rolling from the start, scoring on its first three possessions. Chawntez Moss and Jester Weah hauled in touchdown passes of 48 and 55 yards and Qadree Ollison added a 10-yard touchdown run.

Narduzzi wouldn’t say for certain that it’s Browne’s job going forward, but he quick to praise his passer.

“He’s got the ability to do that every game,” Narduzzi said. “We’ve got the tools out there. Overall, you’ve gotta be happy with the passing game.”

Browne felt that his experiences a year ago helped him stay on the right track when it came to getting his job back after another early setback.

“I just tried to stay even throughout the whole thing,” Browne said. “There’s a lot of season left. When they gave me the nod, it was just business as usual.”

Browne is not noted for his mobility, while DiNucci is more of a dual-threat player. In order for Browne to have a big day throwing, he also needed protection, an area the Panthers had come up short so far this season. They had allowed 13 sacks over their first four games, and gave up three more on Saturday.