PITTSBURGH - Dave Wannstedt needed seven games to win a game as the Miami Dolphins' coach last season. He couldn't possibly have imagined he would still be looking for his first victory at Pitt four games into this season.

While records don't always fully explain a season, this one does: 0-3. There's no glossing it over or explaining it away or rationalizing it by a team that, only three weeks ago, was ranked No. 23.

Pitt hasn't been 0-4 since coach Foge Fazio's 1984 team, which finished 3-7-1. There have been worse teams since, but none that went the first month of the season without winning.

That's why Pitt's game Saturday against Division I-AA Youngstown State (3-0) has taken on far more importance than would have been expected only a few weeks ago. Instead of being a transition game from Pitt's non-conference opponents to the Big East games that start next week, it's become a pivotal game.

If the Panthers win - and, of course, they are expected to against a non-Division I-A opponent - the schedule presents a chance for a quick turnaround. After the Penguins come potentially winnable games against Rutgers, on the road, and Cincinnati, South Florida and Syracuse at home in consecutive weeks.

No one is suggesting that Pitt is about to pull a turnaround and wind up as the Big East co-champion and BCS bowl game participant, as it did last season following a 2-2 start. But there's still plenty of time to salvage this season gone bad, though the Panthers shouldn't wait much longer to try to accomplish it.

"To be honest with you, we've just got to find a way to win a game," said Wannstedt, 1-11 in his last 12 games as a coach. "It wouldn't make any difference who we were playing or really where we were playing."

Youngstown State is 3-0, but against opponents whose talent doesn't resemble Pitt's: Division II Slippery Rock (44-16), Northeastern (35-16) and Liberty (42-0). The Penguins also lack the overall speed Division I-AA Furman did last season, when it came to Heinz Field and opened a 31-14 lead before losing 41-38 in overtime.

But the Penguins have won, something Pitt has not. They also figure to get plenty of support, with thousands of fans expected to make the 70-mile drive to Pittsburgh for the first meeting between the schools.

Another cautionary note for Pitt: Youngstown State's 19 victories against Division I-A teams are ballyhooed by the school as being the most of any Division I-AA school.

If nothing else, that Furman game a year ago accelerated Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko's progress in his first season as a starter. He completed all but six of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns, and he didn't throw an interception after having four in his first two games. No doubt Wannstedt hopes this Division I-AA team can provide the same help to a badly underperforming Pitt passing game.

Pitt's offense is now being coached by coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, whose Baltimore Ravens offense ranked 31st among the 32 NFL teams last season. Pitt hasn't scored a touchdown offensively since a meaningless score in the season-opening 41-21 loss to Notre Dame, something that would have been unimaginable from a Walt Harris-coached offense a year ago.

"We're just a little off," Palko said. "We try to come out and make plays and, sometimes, the adjustments are a little iffy. It really doesn't matter whose fault it is - we didn't get it done."

Pitt will be without kicker Josh Cummings, who needed knee surgery after missing three field goal attempts in last week's 7-6 loss at Nebraska. He will be replaced by former starter David Abdul or walk-on Conor Lee.