PITTSBURGH — There's nothing deceptive about a Rutgers offense that gives the ball to Ray Rice on nearly every other play. Trickery isn't a necessity with a runner like Rice.

Rice's 63-yard run set up his own short touchdown in the fourth quarter immediately after Pittsburgh had closed to within three points, and the No. 19 Scarlet Knights won their first big test of the season by beating the Panthers 20-10 Saturday.

Rice carried 39 times for 225 yards to nearly outgain Pittsburgh by himself and put Rutgers in position to make a major move up the AP poll if it can beat No. 6 Louisville at home on Nov. 9 — as long as it beats Connecticut on Oct. 29. Rutgers (7-0, 2-0) hasn't been unbeaten so deep into a season since 1976, when it was ranked as high as No. 17 but played mostly against Ivy League-type competition.

"It feels good," said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, whose team also has No. 4 West Virginia still to play. "It puts us in position to keep moving forward."

Pitt (6-2, 2-1 Big East) had won four in a row and likely would have made the Top 25 with a victory. But a Panthers offense averaging 37.6 points did almost nothing against a Rutgers defense that was No. 1 nationally in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense.

The Knights did what they do best: Run the ball, control the clock and get the ball back quickly.