BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst is optimistic enough to know there's still half a season left for the Panthers to show they're capable of becoming a winning football team.

Chryst is also realistic enough to understand how much better they need to be for that to happen. And, he says, the time starts now.

Inconsistent at best, the Panthers (2-4) find themselves at a crossroad entering the second half of their final Big East Conference season before making the jump to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Coming off two losses, Pitt gets a chance to build momentum by playing at Buffalo (1-5) on Saturday. They'll face a Bulls team that's been a near-perennial Mid-American Conference afterthought, and already on the verge of enduring their 15th losing season in 16 years.