ESPN College Football

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The return of starting quarterback Matt Bonislawski was not enough to help Connecticut get on the board against Pittsburgh, let alone pick up a win.

Tyler Palko accounted for two touchdowns and Bonislawski had a hard time shaking off the rust as the Panthers posted a 24-0 victory over the Huskies in a Big East Conference matchup.

Palko threw a two-yard TD pass to Steve Buches midway through the first quarter to open the scoring. The quarterback scored on a one-yard run with 2:02 left in the third quarter top extend the lead to 21-0.

Bonislawski missed three games with a separated right shoulder and was not sharp. He completed 18-of-35 passes for 156 yards but was intercepted three times and sacked four times.

Palko was 12-of-21 for 116 yards for Pitt (5-5, 4-2 Big East), which was outgained, 299-192, but managed to win its fifth in a row at home.

The game turned late in the second quarter when Pitt blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt by Matt Nuzie and returned it 71 yards for a TD. Darrelle Revis came untouched off the right edge and blocked the kick, and Josh Lay scooped up the loose ball and scored to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead 5:07 before the half.

The Huskies (4-5, 1-4) have lost four in a row, all in the conference, and will need victories over South Florida and Louisville in their final two games to become bowl eligible.

Pitt needs a Thanksgiving night victory over West Virginia to become bowl eligible.