The guy who nearly broke Tony Dorsett's single-game rushing record last week, who leads the Big East with a 9.5 yards-per-carry average and who ranks third nationally in rushing yards per game will likely start this week's game on the bench. And he's not complaining.

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Andrew Weber/US PresswireRay Graham has made a case for more carries in Pittsburgh's crowded backfield.

"I'm cool with that," Pittsburgh tailback Ray Graham said. "Coach made the decision and he's going to stick with it. I'm just going to go out there whenever I get my name called and just play."

Graham has made Dave Wannstedt's running back decision extremely tough, which is not something many people would have predicted at the beginning of the season. The starting job belonged unquestionably to Dion Lewis, who as a freshman won the Big East offensive player of the year award and was the nation's leading returning rusher after a 1,799-yard campaign.

But Lewis has not gotten on track yet this season, failing to break 100 yards in any game and totaling just 143 yards on 47 carries. Graham, on the other hand, has 492 yards on five more attempts and was the team's only real offensive weapon against Miami. When Lewis missed last week's game against Florida International with a banged-up shoulder, Graham erupted for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

Still, Wannstedt said Lewis will start this week at Notre Dame, though Graham has earned the right to get perhaps as many carries as his classmate

"We have a lot of other issues that are a concern to me other than who’s going to be carrying the ball," Wannstedt said. "We’re fortunate to have both those guys, and we’ll continue to play them both.”

Graham was the more highly touted recruit in last year's class, but once he arrived in the summer he found himself behind Lewis, who had enrolled in January. Now he feels like he's on more equal footing.

"This year, I've hit the weight room and I'm stronger," he said. "I spent a lot of time in the film room, and now I'm knowing my plays more. I feel more confident out there this year compared to last year. That was the biggest progression."

Other players in Graham's situation last year might have transferred for more playing time. Wannstedt said he was honest with Graham about where he stood and had several conversations last year with Graham's uncle and high school coach, who are both influential in his life.

"Ray showed what kind of person he is with how he handled everything with Dion last year having all the success he had week after week," Wannstedt said. "There’s no more humble player on our team."

There doesn't seem to be any problem between Graham and Lewis, even if there might be a growing controversy over who should start. In last week's game, the two could be seen hanging out and laughing together on the sidelines. Graham said the two are great friends.

"When he scores, I'm the first one over there to credit him, and he does the same for me," he said. "We have a little celebration dance we do on the sidelines. We're always helping each other out."

Graham has a little more of a burst than Lewis, and his ability to make people miss has come in handy this season as the Pitt offensive line has struggled to create holes. That line got a makeover last week with Lucas Nix moving inside to guard and Jordan Gibbs taking over at right tackle. That gave the running game a spark, and the Panthers hope that continues in South Bend.

Lewis will get first crack at running behind that remade line this week. And the guy with the huge rushing numbers will support him.

"He's going to get it going in this game and make it happen," Graham said. "Once that happens, we'll have a dangerous tandem with him and me, and it's going to be hard to stop us both."