Even if they don’t play each other every year, it doesn’t mean the Pitt/Penn State rivalry isn’t alive and well.
Speaking on Tuesday at ACC’s Media Days, Pitt Panthers Head Coach Pat Narduzzi said that they love rivalries.
Narduzzi was answering a question about playing West Virginia again after the Backyard Brawl was renewed in 2022.
“Pittsburgh, we embrace rivalries,” said Narduzzi. “We’d love to play Penn State, if they would play us, if they won’t play us, we’d love to play West Virginia as many times as we can play them.”
Pitt and Penn State renewed the “Keystone Classic” rivalry for four years, 2016-2019.
Pitt won the first matchup 42-39 with Penn State taking the next three.
When it comes to the Backyard Brawl, Pitt won the first game of the renewed rivalry with WVU winning in Morgantown last year.
The game returns to Acrisure Stadium on September 14 at 3:30 p.m. That game will be broadcast on 93.7 The Fan.
Late last August Narduzzi said on The PM Team that the ball was in Penn State Football Head Coach James Franklin’s court to bring back the rivalry.
“You’d have to ask James Franklin that,” Narduzzi said, adding he believes its up to him to schedule the game. Narduzzi said “Let’s go” when it comes to having the rivalry.
Penn State and West Virginia renewed their rivalry last year for their first game since 1992. Penn State won the game 38-15.
The Mountaineers play Penn State on August 31 and then Pitt two weeks later.