Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry

Penn State Nittany Lions-Pittsburgh Panthers

History
1st Meeting	November 6, 1893
Last Meeting	September 16, 2000
Next Meeting	September 10, 2016
Number of Meetings	96
All-Time Series	PSU: 50-42-4
Largest victory	PSU: 59-0 (10-24-1903)
Current Streak	PITT: Won 1
Longest PITT Win Streak	14 (1922–1938)
Longest PSU Win Streak	10 (1966–1975)

The Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Pittsburgh Panthers football team of the University of Pittsburgh and the Penn State Nittany Lions football team of Pennsylvania State University. The rivalry is presently dormant, but will be renewed with a home-and-home series in 2016 and 2017.

Series history

Once considered one of the most important college football rivalries north of the Mason-Dixon line, this intrastate rivalry was deemed the biggest annual game for both schools for a large part of their histories.^[1] The game often had regional and national implications with the winner often claiming Eastern college football supremacy and its respective Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy.^[2] The rivalry began a slow death in the 1990s when the schools left the ranks of college football independents and chose to join different conferences. Penn State accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference while Pitt's football program joined the Big East Conference where the majority of the school's athletic programs already participated. The conference affiliations of the two previously independent football programs resulted in fewer scheduling opportunities.

The last game in the series was played at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, on September 16, 2000 when Pitt shutout Penn State, 12-0. The desire of the Penn State athletic department to host an unbalanced number of home games (proposing 2-1 and 3-2 series) at Beaver Stadium was a significant factor in the non-renewal of the series.^[3] To date, the Pitt administration has rejected such demands, and discussions aimed at renewing this rivalry have so far yielded no solution satisfactory to both schools.

The rivalry can be viewed as the tale of two eras in college football. Prior to 1950, Pitt dominated the series (29-17-2), in one span defeating Penn State in fourteen straight meetings. Pitt coach Jock Sutherland never lost to Penn State (1924–38). From 1950 on, Penn State dominated the series winning 33 while losing 13 with 2 ties. Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno holds the best record against Pitt at 23-7-1 (1966–2000).

Several games are of historic note:

The first game between these instate rivals was played on November 6, 1893, in State College, PA, with Penn State prevailing, 32-0. Penn State won the first six meetings.

Pitt's first victory in the series occurred on November 24, 1904 in Pittsburgh, 22-5.

The 1963 game was originally scheduled for Saturday, November 23, but was postponed to December 7 following the assassination of President Kennedy on Friday, November 22. The once-beaten Panthers were being touted as a possible Cotton Bowl participant, but the bowl representatives expressed desire to invite Pitt only if the Panthers had but one loss. With the game postponed until December 7, the Cotton Bowl could not wait. Pitt went on to defeat Penn State, 22-21, finishing the season at 9-1, with no bowl.

The 1976 game pitted undefeated Pitt, ranked number one in the nation, against Penn State at Three Rivers Stadium on the day after Thanksgiving, November 26. The score was tied 7-7 at the half. Pitt's coach Johnny Majors moved Tony Dorsett to fullback for the second half, and the Panthers went on to defeat Penn State, 24-7, finishing the regular season 11-0, on their way to a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia and their first National Championship in 39 years.

The 1981 game was one for the ages. Pitt was once again undefeated at 10-0 and number one in the nation, ready to claim the title, "Beast of the East." The Nittany Lions had other ideas when they came to Pitt Stadium on November 28. The game featured two junior quarterbacks, Danny Marino for Pitt and Todd Blackledge for Penn State. Pitt went up 14-0 in the first quarter; Penn State tied it at 14-14 at the half. The second half belonged all to the Nittany Lions, scoring 34 second-half points while holding the Panthers scoreless for three quarters. The 48-14 final cost Pitt a chance for its second national championship in five years.

The 1982 game again featured two of the nation's best teams. Pitt had been ranked preseason number one, but had lost to Notre Dame to enter the game at 9-1. Penn State also entered the game at 9-1, having lost only to Alabama. Again, it would be Marino vs. Blackledge in their last regular season game at a windswept Beaver Stadium. Penn State prevailed 19-10 on the strength of one Blackledge touchdown pass to Kenny Jackson, four field goals and a tenacious defense, and was on its way to a Sugar Bowl upset of Georgia, earning its first National Championship.

After a hiatus since 2000, the rivalry is scheduled to resume in 2016 with a home-and-home series. The series will resume at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for a meeting on September 10, 2016. The teams will then meet at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017.^[2]

Game results

Pittsburgh victories shaded in ██ gold. Penn State victories are shaded ██ blue.

#	Date	Site	Winning team		Losing team		Series
1	1893-11-06	State College, PA	Penn State	32	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 1-0-0
2	1896-10-03	State College, PA	Penn State	10	Pittsburgh	4	PSU 2-0-0
3	1900-09-30	Bellefonte, PA	Penn State	12	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 3-0-0
4	1901-09-29	Bellefonte, PA	Penn State	27	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 4-0-0
5	1902-09-27	State College, PA	Penn State	27	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 5-0-0
6	1903-10-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	59	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 6-0-0
7	1904-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	22	Penn State	5	PSU 6-1-0
8	1905-11-30	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	6	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 7-1-0
9	1906-11-29	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	6	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 8-1-0
10	1907-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	6	Penn State	0	PSU 8-2-0
11	1908-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	12	Pittsburgh	6	PSU 9-2-0
12	1909-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	5	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 10-2-0
13	1910-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	11	Penn State	0	PSU 10-3-0
14	1911-11-30	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	3	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 11-3-0
15	1912-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	38	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 12-3-0
16	1913-11-27	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	7	Penn State	6	PSU 12-4-0
17	1914-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	13	Penn State	3	PSU 12-5-0
18	1915-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	20	Penn State	0	PSU 12-6-0
19	1916-11-30	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	31	Penn State	0	PSU 12-7-0
20	1917-11-29	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	28	Penn State	6	PSU 12-8-0
21	1918-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	28	Penn State	6	PSU 12-9-0
22	1919-11-27	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	20	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 13-9-0
23	1920-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	0	Penn State	0	PSU 13-9-1
24	1921-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	0	Penn State	0	PSU 13-9-2
25	1922-11-30	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	0	PSU 13-10-2
26	1923-11-29	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	20	Penn State	3	PSU 13-11-2
27	1924-11-27	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	24	Penn State	3	PSU 13-12-2
28	1925-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	23	Penn State	7	Tied 13-13-2
29	1926-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	24	Penn State	6	PITT 14-13-2
30	1927-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	30	Penn State	0	PITT 15-13-2
31	1928-11-29	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	26	Penn State	0	PITT 16-13-2
32	1929-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	20	Penn State	7	PITT 17-13-2
33	1930-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	19	Penn State	12	PITT 18-13-2
34	1931-10-31	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	41	Penn State	6	PITT 19-13-2
35	1935-10-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	9	Penn State	0	PITT 20-13-2
36	1936-11-07	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	34	Penn State	7	PITT 21-13-2
37	1937-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	28	Penn State	7	PITT 22-13-2
38	1938-11-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	26	Penn State	0	PITT 23-13-2
39	1939-11-25	State College, PA	Penn State	10	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 23-14-2
40	1940-11-23	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	20	Penn State	7	PITT 24-14-2
41	1941-11-22	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	31	Pittsburgh	7	PITT 24-15-2
42	1942-11-21	State College, PA	Penn State	14	Pittsburgh	6	PITT 24-16-2
43	1943-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	14	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 24-17-2
44	1944-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	0	PITT 25-17-2
45	1945-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	7	Penn State	0	PITT 26-17-2
46	1946-11-23	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	7	PITT 27-17-2
47	1947-11-22	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	29	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 27-18-2
48	1948-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	7	Penn State	0	PITT 28-18-2
49	1949-11-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	19	Penn State	0	PITT 29-18-2
50	1950-12-03	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	21	Pittsburgh	20	PITT 29-19-2
51	1951-11-14	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	13	Penn State	7	PITT 30-19-2
52	1952-11-22	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	17	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 30-20-2
53	1953-11-21	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	17	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 30-21-2
54	1954-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	13	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 30-22-2
55	1955-11-19	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	20	Penn State	0	PITT 31-22-2
56	1956-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	7	Penn State	7	PITT 31-22-3
57	1957-11-23	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	14	PITT 32-22-3
58	1958-11-27	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	25	Pittsburgh	21	PITT 32-23-3
59	1959-11-21	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	22	Penn State	7	PITT 33-23-3
60	1960-11-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	14	Pittsburgh	3	PITT 33-24-3
61	1961-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	47	Pittsburgh	26	PITT 33-25-3
62	1962-11-24	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	16	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 33-26-3
63	1963-12-07	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	22	Penn State	21	PITT 34-26-3
64	1964-11-21	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	28	Pittsburgh	0	PITT 34-27-3
65	1965-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	30	Penn State	27	PITT 35-27-3
66	1966-11-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	48	Pittsburgh	24	PITT 35-28-3
67	1967-11-25	State College, PA	Penn State	42	Pittsburgh	6	PITT 35-29-3
68	1968-11-23	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	65	Pittsburgh	9	PITT 35-30-3
69	1969-11-22	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	27	Pittsburgh	7	PITT 35-31-3
70	1970-11-21	State College, PA	Penn State	35	Pittsburgh	15	PITT 35-32-3
71	1971-11-20	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	55	Pittsburgh	18	PITT 35-33-3
72	1972-11-25	State College, PA	Penn State	49	Pittsburgh	27	PITT 35-34-3
73	1973-11-24	State College, PA	Penn State	35	Pittsburgh	13	Tied 35-35-3
74	1974-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	31	Pittsburgh	10	PSU 36-35-3
75	1975-11-22	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	7	Pittsburgh	6	PSU 37-35-3
76	1976-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	24	Penn State	7	PSU 37-36-3
77	1977-11-26	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	15	Pittsburgh	13	PSU 38-36-3
78	1978-11-24	State College, PA	Penn State	17	Pittsburgh	10	PSU 39-36-3
79	1979-12-01	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	29	Penn State	14	PSU 39-37-3
80	1980-11-28	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	9	PSU 39-38-3
81	1981-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	48	Pittsburgh	14	PSU 40-38-3
82	1982-11-26	State College, PA	Penn State	19	Pittsburgh	10	PSU 41-38-3
83	1983-11-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	24	Penn State	24	PSU 41-38-4
84	1984-11-24	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	31	Penn State	11	PSU 41-39-4
85	1985-11-23	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	31	Pittsburgh	0	PSU 42-39-4
86	1986-11-22	State College, PA	Penn State	34	Pittsburgh	14	PSU 43-39-4
87	1987-11-14	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	10	Penn State	0	PSU 43-40-4
88	1988-11-12	State College, PA	Pittsburgh	14	Penn State	7	PSU 43-41-4
89	1989-11-25	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	16	Pittsburgh	13	PSU 44-41-4
90	1990-11-24	State College, PA	Penn State	22	Pittsburgh	17	PSU 45-41-4
91	1991-11-28	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	32	Pittsburgh	20	PSU 46-41-4
92	1992-11-21	State College, PA	Penn State	57	Pittsburgh	13	PSU 47-41-4
93	1997-09-06	State College, PA	Penn State	34	Pittsburgh	17	PSU 48-41-4
94	1998-09-19	Pittsburgh, PA	Penn State	20	Pittsburgh	13	PSU 49-41-4
95	1999-09-11	State College, PA	Penn State	20	Pittsburgh	17	PSU 50-41-4
96	2000-09-16	Pittsburgh, PA	Pittsburgh	12	Penn State	0	PSU 50-42-4

^[4]

References

^ Panaccio, Tim (1982). Beast of the East: Penn State vs Pitt : a game-by-game history of America's greatest football rivalry. West Point, NY: Leisure Press. ISBN 0880110686.
^ ^a ^b Fittipaldo, Ray (2011-06-14). "Pitt, Penn State to renew football rivalry in 2016". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA). http://post-gazette.com/pg/11165/1153636-100-0.stm. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
^ Cook, Ron (August 30, 2004). "Pitt-Penn State series is bigger than Paterno". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04243/370088-87.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
^ http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/opponents_records.php?teamid=2514

Penn State Nittany Lions football

Venues	Old Main Beaver Field New Beaver Field Beaver Stadium (1960–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama Governor's Victory Bell (Minnesota) Land Grant Trophy (Michigan State) Maryland Ohio State Pittsburgh West Virginia

Culture & lore	Nittany Lion "Fight On, State" Penn State Blue Band Angleball Uplifting Athletes

People	Head coaches All-Americans

Seasons	1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

National championship seasons in bold

Pittsburgh Panthers football

Venues	Recreation Park (1898–1904) Exposition Park (1904–1908) Forbes Field (1909–1924) Pitt Stadium (1925–1999) Three Rivers Stadium (2000) Heinz Field (2001–present) Cost Sports Center (practice) UPMC Sports Performance Complex (practice)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Backyard Brawl (West Virginia) Notre Dame Penn State River City Rivalry (Cincinnati)

Culture & lore	Panthers of Pittsburgh "Hail to Pitt" "Pitt Victory Song" University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band (drumline) 13–9

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

National championship seasons in bold



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