Penn State recently completed its 2020 non-conference schedule and Pitt was not on it. With a few open non-conference spots still available for the 2022 season and beyond is Pitt a team you would like to see back on the schedule? Is Penn State and Pitt a Rivalry? Before you answer let’s take a look back at the history between these two storied programs.
Looking Back
Penn State and Pitt have clashed on the football field 98 times throughout history. Penn State leads the series with an overall record of 51–43–4. Pitt has the longest winning streak in the series sitting at 14 games winning every game from 1922 through 1938. In fact, much of Pitt’s success in this series happened before 1949. They held a record of 29-18-2 during the early part of the nineteenth century.
Starting in 1950 Penn State would flip the script winning 33 out of the next 50 games including a 33–14 victory last season at Beaver Stadium.
The series was also not short on meaningful games as several times throughout history, the two team splayed with National Championship aspirations on the line. There was the game in 1976 when Pitt beat Penn State at Three Rivers Stadium on Thanksgiving day to preserve an undefeated season. They would finish the year 11-0 and go on to the Sugar Bowl where they defeated Georgia to win their first National Championship in 38 years.
Who could forget the 1981 game which pitted Pitt Quarterback Dan Marino against Penn State’s own Todd Blackledge? Pitt entered the game 11-0 and quickly went up 14 nothing before Penn State turned the tide by tieing it up 14-14 at halftime. The Nittany Lions would go onto score 34 unanswered points in the second half to end Pitt’s undefeated season by winning 48-14.
A Marino vs. Blackledge rematch wouldn’t have to wait very long as they met again in 1982. Both teams came into the game with 9-1 records but Penn State would once again prevail winning the game 19-10. Penn State would ride the momentum from that game into the Sugar Bowl where they would upset Georgia and win the programs first ever National Championship.
Looking Forward
The fans still seem to come out to watch these games in record numbers with the 2017 game in Pittsburg breaking the record for the largest attended sporting event in the history of the city of Pittsburgh with an attendance of69,983. The following year at Beaver Stadium was not much different as the Nittany Lions drew 109,898 fans, good for 8th all-time at Penn State.
Many fans that I have talked to believe that Pitt has a lot more to gain from this series than Penn State does. At this point in the programs, Penn State has nothing to gain and everything to lose as is evident by the 2016 loss which potentially cost the Nittany Lions a chance to reach the College Football Playoffs. I tend to agree with them. I think the series has run its course for Penn State and it’s time to move on. New rivalries are being formed against BIG Ten conference opponents Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.
In my opinion, with 2 games remaining in 2018 and 2019, they will finish the series with 100 games even. It seems like a fitting way to end the so-called rivalry if you ask this fan.
What do you think?
Are attendance numbers proof the series should continue?
Do you think this series should continue?
Is Penn State Pitt a rivalry?
Fill out the following Poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
sPitt has messed with us ay too much. We don’t need them. If they want to come to SC for every game in a series, let them replace Bowling Green or some other minor school. As for playing them on an equal footgin, absolutely not. We don’t need them and gain nothing by playing them. Let them die with their basketball school which isn’t very good now, either.
I don’t know that we need to play Pitt every year, but it is an historic rivalry. As far as “everything to lose”…just keep beating the pants off of ’em, and everything will be fine.
Only if 5B agrees to a 2 for 1 series should we renew. Another issue is the packaging of the game when played at Heinz Field. Why should PSU fans buy tickets to Youngstown State, Albany or North Carolina for the opportunity to buy a ticket to the Penn State game? 5B has no relevance in CFB unless they are playing Penn State, ND, Miami or Clemson.
I’d love to see this game played the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving just like it was back in the day. I’ll admit that Pitt has more to gain from this game than we do but I’d still like to see it played just for old time’s sake.