Report: Penn State and Temple in Talks to Renew Football Series

The Pitt-Penn State football rivalry appears it will be shelved for the foreseeable future once the current four-game series ends in 2019, but a series with another in-state foe may be on the horizon.

Philly.com reported on Monday night, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, that Penn State and Temple are in talks for a home-and-home deal in 2026 and 2027. The report said the deal has not been finalized, but that it is expected to be completed.

At Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour said ‘We’ve been talking to them as we have a lot of people to round out our schedule,’ according to PennLive.

‘Conversations. They’re all conversations until they’re solidified,’ Barbour said.

At AAC Media Day, Temple AD Pat Kraft similarly acknowledged discussions but said no deal has been made, according to Owls Daily.

‘I think it’s a great game for everybody,’ Kraft said. Anytime you get to play Penn State, that kind of program, and the program we have, that would be a fun game for people. But we’re not there yet.’

Penn State, which now plays three non-conference games each year, has none currently scheduled for 2026 or 2027.

The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with the Owls, 40-4-1, with Penn State taking the last matchup, 34-27, in 2016 at Beaver Stadium. A year earlier, Temple won 27-10 in Philadelphia, marking the Owls first victory in the series since 1941.

If the two teams do play again in 2026, it will be the longest gap in the series since the 23-year hiatus from 1952 to 1975.