Penn State and Pitt announced a two-year addition to their football series beginning in 2016, the university announced Friday.
The Nittany Lions will visit Pittsburgh on Sept. 8, 2018 and the Panthers will visit Beaver Stadium on Sept. 14, 2019. Previously, the schools announced they would meet Sept. 10, 2016 in Pittsburgh and Sept. 16, 2017 in State College.
“We are excited to extend our upcoming series with Pitt to four consecutive years,” acting athletic director Dave Joyner said in a press release. “The Penn State-Pitt game was a premier rivalry that was anticipated by college football fans across Pennsylvania and the nation. There are more than 50,000 Penn State alumni and fans in Western Pennsylvania, and we look forward to playing in their backyard.”
The teams have not met since 2000. The Nittany Lions have played Pitt more than any other opponent – 96 times – and Penn State owns a 48-42-4 record in the series.
The first meeting occurred in 1893, and the two schools played every season from 1900-31 and 1935-92. When Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, the series died, save for a four-game series from 1997-2000.
“We are thrilled to have the University of Pittsburgh back on the schedule for several consecutive years,” PSU coach Bill O’Brien said in the release. “Regional rivalries in college football are special. I have been involved in a few as a coach. Penn State versus Pitt is a rivalry rich with history and tradition. We have a great deal of respect for Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panther football program and we are looking forward to competing against them on the gridiron.”
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