NEW YORK – Penn State will play Pitt for the third time in four years this September, but the future of the series beyond that is likely headed for a hiatus.
Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said last month that she discussed extending the series with Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour -- in hopes of landing another 4-year agreement starting in 2026 -- but that Penn State hadn't signed the proposed agreement.
“We’ve had conversations but I think at this point we both agreed that based on Big Ten and ACC scheduling principles -- and you know it’s a complicated puzzle nowadays -- that we’re probably not going to do anything at this point and look at some point after 2030 to maybe do something,” Barbour said Tuesday evening ahead of Penn State’s first of three Coaches Caravan stops.
That response shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as Barbour stated multiple times that Penn State wants to fill their non-conference schedule with a marquee opponent with national draw every five or six years and then, of course, work in regional games as warranted after that. Penn State has games lined up against Virginia Tech and Auburn in 2020 and 2021, plus a home and home with West Virginia in 2023 and 2024. The Nittany Lions’ schedule beyond a game with Virginia Tech in 2025 appears to be open.
But, the Big Ten conference schedule with nine conference games leaves just room for three others and given the nature of college football, where Penn State will play the likes of Appalachian State, Kent State, Idaho, Buffalo, Nevada and San Jose State within the next three seasons, Pitt isn’t part of the plan.
The popularity of the Pitt-Penn State game resonated with fans as both the game at Heinz Field and last September’s game in Beaver Stadium were among the most sought after tickets on the schedule. Heinz Field was sold out for the game two years ago while Beaver Stadium attracted a crowd of 109,898 last season.
When asked if the game this year will kickoff in the evening -- something that hasn’t happened yet in the renewal of the series – Barbour said she has yet to hear a game time announced. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced last month that their game originally scheduled for the night of Sept. 8 – the same day Penn State plays Pitt at Heinz Field – will instead start at 1 p.m.
In all likelihood, given Pittsburgh’s desire to make sure fans at both games will be able to get in and out of the city, that would likely mean Penn State vs. Pitt is headed for a primetime showdown at Heinz Field. Still, Barbour isn't so sure.
“I’m not quite sure what the Pirates were doing,” Barbour said.
