Pennsylvania Classic
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| Pitt Panthers-Penn State Nittany Lions | |
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| 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 Pittsburgh Panthers football Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football... : Won 1 |
| Longest PITT Win Streak | 14 (1922–1938) |
| Longest PSU Win Streak | 10 (1966–1975) |
The Pitt–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
rivalry
College rivalry
Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both academics and athletics, the latter being typically...
game played by the Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
team of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and the Penn State Nittany Lions football
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
team of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. 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 lineMason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
, this intrastate
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
rivalry was deemed the biggest annual game for both schools for a large part of their histories. The game often had regional and national implications with the winner often claiming Eastern college football supremacy and its respective Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
The Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy is an annual award given to the best team in the Northeast in Division I FBS college football.The Lambert Trophy was established by brothers Victor and Henry Lambert in memory of their father, August. The Lamberts were the principals in a distinguished Madison Avenue...
. 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
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
while Pitt's football program joined the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
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
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
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. 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
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
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
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
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
Johnny Majors
Johnny Majors is a former American football player and coach. A standout halfback at the University of Tennessee, he was an All-American in 1956 and a two-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player award, in 1955 and 1956. He finished second to Paul Hornung in voting for...
moved Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
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
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
victory over Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
and their first National Championship in 39 years.
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
for Pitt and Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
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.
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 |
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/opponents_records.php?teamid=2514