Penn State and Pittsburgh to face up again in 2016

A home-and-home series in 2016 and 2017 will once again renew the rivalry between Penn State and Pittsburgh, in-state teams that have not squared up on a football field since 2000.

In September 2016 the Panthers will face Penn State at Heinz Field whereas the year after it will be held at the Nittany Lions’ home ground at Beaver Stadium.

Tim Curley, Penn State’s director of athletics, said in statement, “We have worked our schedules to play some of our neighbouring rivalries like Syracuse, Rutgers and Temple and are glad to have identified dates that worked for our schedules to play Pitt.”

Pittsburgh and Penn State haven’t played regularly since 1992 when the latter joined the Big Ten but four games were played between the sides from 1997-2000. The first game between the teams was played in 1900 and the Nittany Lions have a 50-42-4 series advantage.

“The tremendous history of this rivalry is well documented and the passion that fans have for this game is enormous,” Steve Pederson, Pittsburgh’s director of athletics, said. “We are very pleased that this two-game series is now in place and a new generation of fans can experience the excitement of a Pitt-Penn State football game beginning in 2016.”

Pennsylvania has a big college football fan base and both teams have a loyal following, making the match ups even more exciting.

“The Penn State-Pitt game was one that football fans across the Commonwealth have been passionate about,” Curley said, going on to talk about several of the many memorable games between the two.

For Pennsylvania NCAAF fans 2016 can’t come quick enough.

Article courtesy of NJ Sharrocks.