One of college football's most famous rivalries hits a milestone as Penn State and Pitt meet for the 100th time when the two play at 12 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 14 on ABC. Check out the all-time series history, scores and notable games below.
This year marks the fourth consecutive season the Nittany Lions and Panthers meet. Penn State has won two in a row.
Penn State vs. Pitt: All-time series history, scores
Though Penn State has the 52-43-4 series edge all-time, Pitt has the longest winning streak. The Panthers won 14 games in a row from 1922 to 1938. Penn State's best winning stretch was 10 consecutive from 1966 to 1975.
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The rivalry heated up in the 1970s and into the early 1980s, as the two met in ranked showdowns in nine consecutive seasons. There was also a stretch from 1981 to 1986 where either the Nittany Lions or the Panthers were ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 four times in six years.
Here's a complete rundown of every game. Ranked teams are in bold.
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 1893 | Penn State | 32-0 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Oct. 3, 1896 | Penn State | 10-4 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Sept. 30, 1900 | Penn State | 24-0 | Pitt | Bellefonte, PA |
| Sept. 29, 1901 | Penn State | 27-0 | Pitt | Bellefonte, PA |
| Sept. 27, 1902 | Penn State | 27-0 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Oct. 24, 1903 | Penn State | 59-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1904 | Pitt | 22-5 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 30, 1905 | Penn State | 6-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 29, 1906 | Penn State | 6-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1907 | Pitt | 6-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1908 | Penn State | 12-6 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1909 | Penn State | 5-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1910 | Pitt | 11-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 30, 1911 | Penn State | 3-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1912 | Penn State | 38-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 27, 1913 | Pitt | 7-6 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1914 | Pitt | 13-3 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1915 | Pitt | 20-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 30, 1916 | Pitt | 31-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 29, 1917 | Pitt | 28-6 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1918 | Pitt | 28-6 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 27, 1919 | Penn State | 20-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1920 | Tie | 0-0 | Tie | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1921 | Tie | 0-0 | Tie | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 30, 1922 | Pitt | 14-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 29, 1923 | Pitt | 20-3 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 27, 1924 | Pitt | 24-3 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1925 | Pitt | 23-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1926 | Pitt | 24-6 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1927 | Pitt | 30-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 29, 1928 | Pitt | 26-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1929 | Pitt | 20-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1930 | Pitt | 19-12 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Oct. 31, 1931 | Pitt | 41-6 | Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Oct. 26, 1935 | Pitt | 9-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 7, 1936 | No. 5 Pitt | 34-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1937 | No. 1 Pitt | 28-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1938 | No. 5 Pitt | 26-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1939 | Penn State | 10-0 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 23, 1940 | Pitt | 20-7 | No. 20 Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1941 | Penn State | 31-7 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1942 | Penn State | 14-6 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1943 | Penn State | 14-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1944 | Pitt | 14-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1945 | Pitt | 7-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 23, 1946 | Pitt | 14-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1947 | No. 5 Penn State | 29-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1948 | Pitt | 7-0 | No. 6 Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1949 | Pitt | 19-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Dec. 3, 1950 | Penn State | 21-20 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 14, 1951 | Pitt | 13-7 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1952 | Penn State | 17-0 | No. 16 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1953 | Penn State | 17-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1954 | Penn State | 13-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1955 | No. 15 Pitt | 20-0 | Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1956 | Tie | 7-7 | Tie | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 23, 1957 | Pitt | 14-13 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 27, 1958 | Penn State | 25-21 | No. 19 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1959 | Pitt | 22-7 | No. 7 Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1960 | Penn State | 14-3 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1961 | Penn State | 47-26 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1962 | No. 9 Penn State | 16-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Dec. 7, 1963 | No. 4 Pitt | 22-21 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1964 | Penn State | 28-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1965 | Pitt | 30-27 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1966 | Penn State | 48-24 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1967 | Penn State | 42-6 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 23, 1968 | No. 3 Penn State | 65-9 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1969 | No. 4 Penn State | 27-7 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1970 | No. 20 Penn State | 35-15 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 20, 1971 | No. 6 Penn State | 55-18 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1972 | No. 6 Penn State | 49-27 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1973 | No. 6 Penn State | 35-13 | No. 20 Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1974 | No. 10 Penn State | 31-10 | No. 18 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1975 | No. 10 Penn State | 7-6 | No. 17 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1976 | No. 1 Pitt | 24-7 | No. 16 Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1977 | No. 9 Penn State | 15-13 | No. 10 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1978 | No. 1 Penn State | 17-10 | No. 15 Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Dec. 1, 1979 | No. 11 Pitt | 29-14 | No. 19 Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1980 | No. 4 Pitt | 14-9 | No. 5 Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1981 | No. 11 Penn State | 48-14 | No. 1 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 26, 1982 | No. 2 Penn State | 19-10 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 19, 1983 | Tie | 24-24 | Tie | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1984 | Pitt | 31-11 | Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 23, 1985 | No. 1 Penn State | 31-0 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 22, 1986 | No. 2 Penn State | 34-14 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 14, 1987 | Pitt | 10-0 | No. 15 Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 12, 1988 | Pitt | 14-7 | Penn State | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 25, 1989 | No. 22 Penn State | 16-13 | No. 19 Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 24, 1990 | No. 11 Penn State | 22-17 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Nov. 28, 1991 | No. 6 Penn State | 32-20 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Nov. 21, 1992 | No. 23 Penn State | 57-13 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Sept. 6, 1997 | No. 1 Penn State | 34-17 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Sept. 19, 1998 | No. 8 Penn State | 20-13 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Sept. 11, 1999 | No. 2 Penn State | 20-17 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Sept. 16, 2000 | Pitt | 12-0 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Sept. 10, 2016 | Pitt | 42-39 | Penn State | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Sept. 9, 2017 | No. 4 Penn State | 33-14 | Pitt | University Park, PA |
| Sept. 8, 2018 | No. 13 Penn State | 51-6 | Pitt | Pittsburgh, PA |
This season, Penn State comes in undefeated and No. 13 in the AP Poll (No. 11 Coaches Poll) after routing both FCS Idaho and Buffalo. Pitt is unranked at 1-1, rebounding to beat Ohio after falling to fellow ACC foe Virginia.
With Penn State going to the Big Ten and Pitt heading to the Big East in the 1990s (Pitt later moved to the ACC), the two rivals didn't meet from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2001 through 2015. Upon the long-awaited return in 2016, Pitt held off PSU 42-39 early in the season. Though neither team was ranked at the time, it ended up being a huge win that might have kept Penn State out of the College Football Playoff. The 11-2 Nittany Lions were No. 5 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, one spot behind one-loss Washington.
The Nittany Lions hope to close out four Keystone Classic games since 2016 on a three-game winning streak. The last two seasons, a ranked Penn State team easily beat an unranked Pitt. The roles are the same this year going into the opening kick.
Penn State |
Tale of the Tape | Pitt.svg) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-0 | 2019 record | 1-1 (0-1 ACC) |
| No. 13 | AP ranking | NR |
| James Franklin (47-21, 71-36) |
Coach (Record at school, career) | Pat Narduzzi (29-25) |
| 4 (1911, 1912,1982, 1986) |
National championships | 5 (1910, 1916, 1918, 1937, 1976) |
| Sean Clifford 559 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INT |
Top passer | Kenny Pickett 506 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Sean Clifford 108 yards |
Top rusher | A.J. Davis 114 yards, TD |
| KJ Hamler 177 yards, 2 TDs |
Top receiver | Maurice Ffrench 192 yards |
| Yetur Gross-Matos 6 tackles, 3 sacks |
Top defender | Jaylen Twyman 6 tackles, 3 sacks |
| def. Buffalo, 45-13 | Last week | def. Ohio, 20-10 |
Penn State vs. Pitt: Notable games in the series
Both PSU and Pitt have had long dominant periods in the series. After Penn State won the first six, Pitt won 14 in a row from 1922 to 1938. But the Nittany Lions have been in control more often since the 1950s, including winning 10 in a row from 1966 to 1975.
POLLS: This week's AP Poll | Coaches Poll
Here are some standout games in the rivalry:
Nov. 26, 1976: No. 1 Pitt 24, No. 16 Penn State 7 (Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA)
Pitt hadn't beaten Penn State since 1965. Yet this year was going to be different. This year, the Panthers were going to win a national title.
RB Tony Dorsett, in his Heisman-winning senior season, rushed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns. Pitt then clinched its national title by defeating No. 5 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, 27-3.
Nov. 28, 1981: No. 11 Penn State 48, No. 1 Pitt 14 (Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA)
With the Panthers looking to win their second national title in six years, Pitt came in with the No. 1 national ranking and star QB Dan Marino.
The script started out according to the expected narrative, with two first-quarter touchdown passes. At the end of the first quarter, Pitt led 14-0, led in yards 143 to negative-1 and nine first downs to zero.
But PSU picked off Marino in the end zone (one of his four picks) and QB Todd Blackledge passed for 262 yards. This Saturday, Blackledge will be on the call on ABC.
Nov. 26, 1982: No. 2 Penn State 19, No. 5 Pitt 10 (Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA)
Pitt started the season No. 1, but this game ended up being PSU's last catapult to coach Joe Paterno's first national crown. Like Pitt in 1976, Penn State would win the national title after defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, 27-23.
Curt Warner rushed for 118 yards and Nick Gancitano kicked four field goals for the Lions in front of a Beaver Stadium-record crowd of 85,522.
Some other famous games:
- Nov. 24, 1978: No. 1 Penn State 17, No. 15 Pitt 10
- Nov. 26, 1977: No. 9 Penn State 15, No. 10 Pitt 13
- Dec. 1, 1979: No. 11 Pitt 29, No. 19 Penn State 14
- Dec. 7, 1963: No. 4 Pitt 22, Penn State 21 — Game was postponed until two weeks later after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
