While noting loss of Pitt-Penn State rivalry, Pat Narduzzi pleased to continue series with West Virginia

Pitt and Penn State haven’t met on the football field since 2019 when a four-game series ended with the Nittany Lions’ 17-10 victory at Beaver Stadium.

It was the 100th game in a series that spans three centuries, but it has been played only five times since 2000.

No renewal is scheduled for the foreseeable future, but Pitt and West Virginia resumed their rivalry in 2022 after 10 seasons without a Backyard Brawl.

During the ACC Media Event on Tuesday, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was asked about playing West Virginia. With his answer, he threw a subtle jab at the other power conference school in Pennsylvania.

“It’s great to have that (WVU) rivalry back,” he said. “In Pittsburgh, we embrace rivalries. We’d love to play Penn State, if they would play us. If they won’t play us, we’d love to play West Virginia as many times as we can play them.”

The third consecutive version of the Backyard Brawl — and 107th overall — is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Acrisure Stadium. Narduzzi said his players eagerly await the game, especially after losing 17-6 in Morgantown, W.Va., last season.

“You need to lose a rivalry game to understand what it means to you,” he said. “You have to lose one to know, ‘OK, I don’t ever want to lose another rivalry again.’ That’s kind of what we go into this game with in ‘24.

“Two years ago, we got them at home (a 38-31 Pitt victory punctuated by M.J. Devonshire’s decisive, fourth-quarter pick-6). They got us last year. They’re coming back to Pittsburgh. Our kids couldn’t be more excited. They got an idea after two years what a real rivalry game is.”