University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
West Virginia
Game Week: Panthers Return Home to Pittsburgh for 107th Backyard Brawl
9/9/2024 11:55:00 AM | Football
PITT (2-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. West Virginia (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
September 14, 2024 • 3:30 p.m.
Acrisure Stadium (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
ESPN2 • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt and West Virginia renew one of college football's most storied rivalries, the "Backyard Brawl." This will be the 107th all-time meeting between the Panthers and Mountaineers in a series that dates back to 1895.
- A mere 75-mile drive along Interstate 79 separates the two universities. Before conference realignment decisions halted the continuous series, Pitt and West Virginia played every year from 1943 to 2011.
- Pitt and West Virginia are currently scheduled to play eight times in an 11-year period (2022-25 and 2029-32) on a home-and-home basis.
- Pitt is 2-0 for the first time since its 2021 ACC championship season. The Panthers are coming off a dramatic 28-27 win at Big 12 foe Cincinnati, rallying from a 21-point second-half deficit.
- A win over West Virginia would give the Panthers a 3-0 start for the first time since 2020 and the fifth time since 2000.
- Transfer running back Desmond Reid dazzled at Cincinnati, becoming the first Pitt player on record to compile 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a game.
- Reid leads the nation in all-purpose yards (244.0 per game) and ranks fifth in rushing (146.5 per game; 293 total).
- Eli Holstein is the first Pitt freshman (true or redshirt) to pass for 300 yards in consecutive games since Alex Van Pelt in 1989.
- Ben Sauls kicked three field goals at Cincinnati, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left. He is perfect on 13 placements this season, converting 5-of-5 field goals and 8-of-8 extra-point tries.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1895
Series Overall: Pitt leads 62-41-3
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 42-22
At WVU: Pitt leads 20-18-3
At Neutral Sites: WVU leads 1-0
OT Games: Pitt leads 1-0
Last Meeting (at WVU): Sept. 16, 2023
(West Virginia 17, Pitt 6)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Sept. 1, 2022
(Pitt 38, West Virginia 31)
Current Series Streak:
WVU has won 1 (2023)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak:
15 games (1929-46)
Longest WVU Series Win Streak:
5 games (1992-96)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin:
53 points (53-0, 1904)
Largest WVU Victory Margin:
38 points (twice, last: 52-14, 1998)
COACHING MATCHUP
Pitt's Chris Bickell '97 Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 67-50 (10th)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. West Virginia: 1-1
West Virginia Coach Neal Brown
Overall (season): 67-46 (10th)
At WVU (season): 32-30 (sixth)
Alma Mater: Massachusetts, 2002
Record vs. Pitt: 1-1
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ESPN2
Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (reporter)
93.7 The Fan & Pitt Radio Network (937thefan.radio.com)
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Pat Bostick (analyst), Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM 119 or 193 and on the SiriusXM App
GAME WEEK MEDIA SESSIONS
Head Coach Pat Narduzzi - Monday, September 9
Defensive Coordinator Randy Bates - Tuesday, September 10
#0 RB Desmond Reid - Tuesday, September 10
#2 DL Nate Matlack - Tuesday, September 10
#9 WR Konata Mumpfield - Tuesday, September 10
#9 LB Kyle Louis - Tuesday, September 10
Offensive Coordinator Kade Bell - Wednesday, September 11
