Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry

Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Pittsburgh Panthers
First meetingOctober 30, 1909
Notre Dame, 6–0
Latest meetingNovember 15, 2025
Notre Dame, 37–15
Next meeting2028
StadiumsAcrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.
TrophyNone
Statistics
Meetings total74
All-time seriesNotre Dame leads, 51–21–1 (.701)[1]
Largest victoryNotre Dame, 58–0 (1944)
Longest win streakNotre Dame, 11 (1964–1974)
Current win streakNotre Dame, 5 (2015–present)
220km
137miles
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Locations of Notre Dame and Pittsburgh

The Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Pittsburgh Panthers.[2] Notre Dame leads the series 52–21–1.[3]

History

This storied series began in 1909,[3][4] and there have been no more than two consecutive seasons without two teams meeting each other except from 1913 to 1929, 1938 to 1942, and 1979 to 1981. Since 1982, the Panthers and Irish have remained a relative fixture on each other's schedules. Pitt is still Notre Dame's fifth most frequent opponent in program history. Navy, Southern California, Purdue, and Michigan State are the only schools who have played Notre Dame more times.[5]

The series has featured several memorable games. In 1975, Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett rushed for a school-record 303 yards in a 34–20 victory at Pitt Stadium, still the most yards ever by an Irish opponent.[6] The following year, he rushed for 181 yards on 22 carries in a 31–10 victory as No. 9 Pitt defeated No. 11 Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, en route to an undefeated season and a national championship.[7]

In 2012, Notre Dame's Everett Golson sparked a comeback from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and the Irish survived a narrowly missed game-winning field goal attempt by the Panthers in the second OT, to pull out a 29–26 victory in triple OT at home to stay unbeaten en route to a perfect 12–0 regular season.[8][9] The longest game in Notre Dame history occurred between the two schools in 2008, when Pitt defeated ND 36–33 in four overtimes at Notre Dame after the game was delayed briefly in the first overtime by the sprinklers in one end zone suddenly going off.[10][11][12][13]

The game often gets a large amount of national media attention and most often is televised on major television channels like NBC (which televises all Notre Dame home games),[14] ABC and ESPN.

The November 15, 2025, home game for Pitt, and the most recent contest in the series, was an official sellout.[15] College Game Day was on hand as well for the first time since 2005. Notre Dame dominated most of the contest, en route to a 37–15 win.[16] All-American Running Back Jeremiyah Love carried the ball 23 times for 147 yards and 1 touchdown,[17] including an impressive 56-yard run in the 1st quarter to put Notre Dame up early 7–0.[18]

Game results

Notre Dame victoriesPittsburgh victoriesTie gamesVacated wins[n 1]
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 30, 1909 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 6–0
2 November 4, 1911 Pittsburgh, PA Tie0–0
3 November 2, 1912 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 3–0
4 October 25, 1930 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 35–19
5 October 24, 1931 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 25–12
6 October 29, 1932 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 12–0
7 October 28, 1933 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 14–0
8 November 3, 1934 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 19–0
9 October 19, 1935 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 9–6
10 October 24, 1936 Pittsburgh, PA #9 Pittsburgh 26–0
11 November 6, 1937 South Bend, IN #3 Pittsburgh 21–6
12 September 25, 1943 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 41–0
13 September 30, 1944 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 58–0
14 October 20, 1945 Pittsburgh, PA #3 Notre Dame 39–9
15 October 5, 1946 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 33–0
16 October 4, 1947 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 40–6
17 October 2, 1948 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 40–0
18 November 11, 1950 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 18–7
19 October 20, 1951 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 33–0
20 October 11, 1952 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 22–19
21 October 17, 1953 South Bend, IN #1 Notre Dame 23–14
22 October 9, 1954 Pittsburgh, PA #8 Notre Dame 33–0
23 November 10, 1956 Pittsburgh, PA #20 Pittsburgh 26–13
24 October 26, 1957 South Bend, IN #7 Notre Dame 13–7
25 November 8, 1958 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 29–26
26 November 14, 1959 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 28–13
27 November 5, 1960 South Bend, IN #14 Pittsburgh 20–13
28 November 11, 1961 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 26–20
29 November 10, 1962 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 43–22
30 November 9, 1963 South Bend, IN #8 Pittsburgh 27–7
31 November 7, 1964 Pittsburgh, PA #1 Notre Dame 17–15
32 November 6, 1965 Pittsburgh, PA #4 Notre Dame 69–13
33 November 5, 1966 South Bend, IN #1 Notre Dame 40–0
34 November 11, 1967 Pittsburgh, PA #9 Notre Dame 38–0
35 November 9, 1968 South Bend, IN #12 Notre Dame 56–7
36 November 8, 1969 Pittsburgh, PA #8 Notre Dame 49–7
37 November 7, 1970 South Bend, IN #2 Notre Dame 46–14
38 November 6, 1971 Pittsburgh, PA #8 Notre Dame 56–7
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
39 October 14, 1972 South Bend, IN #7 Notre Dame 42–16
40 November 10, 1973 Pittsburgh, PA #5 Notre Dame 31–10
41 November 16, 1974 South Bend, IN #5 Notre Dame 14–10
42 November 15, 1975 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 34–20
43 September 11, 1976 South Bend, IN #9 Pittsburgh 31–10
44 September 10, 1977 Pittsburgh, PA #3 Notre Dame 19–9
45 October 14, 1978 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 26–17
46 November 6, 1982 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 31–16
47 November 5, 1983 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 21–16
48 October 11, 1986 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 10–9
49 October 10, 1987 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 30–22
50 October 8, 1988 Pittsburgh, PA #5 Notre Dame 30–20
51 October 28, 1989 South Bend, IN #1 Notre Dame 45–7
52 October 27, 1990 Pittsburgh, PA #3 Notre Dame 31–22
53 October 12, 1991 South Bend, IN #7 Notre Dame 42–7
54 October 10, 1992 Pittsburgh, PA #13 Notre Dame 52–21
55 October 9, 1993 South Bend, IN #4 Notre Dame 44–0
56 November 16, 1996 South Bend, IN #14 Notre Dame 60–6
57 October 11, 1997 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 45–21
58 November 13, 1999 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 37–27
59 October 6, 2001 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 24–7
60 October 12, 2002 South Bend, IN #8 Notre Dame 14–6
61 October 11, 2003 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 20–14
62 November 13, 2004 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 41–38
63 September 3, 2005 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 42–21
64 November 1, 2008 South Bend, IN Pittsburgh 36–334OT
65 November 14, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA #8 Pittsburgh 27–22
66 October 9, 2010 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 23–17
67 September 24, 2011 Pittsburgh, PA Notre Dame 15–12
68 November 3, 2012 South Bend, IN #3 Notre Dame† 29–263OT
69 November 9, 2013 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh 28–21
70 November 7, 2015 Pittsburgh, PA #5 Notre Dame 42–30
71 October 13, 2018 South Bend, IN #5 Notre Dame 19–14
72 October 24, 2020 Pittsburgh, PA #3 Notre Dame 45–3
73 October 28, 2023 South Bend, IN #14 Notre Dame 58–7
74 November 15, 2025 Pittsburgh, PA #9 Notre Dame 37–15
Series: Notre Dame leads 51–21–1[1]
† Vacated by Notre Dame

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Notre Dame's win in 2012 was vacated as a result of NCAA sanctions against the Notre Dame football program issued on November 22, 2016, after the NCAA found that a student-trainer committed academic misconduct for two football players and provided six other players with impermissible academic extra benefits. The NCAA also rejected Notre Dame's appeal on February 13, 2018. This win is not included in Notre Dame's all-time record, nor is it counted in the series record between the two teams.[19] See Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Vacated victories for an explanation of how vacated victories are recorded.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Winsipedia – Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Pittsburgh Panthers football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ "Notre Dame Football: Ranking the Fighting Irish's Top 8 Rivalries". Bleacher Report.
  3. ^ a b "Winsipedia – Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "Notre Dame – Pitt Football Rivalry History". UHND.com – Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting.
  5. ^ Meyer, Craig. "Who has Notre Dame played the most? Irish football's biggest rivals, from Pitt to USC". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "/ccpa/". TribLIVE.com.
  7. ^ Huston 9.13.19, Chris. "This Week in Heisman History: Tony Dorsett rips Notre Dame...again". Heisman.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Notre Dame rallies past Pittsburgh in three overtimes". USA TODAY.
  9. ^ "Notre Dame's Kelly: Uncalled penalty on missed Pitt FG 'bad coaching'". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  10. ^ The Associated Press (November 1, 2008). "Needing Four Overtimes, Pittsburgh Escapes Notre Dame". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Writer, TOM COYNEAP Sports (November 5, 2008). "Once again, ND's football team can't finish off an opponent". nwitimes.com.
  12. ^ "Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: Who, what, when, where, why & by how much?". Inside the Irish | NBC Sports. October 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Notre Dame Football Official Schedule :: Notre Dame Football :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  14. ^ "NBC extends ND football deal through 2025". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Pitt Announces Sell-Out Crowd vs. Notre Dame". Pittsburgh Panthers On SI. November 12, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  16. ^ Sampson, Pete; Baker, Matt (November 16, 2025). "Notre Dame vs. Pitt: Irish strengthen Playoff case in style, and more takeaways". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  17. ^ "Incredible Numbers That Defined Notre Dame's Rout of Pittsburgh". Notre Dame Fighting Irish On SI. November 15, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  18. ^ ACC Digital Network (November 15, 2025). Notre Dame vs Pitt Game Highlights | 2025 ACC Football. Retrieved November 17, 2025 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ NCAA orders Notre Dame Fighting Irish to vacate wins from 2012, 2013 seasons. ESPN, November 22, 2016.
  20. ^ Low, Chris (June 16, 2009). "What does vacating wins really mean?". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  21. ^ Taylor, John (July 4, 2009). "Vacated Wins Do Not Equal Forfeits". NBCSports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
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