Throughout the next couple of weeks we’ll be checking in with some of the nonconference opponents facing off with Big Ten teams in 2016 to provide a better idea of what to expect out of the less-familiar opponents on this year’s league slate. We continue now with Pittsburgh.
Opponent: Pitt (vs. Penn State, Sept. 10)
Names to know: RB James Conner, QB Nathan Peterman, OT Adam Bisnowaty, DE Ejuan Price, S Jordan Whitehead
Offseason storyline: Conner, the former ACC player of the year, missed most of last year with a knee injury and then was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He was declared cancer-free late last month, and though he needs to work on his conditioning, he intends to return to the field this fall. It's a feel-good story that likely will get a lot of national attention in the lead-up to this game.
What’s at stake for Penn State? This was once one of the top in-state rivalries in college football until Penn State joined the Big Ten. The two programs have not met since 2000, so the return of this game will be a big deal in the Keystone State.
Even though the overall series mark gives only a slight edge to Penn State (50-42-4), Nittany Lions fans still feel that their team should not lose to Pitt. Third-year head coach James Franklin is starting to feel a little heat after back-to-back 7-6 seasons, and losing to the Panthers early in the year -- especially after Penn State lost to Temple in 2015 -- would only ratchet up the pressure. This game could also have in-state recruiting implications. And with a nine-game Big Ten schedule and the rugged East Division looming, the Nittany Lions can't afford many nonconference slip-ups.
What’s at stake for Pitt? Pat Narduzzi, the former longtime Michigan State defensive coordinator, turned in a solid 8-5 inaugural campaign at Pitt. That included a loss on a last-second, 57-yard field goal at Iowa and a home win over Louisville. As a program, the Panthers have been spinning their wheels for several seasons thanks to unusually frequent coaching turnover.
Narduzzi appears to be establishing something good in the Steel City, and there would be no better way to truly endear himself to Pitt fans by beating Penn State. The Panthers could announce themselves as an ACC division threat by winning this early-season nonconference game, and the bragging rights over their in-state neighbor would be an immense source of pride.