Panthers Set Sights on Backyard Brawl
9/8/2025 5:02:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH — Head Coach Pat Narduzzi closed the book on last week's win over Central Michigan this afternoon and shifted Pitt's attention toward one of college football's most storied rivalries.
The Panthers (2-0) will travel to Morgantown on Saturday for their fourth meeting with West Virginia since the Backyard Brawl resumed in 2022. For Narduzzi and his team, it's another chance to embrace a hostile environment while testing themselves against a Mountaineers squad led by head coach Rich Rodriguez.
"We direct all of our attention back towards our next opponent," Narduzzi said. "Rich Rodriguez, obviously a fantastic football coach, been around, won a lot of football games, a heck of a coach. It will be a heck of a ballgame down in that atmosphere in Morgantown."
Rodriguez, back at the helm at West Virginia, calls the offense, with quarterback Nicco Marchiol leading the unit alongside one of his top targets, Jacksonville State transfer wide receiver Cam Vaughn.
On defense, coordinator Zac Alley mixes up West Virginia's looks with multiple fronts and pressure packages. "They're very multiple," Narduzzi noted. "They'll play hard, tough and physical. That's what I see on tape."
When asked about the magnitude of the Backyard Brawl, Narduzzi acknowledged the intensity but stressed his team's need to remain focused and unwavering in its weekly preparation.
"It's a rivalry. There's a lot of hatred in the game. I think the fans hate each other," Narduzzi said. "But for us as a football team, it's about what happens on that football field. The team that stays most focused on the task at hand is going to win the football game."
As for educating younger Panthers on the rivalry's history, Narduzzi said his message will remain simple. "It's about the preparation. It's about Pitt and how we execute and practice this week. That's what I want to see."
The 108th edition of the Backyard Brawl will kick off at 3:30 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 13, in Morgantown, W.Va., and will be televised nationally on ESPN.