No. 10/9 Penn State and Pittsburgh meet on the gridiron for the 99th time Saturday at Heinz Field for the third installment of the Keystone Classic presented by Peoples Natural Gas. The primetime tilt is set to start at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Penn State returns to Heinz Field for the first time since 2016 when the teams renewed their historic series. Pitt prevailed, fending off a Penn State rally for a 42-39 victory, but the Nittany Lions answered with a 33-14 victory last season in Beaver Stadium.
Penn State opened 2018 in thrilling fashion, rallying with less than two minutes in regulation to force overtime and eventually defeat Appalachian State. KJ Hamler, one of 17 Nittany Lions to take the field for the first time, setup the tying drive with a 52-yard kickoff return out of the end zone, and caught the game-tying touchdown to cap a drive engineered by quarterback Trace McSorley. In overtime, Miles Sanders, who was playing his first game as the featured running back, rushed four consecutive times for a total of 25 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Amani Oruwariye then sealed the win on defense with a game-ending interception.
Pitt, which closed its 2017 season with a win over No. 2 Miami, cruised past Albany for a 33-7 win in its 2018 opener. Quarterback Kenny Pickett accounted for three scores (two passing, one rushing), and the Panthers rushed for 238 yards as a team.
This is the second of Penn State's three non-conference games. The Nittany Lions conclude the out-of-conference slate by hosting Kent State in Beaver Stadium at noon Sept. 15.
NITTANY LIONS & PANTHERS CONTINUE KEYSTONE CLASSIC
- Penn State and Pitt are set for the third game of a four-game home-and-home series dubbed the Keystone Classic presented by Peoples Natural Gas.
- The intrastate series resumed in 2016 at Pitt after a 16-year hiatus, with the Panthers hanging on to win, 42-39. Pitt returned to Beaver Stadium in 2017 for the first time in 18 years, with the Nittany Lions earning a 33-14 victory.
- Penn State is playing on the road for the 69th time in the 99-game series. Just 24 meetings have been in Happy Valley, while six were at neutral sites.
- The series concludes Sept. 14, 2019 at Beaver Stadium.
VERSUS PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS
- Against the two other current FBS schools, Pitt (51-43-4) and Temple (40-4-1), Penn State owns a combined 91-47-5 record.
- The 91 wins account for 10.4 percent of Penn State's 879 all-time wins.
- Penn State owns a 168-95-12 record all-time against current NCAA Division I teams in Pennsylvania.
- That figure includes current FCS teams Bucknell (28-10-0), Lafayette (10-5-1), Lehigh (16-6-1), Penn (18-25-4) and Villanova (5-3-1). However, Penn State has not played any of those teams since playing Penn in 1958.
- Penn State's next scheduled in-state games following the 2019 game versus Pitt are against Villanova (2021) and Temple (2026 and '27).
PENN STATE VS. ACC
- Penn State is 151-87-10 all-time against the schools who are current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, having played every ACC school except Duke and Virginia Tech.
- Penn State is scheduled to play Virginia Tech in 2020 (away) and 2025 (home).
ACC Opponent Record First Last
Meeting Meeting
Boston College 20-4 1949 2014
Clemson 0-1 1988 1988
Florida State 1-1-1 1967 2005
Georgia Tech 4-3 1921 1991
Louisville 2-0 1996 1997
Miami 7-6 1961 2001
North Carolina 0-1 1943 1943
NC State 17-2 1920 1982
Pitt 51-43-4 1893 2017
Syracuse 43-23-5 1922 2013
Virginia 5-3 1893 2012
Wake Forest 1-0 1974 1974
HISTORIC SERIES
- Penn State has many long and storied series on the gridiron. The Nittany Lions have played 20 teams 20 or more times in the 132-year history of the program.
- Penn State owns a winning record against 16 of the 20 teams that it has met 20 or more times.
- Nine of the 20 teams are on the 2018 schedule, including Pitt (98 meetings), Iowa (27), Illinois (23), Indiana (21), Michigan (21), Ohio State (33), Michigan State (32) Rutgers (27) and Maryland (40).
- Since 2012, Penn State has played or has a future meeting scheduled meeting with 13 of the 20 teams (all of the FBS teams except Navy). Those opponents include: Army (2015), Illinois (2014-15, '18, '21), Iowa (2016-21), Pitt (2016-19), Syracuse (2012), Temple (2014-16) and West Virginia (2023-24), while the Lions will meet yearly with Big Ten East Division opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Rutgers.
- Fifteen of the 20 programs are currently members of NCAA Division I FBS. Bucknell, Lehigh and Penn are in NCAA Division I FCS, while Gettysburg and Lebanon Valley are Division III programs.
NITTANY LIONS FROM METRO PITTSBURGH
- TE/H Nick Bowers – Kittanning/Kittanning Senior
- T Sterling Jenkins – Pittsburgh/Baldwin
- S John Petrishen – Lower Burrell/Pittsburgh Central Catholic
- RB Miles Sanders – Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills
- OL C.J. Thorpe - Glenshaw/Central Catholic
- CB Lamont Wade - Clairton/Clairton
- OL coach Matt Limegrover – Pittsburgh
- Asst. head coach/CB coach Terry M. Smith - Aliquippa
PENN STATE-PITT CONNECTIONS
- Penn State junior S John Petrishen and redshirt freshman OL C.J. Thorpe played with Pitt junior DB Damar Hamilton, sophomore LS Cal Adomitis, redshirt sophomore DB Bricen Garner and redshirt sophomore DL Rashad Wheeler at Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
- Penn State redshirt freshman LB Ellis Brooks and Pitt freshman LB Wendell Davis played together at Benedictine College Prep.
- Penn State freshman WR Justin Shorter and Pitt redshirt sophomore DB Phil Campbell III played together at South Brunswick H.S. in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.
- Penn State redshirt freshman S Jonathan Sutherland played with Pittsburgh DB Rimoni Dorsey at the Episcopal School in Alexandria, Virginia.
- Penn State sophomore DE Shane Simmons and senior RB Mark Allen and Pitt freshmen DB Dudson Tallandier and DL John Morgan all attended Dematha Catholic.
- Penn State freshman LB Nick Tarburton and Pitt freshman LB Jackson Henry played together at Pennridge H.S. in Perkasie, Pennsylvania.
- Penn State sophomore CB Lamont Wade played with Pitt junior WR Aaron Mathews at Clairton H.S. in Clairton, Pennsylvania.
- Penn State senior QB Trace McSorley and junior WR Brandon Polk played with Pitt redshirt junior Chase Brown at Briar Woods H.S. in Ashburn, Virginia.
COACHING STAFF CONNECTIONS
- Penn State tight ends coach Tyler Bowen and Pitt special teams coordinator and running backs coach Andre Powell were on the same staff at Maryland from 2011-12. Penn State Assistant Athletic Director of Performance Enhancement Dwight Galt was also on staff in 2011 as the Director of Strength and Conditioning coach.
- Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Banks and Pitt tight ends coach Tim Salem were on the same staff at Illinois from 2012-14.
- Banks and Pitt head strength and conditioning coach Dave Andrews were on the same staff at Cincinnati from 2010-11 and Illinois from 2012-13.
- Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi faced Penn State as Michigan State's defensive coordinator from 2007-14.
- Pitt offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has 12 years coaching experience at current Big Ten schools. He served as a position coach at Illinois (1983-86) and Northwestern (1997-98), a tight ends coach (2006) and offensive coordinator at Nebraska (2007-10) and assisted Indiana in 2016 for their bowl game.
- Recruiting coordinator Dann Kabala was the director of player personnel for the Panthers from March 2012 until March 2017.
LIONS UNDER THE LIGHTS
- The 2018 season marks the 18th straight with at least one regular-season night game on the schedule, and the 10th since 2000 with multiple night games in the same season.
- Two of Penn State's first four games of the season will be played at night, starting with an 8 p.m. kick at Pittsburgh on ABC, while the Week 4 game at Illinois will kick at 9 p.m. Friday on FS1.
- After defeating Michigan in Week 8 of 2017, Penn State has won its last seven night games, including a 4-0 mark last season, and eight of their last nine dating back to 2015.
- Penn State is 49-30 at night all-time. The figure breaks down to 14-9 at home, 23-14 on the road and 12-7 in neutral site games. Penn State is 1-1 at regular season neutral sites, 11-6 in bowl games and 1-0 in conference championship games.
- The Lions' night games since 2000 include: Michigan, Iowa and Georgia State (2017); Ohio State, Iowa, Rutgers and Wisconsin (2016); Ohio State and Rutgers (2015); Boston College (Pinstripe Bowl), Ohio State, Michigan and Rutgers (2014); Ohio State, Michigan and UCF (2013); Iowa and Ohio State (2012); Northwestern (2011); Alabama, Iowa and Michigan (2010); Iowa (2009); Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State (2008); Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M (2007), Michigan (2006), Illinois, Ohio State and Florida State (2005), Minnesota and Boston College (2004), Nebraska (2002 and 2003), Miami (Fla.) (2001) and Indiana (2000).
- On Oct. 12, 2013, the Lions claimed the longest game in Big Ten history when they edged Michigan under the lights, 43-40, in four overtimes in front of a sellout Beaver Stadium crowd of 107,844 on Homecoming.
TAKING ON THE NEIGHBORS
- For the fifth consecutive year, Penn State is playing at least four FBS teams that are within a 250-mile drive (based on Google Maps from stadium to stadium).
- Penn State went 4-0 against its neighbors last season.
- The only nearby FBS team Penn State has not played since 2012 is West Virginia, but the Mountaineers are on Penn State's schedule in 2023 and 2024.
- Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State is 43-4 against FBS teams within 250 miles.
- All-time, Penn State is 289-111-17 against its current FBS regional foes.
BLACKLEDGE ON ABC BROADCAST TEAM
- Former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge will be calling Saturday's meeting between the Nittany Lions and Panthers.
- Blackledge led Penn State to an 11-1 record and its first National Championship with a 27-23 victory over previously unbeaten Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. He earned the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback in 1982, was sixth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy and concluded his collegiate career with 26 school records.
- A three-year starter, Blackledge directed the Nittany Lions to a 29-4 record, including 13 comeback victories, from 1980-82, including two Fiesta Bowl wins and one Sugar Bowl victory.
- Blackledge began his national broadcasting career in 1994 with ABC Sports, serving as a studio and game analyst. He then served as a game analyst for ESPN (1997-98) before joining CBS in 1999. He returned to ESPN/ABC in 2006.
- Blackledge received the University's prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.
- Blackledge earned a B.A. in speech communication in 1983, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a 3.80 grade point average. A first-team Academic All-American, he also was presented the Eric Walker Award, given to the Penn State senior who has most "enhanced the esteem and recognition of the University." In 1997, Blackledge was inducted into the prestigious Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
OVER OVERTIME
- College football introduced overtime during the bowl season in 1995 and adopted it for regular season games in 1996.
- Since then, Penn State has played 13 overtime games, including six over the 2012-14 seasons. Nine of the 13 overtime tilts have come at home, two in true road games, one in the 2006 Orange Bowl and one in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl.
- Penn State is 8-5 all-time in overtime games, with a 5-4 record at Beaver Stadium, 1-1 mark in true road games and 2-0 ledger at a neutral site.
- Penn State has won three-straight overtime games under James Franklin. It's the longest streak of overtime wins since winning five-straight from 2006 to 2013
- Most recently, Penn State went into overtime in a season opener for the first time, opening the 2018 season with a 45-38 OT-win over Appalachian State. Miles Sanders rushed four times for 25 yards and a touchdown to open the bonus period, and then Amani Oruwariye intercepted an App State pass on first down from the 15 in the end zone.
- It was the seventh overtime game at Beaver Stadium since the start of the 2012 season. Penn State is 5-2 in those games.
- The 2018 overtime game was the first since Penn State defeated Minnesota, 29-26, on Oct. 1, 2016. After Minnesota kicked a field goal on its first possession, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley rushed 25 yards for a touchdown on the Nittany Lions first offensive play.
- Penn State's first two overtime contests came vs. Iowa in 2000 and 2002 at home. The Nittany Lions dropped their first three contests that went to the extra period, but won five straight overtime contests before falling to Nebraska on Nov. 23, 2013.
Penn State's all-time overtime games:
Date Opponent Score
11/4/00 Iowa (2OT) L, 23-26
9/28/02 Iowa L, 35-42
10/12/02 at Michigan L, 24-27
1/3/06 vs. Florida State (3OT) 1 W, 26-23
10/7/06 at Minnesota W, 28-27
11/24/12 Wisconsin W, 24-21
10/12/13 Michigan (4OT) W, 43-40
11/2/13 Illinois W, 24-17
11/23/13 Nebraska L, 20-23
10/25/14 OHIO STATE (2OT) L, 24-31
12/27/14 vs. Boston College 2 W, 31-30
10/2/16 MINNESOTA W, 29-26
9/1/18 APPALACHIAN STATE W, 45-38
1 - Orange Bowl, 2 - Pinstripe Bowl
NITTANY LIONS IN NFL VENUES
- Penn State returns to Heinz Field, also home of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, for the first time since 2016 and the second time overall.
- It is Penn State's first regular season game in an NFL venue since the Pitt game in 2016.
- Penn State last played in an NFL stadium during the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, defeating Washington in University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
- Penn State has played games in 11 current NFL venues. In addition to the aforementioned venues, Penn State has played in the current homes of the Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium), Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium), Jacksonville Jaguars (EverBank Field), Miami Dolphins (Sun Life Stadium), New Orleans Saints (Mercedes-Benz Superdome), New York Giants/New York Jets (MetLife Stadium), Philadelphia Eagles (Lincoln Financial Field), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Raymond James Stadium) and Washington Redskins (FedEx Field).
- The Lions have played 39 regular season games in 13 different stadiums with permanent NFL tenants.
- The Lions have played 21 bowl games in 11 different venues that housed NFL teams at the time, posting a 13-8 record.
STREAKING
- With a win over Appalachian State in the 2018 season opener, Penn State extended its home winning streak to 15 games, tied for sixth-longest in the school annals. It is the longest home winning streak since a 21-game streak from 1970-74.
- The Nittany Lions have scored 20 or more points in 24 consecutive games, which is the longest streak in program history, breaking the record of 20-straight games from 1993-95. It is also the third-longest streak in Big Ten history behind the 25-game streak by Michigan State (2013-15) and 46-game streak by Ohio State (2006-14).
- QB Trace McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 29 consecutive games, dating to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, extending his school record. It is the longest active streak in FBS.
- Penn State has rushed for 200 yards in four consecutive games, dating back to last season's Nebraska game on November 18, 2018.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Trace McSorley is 48 yards shy of 1,000 career rushing yards.
- McSorley is 402 yards shy of 8,000 career passing yards.
- McSorley is 52 completions shy of 600 career completions.
- McSorley is 111 attempts shy of 1,000 career pass attempts.
- McSorley is 450 yards shy of 9,000 career yards of total offense.
- McSorley is 20 touchdowns shy of 100 career touchdowns responsible for.
- Tommy Stevens is 112 yards shy of 500 career rushing yards.
- Miles Sanders is 34 yards shy of 500 career rushing yards.
- DeAndre Thompkins is 123 yards shy of 1,000 career receiving yards.
- Juwan Johnson is 162 yards shy of 1,000 career receiving yards.
MILESTONES ACHEIVED
- DeAndre Thompkins surpassed 500 career punt return yards with a 29-yard return against App State (528 yds).
WELCOME TO THE GAME
- Ten Nittany Lions made their first career start (three on offense, five on defense, two on special teams): TE Jonathan Holland, C Michael Menet, WR KJ Hamler, DT Fred Hansard, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, MLB Jan Johnson, CB Amani Oruwariye, S Garrett Taylor, PK Jake Pinegar and KO Rafael Checa.
- 17 Nittany Lions made their first appearances: LB Ellis Brooks, K Rafael Checa, TE Danny Dalton, TE Pat Freiermuth, WR KJ Hamler, DT Fred Hansard, WR Mac Hippenhammer, CB Donovan Johnson, LB Jesse Luketa, OL Mike Miranda, DT PJ Mustipher, LB Micah Parsons, K Jake Pinegar, RB Ricky Slade, WR Cam Sullivan-Brown, DE Nick Tarburton and OL C.J. Thorpe.
- Eight true freshmen saw time for Penn State: K Rafael Checa, TE Pat Freiermuth, LB Jesse Luketa, DT PJ Mustipher, LB Micah Parsons, K Jake Pinegar, RB Ricky Slade, DE Nick Tarburton.
DISCIPLINED
- Penn State was among the most disciplined teams in the nation during the opening week, committing just two penalties for 10 yards.
- Only Navy and Georgia Southern were limited to as few as two flags in Week 1, and only Georgia Southern was limited to 10 penalty yards.
- In 2017, Penn State finished 10th in FBS with 4.15 penalties per game and eighth in FBS with 37.7 penalty yards per game. Both figures ranked second in the Big Ten to Minnesota
McSORLEY AMONG ACTIVE LEADERS
- Senior quarterback Trace McSorley owns the longest active streak for consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 29.
- The streak dates back to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. McSorley had his closest call of the streak in this season's opening contest, not getting his lone touchdown pass until just 42 seconds remained in regulation.
- McSorley's active career rankings in FBS are:
- Touchdowns Responsible For - 2nd (80)
- Total Offense - 5th (8,550)
- Total Offense Yards Per Play - 6th (7.10)
- Passing Efficiency - 6th (151.61)
- Passing Touchdowns - 6th (60)
- Passing Yards - 6th (7,598)
- Completion Percentage - 9th (61.7)
TOUCHDOWN TRACE
- Quarterback Trace McSorley was responsible for three of Penn State's six touchdowns in the season opener against App State, running for two and throwing for one.
- McSorley recorded his 17th career game with a passing and a rushing touchdown (seven in 2016, nine in 2017, one in 2018).
- McSorley's two rushing touchdowns marked his second career multiple rushing touchdown game. He had three rushing touchdowns against Michigan last season.
- Responsible for 80 touchdowns in his career, McSorley is tied with Middle Tennessee's Brent Stockstill for second among active FBS players. Washington's Jake Browning leads with 91.
- McSorley's 80 TDR is a Penn State record by a large margin. The previous record was 65 by Daryll Clark (2006-09).
GROUND GAME ROLLS
- In the season opener against App State, Penn State rushed for 205 yards, surpassing 200 yards for the fourth-straight game, dating back to November 18, 2017 vs. Nebraska.
- It's Penn State's longest 200-yard rushing game streak since a seven-game streak from 2007-08.
- In his second career start, RB Miles Sanders rushed for two touchdowns, including a 4-yard score in overtime.
- Sanders set a career high with 91 yards rushing, with 62 of those yards coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He also set career highs with 19 rushes and three receptions.
- Freshman RB Ricky Slade and senior Mark Allen also contributed. Slade scored the first touchdown of his career in the third quarter on a 27-yard run. Allen added 24 yards on five carries and had a career-best three receptions. His previous high was two against Indiana in 2015.
HAMLER'S GRAND ENTRANCE
- WR/KR KJ Hamler made an impact in his collegiate debut, catching three passes for a team-high 67 yards and a game-tying touchdown, while also breaking through for 52 yards on his lone kickoff return to setup the game-tying drive with less than two minutes to go in regulation.
- Hamler is the first Penn State freshman to catch a touchdown pass in a season opener since Geno Lewis in the 2013 opener against Syracuse.
- The redshirt freshman also hauled in a 46-yard reception early in the fourth quarter, which led to a Miles Sanders rushing touchdown and a 31-17 Penn State lead with 11:17 remaining. It was Penn State's longest completion of the day.
TIGHT ENDS EXCEL
- TE Jonathan Holland's second-quarter, 29-yard reception against Appalachian State was the longest of his career. His previous long was 8 yards last season vs. Georgia State.
- Holland set career highs with two catches and 36 yards. His previous receptions career best was one, which he accomplished three times, most recently against Michigan State in 2017.
- TE Danny Dalton grabbed his first career catch in the first quarter.
READY IN THE OPENER
- CB Amani Oruwariye sealed Penn State's season-opening win in overtime with his sixth career interception.
- Oruwariye has had an interception in three consecutive season openers (2016 vs. Kent State; 2017 vs. Akron).
- Oruwariye also forced the first fumble of his career in the third quarter.
- Oruwariye tied a career high with seven tackles. He had seven against Michigan State in 2016.
NEW FACES STARTING ON D
- In his first start at middle linebacker in the opener against App State, Jan Johnson had a career-high 11 tackles, including four solo. His previous best was four vs. Rutgers last season.
- Making his second-career start at safety, Nick Scott recorded a career-best nine tackles. His previous high was eight tackles against Pitt in 2017. Scott also had his first career sack and tied career highs with one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
- S Garrett Taylor had a career-best eight tackles in his first start. His previous high mark was three, set last season vs. Nebraska.
- Also making his first start, DE Yetur Gross-Matos tied his career best with three tackles. This marks the fourth time in his career that he recorded three tackles, with the last coming against Rutgers in 2017.
SACK MASTERS
- Nick Scott and Cam Brown registered their first career full sacks in the season opener against App State, accounting for Penn State's two sacks.
- The Penn State defense continued to find the quarterback in 2017, averaging 3.23 sacks per game to tie for the Big Ten lead and rank seventh in FBS.
- The Nittany Lions totaled 42 sacks in 13 games. Following totals of 46 sacks in 2015 and 40 sacks in 2016, Penn State posted back-to-back-to-back 40-sack seasons for the first time since it posted three-consecutive 40-sack seasons in 2005 (41), 2006 (40) and 2007 (46).
- Penn State brought a balanced pass rush in 2017 as 22 different Nittany Lions had at least assisted on a sack.
FRESHMAN KICKERS DEBUT
- Penn State debuted a pair of kickers in its season opener against App State.
- PK Jake Pinegar booted his first career field goal (32 yards) late in the second quarter.
- Pinegar was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points. Penn State has made its last 149 extra points
- PK Rafael Checa made his first career appearance, averaging 60.2 yards per kickoff, including two touchbacks.
GILLIKIN 50/50
- P Blake Gillikin's 55-yard punt to the Appalachian State 19 was the 50th inside the 20 of his career.
- The punt was also the 29th of Gillikin's career of 50 or more yards.