Pitt and West Virginia clash for the first time in 11 years when the Backyard Brawl is renewed in front of an ESPN television audience and overflow crowd at Acrisure Stadium.

• This will be the 105th all-time meeting between the Panthers and Mountaineers in a series that dates back to 1895. Pitt leads the series, 61-40-3, but enters this year's encounter having lost the past three.

• This will be the first Backyard Brawl for the respective head coaches, Pitt's Pat Narduzzi and West Virginia's Neal Brown.

• The father of Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. (Frank Sr.) served as head coach at West Virginia from 1976-79. Additionally, Frank Jr.'s brother Curt was a quarterback on WVU's 1981 Peach Bowl and 1982 Gator Bowl teams.

• Pitt and West Virginia will play in eight of the next 11 years (2022-25 and 2029-32).

• Kedon Slovis has been named Pitt's starting quarterback. Slovis played the prior three seasons at USC, where he passed for 7,576 yards and 58 touchdowns in 27 games.

• Pitt annually boasts one of the nation's top pass rushes. The Panthers have compiled an FBS-best 151 sacks over the past three seasons (2019-21).

• Pitt enters its season opener as a ranked team for the first time since the 2010 campaign. The Panthers are ranked No. 16 in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 17 by Associated Press.

• Pitt is 86-44-2 (.659) all-time in openers. Since the 2000 season, Pitt is 16-6 (.727) in its initial game, including 6-1 (.857) under Narduzzi.

Series in Brief
Series Began: 1895
Series Overall: Pitt leads 61-40-3
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 41-22
At WVU: Pitt leads 20-17-3
At Neutral Sites: WVU leads 1-0
OT Games: Pitt leads 1-0
Last Meeting (at WVU): Nov. 25, 2011 (West Virginia 21, Pitt 20)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Nov. 26, 2010 (West Virginia 35, Pitt 10)
Current Series Streak: WVU has won 3 (2009-11)
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): 53-37 (eighth)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. West Virginia: 0-0

West Virginia Coach Neal Brown
Overall (season): 52-34 (eighth)
At WVU (season): 17-18 (fourth)
Alma Mater: Massachusetts, 2002
Record vs. Pitt: 0-0

Broadcast Information
Television • ESPN
Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (reporter)

Pregame • ESPN College GameDay • 6 p.m. on ESPN
Rece Davis (host), Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack (analysts)