The fierce in-state rivalry revs back up for the first time since 2000.
On Saturday, Penn State and Pitt will meet for the 97th time in the Keystone Classic at Heinz Field.
Both teams have feature running backs in James Conner (Pitt) and Saquon Barkley (Penn State), so the game could easily turn into a battle on the ground.
MORE: Week 2 TV schedule | Week 2 AP poll
Here's how you can watch Penn State-Pitt, and the keys to victory for both teams.
Penn State at Pitt
When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 12:00 p.m.
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Penn.
TV: ESPN
Online: Watch ESPN
Penn State-Pitt all-time series
The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 50-42-4, though the two schools haven't played since the turn of the century. Pitt currently holds bragging rights, winning 12-0 in 2000, but some of the best games in the rivalry date back to the '70s and '80s — the 1981 "Beast of the East" game comes to mind — when both teams were consistently ranked in the Top 25.
Saturday's game is the first in a four-game home-and-home series. Pitt will travel to State College in 2017 and 2019 and will host the game in 2018.
Numbers that matter
100
Which running back will hit the century mark first? Conner has rushed for 100+ yards 11 times in his career while Barkley has six, and they'll be fighting against each other for yards all day. And it's pretty important: the two teams averaged 186.8 (Pitt) and 133.9 (Penn State) rushing yards per game in 2015. The difference-maker may be Pitt's sophomore rusher Qadree Ollison, who, in Conner's absence in 2015, ran for 1121 yards and won ACC Rookie of the Year. Two backfield threats could work to the Panthers' advantage.
5-3
Pitt greatly improved its record in close games from 2014 to 2015, going 5-3 in games decided by single digits, compared to Penn State's 2-2 record. The Panthers are favored by 6.5 over Penn State, so a close game could swing in Pitt's favor.
11
The Nittany Lions' returning defensive linemen totaled just 11 sacks in 2015. Losing Carl Nassib, Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson (20.5 sacks combined) was a huge blow to Penn State's defensive line, and it's now up to senior Evan Schwan, juniors Garrett Sickles and Parker Cothren, and freshman Kevin Givens to fill those gaps.
Social buzz
Though he had two touchdowns in his big return last week, Pitt running back James Conner will be the darling of the broadcast on Saturday. After suffering a knee injury early last season, Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2015 and was declared cancer-free in May. It's been two years since Conner won ACC Player of the Year (2014), so everyone will be watching to see if he can pick up where he left off.
The big question
Which coach is on the rise? Pitt's Pat Narduzzi had a great 9-5 debut in 2015, good for second in the ACC Coastal and that was without Conner. Expectations this season are just as high and the Panthers have three chances for statement wins at North Carolina (September 24), at Miami (November 5) and atClemson (November 12). James Franklin's had two 7-6 seasons at the helm in Penn State and some fans are growing impatient with mediocrity. The Nittany Lions need to get past at least one of the "big three" in the Big Ten East — Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State — if Franklin wants to prove he can keep pace in the division. He's 0-6 against those three teams in his tenure.
