The Curtain Closes on the Keystone Classic (For now…)

By Connor Donohue

The state of Pennsylvania is defined by rivalries, sports and otherwise. From Penguins vs. Flyers, Eagles vs. Steelers, Sheetz vs. WaWa, the rivalries spread across the whole state and are as diverse as the people who define them.  Yet, with all these disagreements and bouts, the one that best defines the state is the one between two of the biggest colleges in the state. Some call it a rivalry, others don’t, but the dislike between the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh is real.

These two schools, with football programs that both have produced all-time greats of the game, will clash on the gridiron for the last time in a long time on Saturday. This most recent chapter of a rivalry that started in 2016 has ignited a flame that was long dimmed. It will likely last as long as these two institutions exist.  So as the curtain closes on this chapter of the Battle of the Keystone State, it’s time to take a look back on what has defined this rivalry over the last four years and look ahead to the future of Penn State vs Pitt.

After a 16-year hiatus of the rivalry, Penn State and Pitt agreed that they would again play each other on a four-year home and home contract starting in the 2016 season.  The first act would be played at Heinz Field on Sept. 10, 2016. Both teams entered the game with a chip on its shoulder as each tried to approve upon average seasons in which both teams lost in their bowl games.  Pitt was coming into the game confident and experienced. They were led by likely future NFL quarterback Nathan Peterman and recently cancer-free running back James Connor. Penn State entered the game with a new starting quarterback, the inexperienced and (allegedly) undersized sophomore Trace McSorley, and a little-known running back named Saquon Barkley.  A sold-out Heinz Field, dotted with gold and white, would be witness to the renewed conflict between the colleges.

Pitt’s experience showed early in the game.  Pitt blitzed the Nittany Lions, amassing a three-touchdown lead early in the second quarter. Nathan Peterman torched the Penn State defense through the air, as George Ashton and James Connor tore up the Penn State front seven on the ground.  Two Saquon Barkley touchdowns lessened the damage for Penn State, as the Lions headed into halftime down 28-14. 

The second half would help establish the identity of Penn State  – an identity that they would rock for the whole season – that of a “second half team.”  Penn State roared to life on the backs of Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley, who accounted for a total of five touchdowns on the day. Penn State was able to bring it back to 42-39 with a chance to win the game. But gridiron experience defined the game and Penn State’s lack of experience cost the team a chance at early-season glory. McSorley threw up an ill-advised pass into double coverage that was intended for tight end Mike Gesicki. The pass was picked by Ryan Lewis, sealing Pitt’s victory.

The game would prove to be critical in both of the team’s seasons. This would be one of the few highlights for Pitt that season. The Panthers finished 8-4, with an upset win over No. 3 Clemson, and ended up losing the Pinstripe Bowl to Northwestern.  The game would be one of only two Penn State losses on the season. Following a loss at Michigan two weeks later, Penn State would go on to win nine straight games, highlighted by the White Out upset against No. 2 Ohio State and the comeback in the Big Ten Championship vs. Wisconsin.  But when the time came to determine who would be the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, the Pitt loss proved to be too big of a blemish on Penn State’s resume, and the Lions were relegated to the Rose Bowl game vs. USC. The 2017 Rose Bowl ended up being a classic, with Penn State losing to the Trojans on a last-second field goal.

One year later, the Lions and Panthers had a date at Beaver Stadium, a game with a very different narrative. Penn State came in ranked No. 4 in the country, boasting the same strong offensive core led by McSorley and Barkley. The Lions also came into the game with one thing on their mind – revenge. Pitt, ironically, came in with an inexperienced team, similar to the Penn State team the year before.  Coupled with Pitt’s inexperience was the fact they were walking into one of the toughest environments in college football, a Beaver Stadium White Out.  

Pitt never stood a chance. Penn State’s dominant offensive and defensive display subdued the overmatched Panthers. McSorley threw for three touchdowns and Barkley accounted for over 120 all-purpose yards and two TDs as Penn State defeated Pitt 33-14. The game also produced an iconic photograph for Penn State fans, with Marcus Allen “showing the grill” to an on-his-back Darrian Hall following a safety.  

Following the game, Penn State coach James Franklin was asked about how much the game and the rivalry meant to the Nittany Lions.  He responded by saying, “I know last year, for (Pitt’s) win, it was like the Super Bowl. But for us, this was just like beating Akron.”  This quote was referring back to Penn State’s 52-0 drubbing of a lowly Akron Zips team just a week earlier. The quote ignited both fan bases for many different reasons.  Coach Franklin later walked back the quote, claiming it was taken out of context.

Either way, Penn State had gotten its revenge and made a statement in the process. Penn State would go on to win 10 games that season, capping the season with a Fiesta Bowl win over a good Washington team. Pitt would finish an abysmal 5-7, missing out on a bowl game, but again defeating a top-three team, No. 2 Miami, on the last day of the season.

The 2018 edition of the game was nothing short of a slaughter. Penn State was coming off a scare at the hands of Appalachian State and wasn’t looking like the team fans expected. Pitt thought the rivalry game could kickstart a turnaround to avenge their disappointment from the following season.

Any notion that the game would be a close, hard-hitting football game was quickly dismissed. Pitt scored at 7:09 in the first quarter but Penn State responded with seven unanswered touchdowns. The Panther-fan-dominated Heinz Field was diminished to mostly Penn State fans by the end of the third quarter, as Penn State demolished Pitt 51-6. Trace McSorley yet again tore up the Panther defense while redshirt freshman K.J. Hamler introduced himself to college football with a monster performance.  

The game was an embarrassment to Pitt, whose fans have lived with the notion of “51-6” since that game. Penn State and Pitt both ended up having interesting seasons that year. Penn State had a down year, winning nine games and earning a bid to play in the Citrus Bowl, but losing to Kentucky.  Pitt ended up winning seven games, but it was enough to win a weak ACC Coastal division. Pitt earned the right to lose to the eventual national champions, the University of Clemson, in the ACC Championship Game, 42-10, and lost the Sun Bowl to Stanford, ending the season 7-6.

The early-season game in Pittsburgh  proved what Penn State had figured out a year earlier – this rivalry didn’t benefit Penn State any more.  Penn State’s revitalized football program had overtaken Pitt in all facets and the Lions now needed to look for better and bigger opponents to help the team reach the College Football Playoffs.  The lack of flexibility that would result from Pitt being on the PSU schedule meant that Penn State wouldn’t be able to schedule future home games against Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Auburn.  To Penn State, the conclusion was simple: Pitt needed Penn State but Penn State didn’t need Pitt.

So we fast forward to this week. Penn State will host Pitt in the “stripe-out” game for the 100th all-time meeting at noon on Saturday, Sept. 14. Fans can already feel the excitement in the air. No matter what anyone says, the rivalry is real and strong. Penn State has the chance for the last laugh and a chance to prove that the Lions will always be Pitt’s older, better brother.  Pitt has the chance to stick it to the Nittany Lions, to punch them so hard in the nose that they’ll remember it for many, many years to come. Penn State enters the game as heavy favorites, led by new quarterback Sean Clifford and a defensive unit that can rival any in the nation.  Kenny Pickett will lead an overmatched Pitt team into Beaver Stadium as he will look to become a Pitt legend and lead the Panthers to a memorable victory over the Lions in Beaver Stadium.  

Kickoff is slated for Saturday at 12 p.m. on ABC.  Soak it in, enjoy it, cause for the 100th and final time (for now), Penn State and Pitt will battle it out for the Keystone State. WE ARE!

 

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