The Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC announced Tuesday that they are planning a scheduling alliance that would eventually involve each of their member schools playing two nonconference games against alliance members each season.
This vision may take a while to become reality, as previously scheduled nonconference matchups will be honored first. Still, it’s fun to wonder which showdowns our local teams may be able to line up for the future. Here are five dream scenarios for Pitt. Stay tuned for the Penn State-themed post.
Penn State — Duh. The ancient in-state rivalry returned from a long hiatus in 2016 for an amusing four-year run, but no future meetings are scheduled as of now. The alliance represents a new opportunity to keep it on future slates while giving both schools the flexibility to line up other entertaining opponents as well. Something like one meeting every three years seems like a good compromise, allowing us to see each schools’ graduating classes face each other at least once. No more wondering how individual matchups of program greats like Shady McCoy vs. Sean Lee would have played out. And no more petty squabbling over who’s responsible for the series going dormant. There are no excuses now.
Michigan/Ohio State — Of course it would be a boon for Pitt to get some games against the Big Ten’s other big names for obvious reasons. The television audiences would be huge. Both fan bases travel well, ensuring likely sellouts for any games played at Heinz Field. And imagine the excitement a win against either school could generate, particularly on the recruiting trail. Prospects around the region would have to sit up and take notice of the Panthers in a way they may not even after a big in-state win against the Nittany Lions. And the best part? While Ohio State has looked nearly unbeatable for the last decade-plus, Michigan has shown itself to be the opposite. That’s a program the Panthers could easily pick off and change perceptions quickly in doing so.
UCLA — Pitt last took the field at the Rose Bowl in 1936, 85 years ago. That means almost no one alive remembers the Panthers walking into the most hallowed building in the sport. A matchup with the Bruins in Pasadena would instantly become the trip of a lifetime for modern fans, unless the Panthers somehow find a way to play a College Football Playoff matchup there. Getting a game in the talent-rich Los Angeles market also couldn’t hurt for recruiting purposes. No, Pitt probably isn’t going to get a flood of talent from the other side of the country. But it only takes one overlooked gem to change a program’s trajectory.
Colorado — Did you know the Panthers and Buffaloes have never faced each other? Ever? It’s true. And what’s the fun of a scheduling alliance if it doesn’t include something we have literally never seen before? Let’s be under no illusion that this matchup would boost recruiting in any meaningful way or garner any national headlines if Pitt finds a way to win. It probably wouldn’t. Quirky is the appeal here. That, and a possible nice road trip, as Folsom Field offers one of the best stadium views anywhere in the country.
Rutgers/Maryland — Ok, ok. The matchups themselves aren’t the sexiest. Rutgers, in particular, stinks out loud and has for pretty much its entire Big Ten tenure so far. Still, these are teams Pitt finds itself in regular recruiting battles with for New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia talent. Knocking them down a peg would probably do more for recruiting than, say, beating an Iowa or Minnesota. And let’s face it. After some of the tough competition the Panthers have faced in the nonconference in recent years, a respite against the Big Ten’s soft underbelly every once in a while might make the difference between a good season and a great one.
Honorable mentions: Southern California, Oregon, Washington
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: August 25, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
