The driving distance between the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University is less than 75 miles and 90 minutes. As a result, the ”Backyard Brawl” between the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers is one of the fiercest rivalries in college sports.
The Backyard Brawl gets most of its notoriety on the football field. Started in 1895, the Panthers and Mountaineers have faced off 107 as football programs. Pitt leads that all-time series with a 63-41-3 record. The Panthers won the last game between these teams, who will face off in West Virginia on September 13 this season.
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With conference realignments and West Virginia in the Big 12 and Pitt in the ACC, it’s been harder to keep this rivalry going across all sports. Even the iconic football showdowns were on an 11-year hiatus between 2011 before resuming in 2022.
West Virginia Mountaineers guard Javon Small (7) shoots against Pittsburgh Panthers guard Brandin Cummings (3). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Basketball games between these two universities have also been fierce battles. On Thursday, it was announced that the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl will resume in 2025.
The Pitt Panthers will square off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on Thursday, November 13, of this season.
Pittsburgh has had the edge on the football side of this rivalry, the two programs have been evenly matched recently. On the basketball front, it’s been a different story between the two.
Pitt Panthers guard Jaland Lowe (15) grabs a rebound against West Virginia Mountaineers guard Tucker DeVries (12). Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
West Virginia has a 101-90 all-time series over Pitt in basketball. First played in 1906, the Panthers and Mountaineers faced at least once yearly between 1918 and 2012 as independent programs, then members of the Big East Conference.
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After 2012, West Virginia and Pitt didn’t play again until 2017. The two faced for three straight seasons, didn’t play in 2020, then have faced off for the last four years.
Pittsburgh Panthers forward Cameron Corhen (2) grabs a rebound over West Virginia Mountaineers guard KJ Tenner (3) during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Once the basketball rivalry resumed in 2017, West Virginia won their first five meetings over the Panthers. Pittsburgh has taken the last two, however, including an 86-62 win at home last season.
Pitt Panthers basketball had a 17-15 record last season, including an 8-12 mark in the ACC. Pitt has missed the NCAA tournament in seven of the last eight seasons.
West Virginia had a 19-13 record in 2024-25, going 10-10 in the Big 12 conference. The Mountaineers missed the NCAA tournament the last two seasons, but qualified in six of the previous eight years.
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