Pitt is adding another familiar name to its 2026-27 non-conference slate, and this one comes with a historic setting.
The Panthers will face Penn State at the Palestra on Nov. 8, giving the annual in-state matchup a spot in one of college basketball’s most recognizable buildings. The Palestra is marking its 100th anniversary and remains home to Penn’s indoor teams in Philadelphia.
This will be the latest chapter in a series that has been bouncing around Pennsylvania. Last season, Pitt and Penn State met at the GIANT Center in Hershey, where the Panthers rolled to a dominant win. That result stood out as a rare blowout over another Power 4 opponent for Pitt, and the players who carried that game are now scattered across different teams.
Both programs have gone heavily into the transfer portal after rough seasons. Penn State added six transfers, while Pitt brought in 11. The Nittany Lions finished the 2025-26 season last in the Big Ten, and Pitt ended up 15th in the ACC.
Even with Penn State’s recent struggles, the early-season meeting should still give Pitt a useful test against a Big Ten opponent. The Panthers have plenty of talent, but blending a roster full of new pieces is never simple.
The Nov. 8 game will also be the 150th all-time meeting between Pitt and Penn State in men’s basketball. Penn State holds a narrow 76-73 edge in the series, though Pitt has been better lately, going 6-1 in the last seven matchups.
For Pitt, the trip to the Palestra will be the program’s 23rd game in the building. The Panthers are 7-15 there overall, but they did win their most recent game at the venue, a 78-58 victory over Penn.
Pitt’s non-conference schedule also includes the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia, which will be played at PPG Paints Arena. That keeps the rivalry in a neutral setting, though at least it stays close to home in Pittsburgh.
The Panthers will also host former Big East rival Villanova at the Petersen Event Center, looking to bounce back after last year’s meeting.
Other notable non-conference games on the schedule include Missouri in the ACC/SEC Challenge and Oklahoma and DePaul in the Fort Meyers Tip-Off.
In Other News...
Larry Fitzgerald Just Put More Pressure On Pitt QB Mason Heintschel
Larry Fitzgerald had a little bit of everything to say about two quarterbacks he knows well when he spoke at the Caesars Celebrity Pro Am, and Pitt fans will naturally zero in on what he said about Mason Heintschel. The former NFL star praised the Panthers current starter for his leadership and toughness, noting the hits he absorbed last year and the work ethic that has helped put him in position to lead the offense now.
Fitzgerald also made clear he is pulling for Heintschel to keep moving Pitt forward, with an eye on a bigger season for the program. At the same time, he was also balancing his support for Kyler Murray in Minnesotas quarterback competition, a reminder that Fitzgeralds quarterback connections stretch well beyond Pittsburgh even as the Panthers try to build around the one under center now. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Lands A Rivalry Stage That Will Mean Plenty To Fans
Pitt has added a familiar rivalry date to its early schedule, and this one comes with extra weight because of where it will be played. The Panthers announced they will face Penn State on Nov. 8 at The Palestra in Philadelphia, a setting that still carries real cachet in college basketball and gives the annual non-conference meeting a little more edge than usual.
It is also the latest chapter in a series that has become a consistent neutral-site affair, with the schools set to meet for the 150th time. For Jeff Capel, the venue matters, and for Pitt there is another layer to watch as the roster takes shape after a busy offseason and one transfer guard with Philadelphia ties gets a chance to play in front of a crowd that should feel close to home. [Read more 🡒]