Pitt's Pat Narduzzi offers thoughts on future of Backyard Brawl

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi noted Monday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that this weekend features the final installment of the Backyard Brawl until 2029.

While he can only give his opinion as a coach, for his part, Narduzzi wants to see the Backyard Brawl return to being an annual affair.

“We’d like to see the game played,” Narduzzi said. “It’s going to pick up in 2029, so it’s going to be awhile (until) we play them again. There’s nothing I can do about it. I’d like this game to be played. I’d like to play Penn State. I’d like to play any rivalry game. I think just having that on our schedule is a lot of fun as a coach and players. It’s great for the fans.”

As for the feasibility of erasing the upcoming three-year break, a lane seemed to appear back in August, when West Virginia and Alabama mutually agreed to cancel a home-and-home series scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

However, the Mountaineers filled those slots with Coastal Carolina (2026) and Southern Miss (2027).

For the time being, Pitt and West Virginia appear to have fully booked nonconference schedules leading into 2029, when another four-year stretch of Backyard Brawls reappear through 2032.

Per Narduzzi, Pitt unsuccessfully inquired with their neighbor across the border about 2026 and 2027.

“I don’t want to speak for (athletic director) Allen (Greene), but I think our athletic director has reached out to them and they already got it filled up,” Narduzzi said. “Maybe they don’t want to play us, I don’t know. But they filled it up. But they knew that was going to happen. I know if we knew that was going to happen, (WVU) would be our first call. Whatever, can’t do anything about it. Just stay in my lane.”