MORGANTOWN — The biggest game of the year isn’t typically played in the middle of September, but it’s hard to argue that there is ever a bigger game for WVU or Pitt than the Backyard Brawl.
The Backyard Brawl returns to the Steel City this season for the 107th meeting between bitter rivals West Virginia and Pitt (3:30 p.m., ESPN+). The Panthers (2-0) are looking to keep their momentum going after mounting a 21-point comeback to top Cincinnati last week while the Mountaineers (1-1) are still seeking redemption after a disappointing performance against Penn State in the season opener.
“The last rivalry game we were in, we did not show up and we did not participate at a very high level,” WVU coach Neal Brown said. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to get back into the arena and go up to Pitt for the Backyard Brawl.”
WVU and Pitt have split the two games since the Brawl’s renewal in 2022 with each side winning at home. This is the first time the Brawl won’t be in primetime since its renewal.
“This game could be played at 10 a.m. in the morning, it doesn’t matter,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “It’s the Brawl, it doesn’t matter when it gets played.”
The Panthers are feeling pretty good about being undefeated through two games. They trailed Cincinnati 27-6 with less than a minute left in the third quarter last week before storming back in the fourth to win 28-27.
“They’re 2-0 and probably haven’t played their best,” Brown said. “They’re going to have a lot of confidence going into the game.”
Pitt is breaking in a completely new offense this season, leading to the slow start against the Bearcats last week. New offensive coordinator Kade Bell has the Panthers playing as fast as any team in the country.
“They’ve got a lot of confidence,” Brown said. “You can see it on their tape, you can see it as they built in the second half (at Cincinnati).”
Pitt has a new quarterback as well this year in redshirt freshman Eli Holstein, who transferred from Alabama. A first-time starter, Holstein struggled initially against Cincinnati before leading four straight scoring drives late in the second half to steal the win.
“He has his first game as a starter, then his second game is on the road and then his third game is one of the biggest games of the year,” Narduzzi said. “Couldn’t we just have a normal home game?”
The star early on for Pitt has been running back Desmond Reid, who followed Bell from Western Carolina. He leads the country in all-purpose yards with 488. He became the first player in Pitt history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving after going for 148 on the ground and 106 through the air last week.
Reid is part of a solid group of skill players for Pitt with receivers Konata Mumpfield, Censere Lee and Kenny Johnson and tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
WVU’s offense got in gear in a 49-14 win over Albany last week after a stale performance against Penn State to start the season. Running backs CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White both eclipsed 100 rushing yards last week with Donaldson racking up 125 and White with 100.
“They’ve got a two-headed monster at running back and you’ve better be prepared for different stuff when both of them when they’re in,” Narduzzi said. “They do it all. There’s no tip as far as what they’re doing when they’re in there.”
Quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 236 yards, ran for 68 and accounted for four total touchdowns.
Greene’s mobility will be key for the Mountaineers against Pitt’s aggressive pass rush. Greene was only sacked five times all of last season, but Narduzzi believes the Panthers match up well against him.
“We’re more of a zone blitz so I think it fits into our hands of what we like to do,” he said. “We’ve got to be calculating because they’ll throw screens. We’re ready for them motioning to trips and throwing screens and all kinds of stuff.”
“It’s a typical Pitt defense, very aggressive,” Brown said. “There’s really no surprise on what they’re going to do. They do what they do and they’ve been doing it for a long time at a high level.”
West Virginia will begin Big 12 play following the Brawl, hosting Kansas the following week. Pitt hosts Youngstown State before beginning conference action against North Carolina.
