The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Keystone Classic

Pittsburgh43-52-4Penn State
National Program I#36 of 138–Power Program I#12 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Penn State leads the all-time series 52-43-4. They've met 99 times since 1896. Penn State has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Pittsburgh
Win total
8.0
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -19
Penn State
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -37
What fans are saying · player performance
fans think the defense can't stop any opposing offense
I’m afraid we’re going to get slaughtered. I’ve never seen a PSU defense so bad
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1896–2019

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timePittsburghPenn Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Pittsburgh won, gray: Penn State won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Penn State has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Pittsburgh led 10 and Penn State led 13.

more passmore runPittsburghPenn State2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262014Penn State 18.9 pts2024Pittsburgh 12.7 pts2019Pittsburgh 12.1 ptsPenn State won 17-10
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Pittsburgh once won 14 in a row. The biggest win was Penn State by 59 in 1903. The biggest crowd, 109,898, was in 2017.

The coaching duels

John Michelosen vs Rip Engle5-5-1
Jackie Sherrill vs Joe Paterno2-3
Charles Bowser vs Bob Higgins1-3
Carl DePasqua vs Joe Paterno0-4
Johnny Majors vs Joe Paterno1-3
Foge Fazio vs Joe Paterno1-2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
143-258
Penn State leads
1st-rounders
24-40
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
PittsburghPenn State
1960s3-8
1970s19-45
1980s36-48
1990s15-33
2000s27-38
2010s21-40
2020s22-46

Best picks, either side

1995Ki-Jana Carter Running Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2000Courtney Brown Defensive End · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1977Tony Dorsett Running Back · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1985Bill Fralic Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2018Saquon Barkley Running Back · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1990Blair Thomas Running Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2000LaVar Arrington Linebacker · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1992Sean Gilbert Defensive Tackle · Los Angeles RamsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

They haven’t met since 2019 — 7 seasons and counting.

2019Penn State17-10
2018Penn State51-6
2017Penn State33-14
2016Pittsburgh42-39Penn State — decided by 3
2000Pittsburgh12-0
1999Penn State20-17Pittsburgh — decided by 3
1998Penn State20-13
1997Penn State34-17
1992Penn State57-13
1991Penn State32-20
1990Penn State22-17
1989Penn State16-13Pittsburgh — decided by 3
1988Pittsburgh14-7
1987Pittsburgh10-0

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Pittsburgh’s chance to win through that meeting.

2019Penn State 17-10Pittsburgh lost 10-17 at Penn State. Chance to win started at 13%, low under 1%, high 29%.
2018Penn State 51-6Pittsburgh lost 6-51 vs Penn State. Chance to win started at 27%, low under 1%, high 40%.

Meetings with their own story page

4 meetings in our archive, 2016 to 2019.