The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Backyard Brawl

Pittsburgh61-37-3West Virginia
National Program I#36 of 138–National Program III#66 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →

Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 61-37-3. They've met 101 times since 1906. Pittsburgh once took 15 straight.

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
West Virginia
Win total
5.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -20
What fans are saying · player role
fans think Cam Cook should be protected from heavy workloads
Can we please not play Cook in the 2nd half?? Save him for the games that matter
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1906–2025

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 timePittsburghWest Virginiaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Pittsburgh won, gray: West Virginia won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

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

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Pittsburgh led 12 and West Virginia led 11.

more passmore runPittsburghWest Virginia2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262005Pittsburgh 22.7 ptsWest Virginia won 45-132026Pittsburgh 21.2 pts2018West Virginia 15.6 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Pittsburgh by 45 in 1978. The biggest crowd, 70,622, was in 2022.

The coaching duels

John Michelosen vs Gene Corum3-3
John Michelosen vs Art Lewis3-2
Foge Fazio vs Don Nehlen1-2-1
Mike Gottfried vs Don Nehlen2-1-1
Johnny Majors vs Don Nehlen0-4
Walt Harris vs Don Nehlen2-2

The draft ledger

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

Draft picks
143-91
Pittsburgh leads
1st-rounders
24-8
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
PittsburghWest Virginia
1960s3-1
1970s19-6
1980s36-11
1990s15-20
2000s27-17
2010s21-30
2020s22-6

Best picks, either side

1977Tony Dorsett Running Back · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1985Bill Fralic Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1992Sean Gilbert Defensive Tackle · Los Angeles RamsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2004Larry Fitzgerald Wide Receiver · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1985Chris Doleman Defensive End · Minnesota VikingsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1984Bill Maas Defensive Tackle · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1983Jimbo Covert Offensive Tackle · Chicago BearsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
2005Adam Jones Defensive Back · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 6#6 overall

Recent meetings

2025West Virginia31-24
2024Pittsburgh38-34
2023West Virginia17-6
2022Pittsburgh38-31
2011West Virginia21-20Pittsburgh — decided by 1
2010West Virginia35-10
2009West Virginia19-16Pittsburgh — decided by 3
2008Pittsburgh19-15
2007Pittsburgh13-9
2006West Virginia45-27
2005West Virginia45-13
2004Pittsburgh16-13West Virginia — decided by 3
2003West Virginia52-31
2002West Virginia24-17

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Pittsburgh’s chance to win through that meeting. Pittsburgh is 2-0 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2022: roaring.

2024Pittsburgh 38-34Pittsburgh won 38-34 vs West Virginia. Chance to win started at 42%, low 6%, high 92%.
2023West Virginia 17-6Pittsburgh lost 6-17 at West Virginia. Chance to win started at 42%, low 1%, high 59%.Busy
2022Pittsburgh 38-31Pittsburgh won 38-31 vs West Virginia. Chance to win started at 67%, low 10%, high 94%.Roaring
“If that decides it, I feel bad for him. He has been half of their team today.”
A Pittsburgh fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “I have heard that’s a good way to get points in this game”
    A fan of another team

Meetings with their own story page

4 meetings in our archive, 2022 to 2025.