Upcoming Pittsburgh Panthers Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Pitt football, from Pop Warner to the ACC
The Pittsburgh Panthers play their home games at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Shore, the 68,400-seat stadium they share with the NFL's Steelers. The home season runs from late August or early September through November. Pitt competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which it joined in 2013, and in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, the top tier of NCAA Division I).
Pitt has fielded a team since 1890 and was an independent for a century before joining the Big East in 1991. The program claims nine national championships. The two from the major wire-service polls came in 1937 and 1976, when Tony Dorsett won the Heisman Trophy and an undefeated Pitt beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Earlier titles came under coaches Pop Warner and Jock Sutherland, who between them shaped the program for nearly a quarter century.
- Pro Football Hall of Famers: Pitt ranks among the top colleges, with Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Aaron Donald and Larry Fitzgerald among them
- Recent title: the 2021 team won the ACC championship outright
- Radio history: the 1921 Pitt–West Virginia game was the first live radio broadcast of a college football game in the United States
Pitt played at Pitt Stadium on the Oakland campus from 1925 through 1999, spent the 2000 season at Three Rivers Stadium and moved into the new stadium, then called Heinz Field, in 2001.
Where to sit at Acrisure Stadium for Pitt games
Acrisure Stadium is a horseshoe. Three-tier grandstands line both sidelines, upper bleacher seating closes the north end, and the south end stays open toward the Ohio River and the downtown skyline. The seating chart uses three numbered levels: the 100 level (sections 101–152) in the lower bowl, the 200-level club (sections 205–240) and the 500-level upper deck (sections 504–541).
Good choices
- Lower sideline, middle rows: the best balance of closeness and perspective. The very first rows put players and staff on the sideline in your line of sight.
- 200-level club: a strong sideline angle and indoor club space, worth it for a cold November game.
- 500 level between the 20-yard lines: the value way to see formations and the whole field.
- South end zone: the open end, with the skyline behind the action. Wind and weather come straight in.
Think twice about
- North-end bleachers: low prices but the longest view to the far end zone.
- Exposed rows in late-season games: the stadium sits on the river, and November games can be cold, wet and windy. Back rows tucked under the deck above offer some cover; umbrellas can be carried in but not opened in the stands.
Pitt draws smaller crowds than the Steelers for most games, so you often have more choice of seats than the stadium's NFL reputation suggests. The student section, the Panther Pitt, is the loudest part of the building, and the team gathers in front of it to celebrate after home wins. Confirm its location and the team benches on the map attached to your listing.
The Backyard Brawl, Penn State and other big games
- West Virginia: the Backyard Brawl, first played in 1895 and one of the most-played rivalries in college football. After a decade off, the series was renewed for 2022 through 2025, and each team won its two home games.
- Penn State: the historic in-state rival, first played in 1893. After a 16-year break the series returned from 2016 to 2019, and Penn State's athletic director said an extension would not be considered until at least 2030.
- Syracuse: played every year since 1955 and carried from the Big East into the ACC.
- Notre Dame: a series dating to 1909, now scheduled periodically under Notre Dame's ACC scheduling agreement.
- Cincinnati: the River City Rivalry, with the Paddlewheel Trophy, renewed in 2023 and 2024.
A West Virginia or Penn State game in Pittsburgh, a Notre Dame visit and late-season ACC games with title stakes draw the biggest crowds. Early nonconference games and games against unranked conference opponents are the easiest tickets to find. Check the current schedule, because the marquee nonconference series rotate on and off.
Pitt gameday traditions
- Panthers Prowl: about two hours before kickoff, the team walks into the stadium outside Gate A, where fans line up to greet them.
- March to Victory: about an hour before kickoff, the Pitt Band marches from Tony Dorsett Drive down General Robinson Street to a stage on Art Rooney Avenue.
- "Sweet Caroline": the crowd sings a "Let's Go Pitt" version of the song, led by the video board.
- Riverboat horns: boats of the Gateway Clipper fleet sound their horns after Pitt touchdowns.
- Victory lights: after a win, the top of the Cathedral of Learning on the Oakland campus is lit gold, a tradition since 1983, with a blue beam added in 2018.
Tailgating takes place in the North Shore lots under the parking operator's rules, but not inside the Champions Garage. Fans coming from the Oakland campus generally use transit, shuttles or rideshare.
Getting to the North Shore and stadium rules
Pittsburgh's light rail, the T, stops at Allegheny Station, connected to the stadium by a raised walkway, and at North Side Station; riding from downtown avoids the worst of the North Shore traffic. Parking is sold in advance for the stadium lots, and the Gateway Clipper has run riverboat service on game days. Check the stadium's parking page for current options.
As of the 2026 season, Acrisure Stadium enforced a clear-bag policy (bags must be transparent plastic, vinyl or PVC, smaller than 12 by 6 by 12 inches), plus small clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Factory-sealed plastic bottles of water or soft drinks of 24 ounces or less were permitted, the stadium was cashless and there was no re-entry. Check the stadium's A to Z guide before you go.
How Pitt football tickets are sold
Season tickets go first to returning holders, and the best sideline locations are tied to giving to Pitt athletics, so donors control most of the seats between the 30s. Students buy through a separate university system. Single-game tickets go on sale after season holders are served, and for many games plenty of seats are available.
Demand changes sharply for the Backyard Brawl, Penn State or Notre Dame, when visiting fans travel in numbers and the stadium can approach capacity. For those games, resale is how most fans find good seats, and prices follow the matchup, the team's ranking, the kickoff time and the weather. Every order on GoodSeats comes with guaranteed entry.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Pitt Panthers play home football games?
At Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Shore, which Pitt shares with the Steelers. Pitt has played there since it opened as Heinz Field in 2001.
How many national championships does Pitt claim?
Nine. The two from the major wire-service polls came in 1937 and 1976; the others are 1915, 1916, 1918, 1929, 1931, 1934 and 1936.
What is the Backyard Brawl?
Pitt's rivalry with West Virginia, first played in 1895. The 1921 game was the first live radio broadcast of a college football game in the United States.
What are the Cathedral of Learning victory lights?
After a Pitt football win, the top of the Cathedral of Learning is lit gold, a tradition since 1983. A blue beam was added in 2018.
How do I get to Acrisure Stadium without driving?
Take the T light rail to Allegheny Station, which connects to the stadium by a raised walkway, or to North Side Station. Riverboat service has also run on game days.