Few rivalries in college football capture the collision of history, geography, and identity quite like Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh. The Irish and Panthers first met in 1909, and for more than a century the matchup has produced national upsets, legendary players, and some of the most dramatic games in Notre Dame’s long and storied past. From Pitt’s early dominance under Jock Sutherland to Notre Dame’s control of the series under Leahy, Parseghian, and Holtz — and the unforgettable modern thrillers in 2008 and 2012 — this rivalry has always carried extra weight.
It’s a series built on recruiting turf battles, blue-collar roots, and top-10 showdowns, with each program taking turns shaping national championship races.