When the Pitt Panthers and Duquesne Dukes meet at Acrisure Stadium on Aug. 30, it will mark the first time since 1939 that the two “rivals” have met in a football game. Despite the schools being separated by only 3 miles, they have not played a football game against each other in 86 years.
Pitt has been a program that was an Independent, then Big East and now Atlantic Coast Conference member for the entirety of the program. Scheduling schools that are either FCS or lower is difficult, but to go 86 years without playing a school 3 miles away seems odd.
Once upon a time, the Duquesne football program was a powerhouse. The first ever AP Poll from 1936 had the Dukes ranked No. 14 in the country. Duquesne was an Independent program in Division 1 from 1891 until 1950 when the program folded. Duquesne brought back its football program in 1979 in Division 3 and then moved to the FCS ranks in 1993.
From 1933 until 1937 the Dukes won 38 games, including the 1936 Orange Bowl. While their record against Pitt is only 2-5, the Dukes won the last City Game, a 21-13 stunner on October 21, 1939.
This time around, however, the Dukes are an FCS school playing a Power-4 opponent in the Panthers. Pitt will unleash the “sharks” on defense, led by the dynamic linebacker duo of Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles.
On offense, head coach Pat Narduzzi has another tremendous duo in quarterback Eli Holstein and All-American running back Desmond Reid. With both having a year of offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s offense under their belt, expect a faster and more potent Pitt offense.
The Dukes were the top offense in the Northeast Conference in 2024, averaging 29.5 points per game and 383.8 yards per game. The Dukes return all five starting offensive linemen but lose all but one starter in the skill positions.
Head coach Jerry Schmidt landed former Gardner-Webb QB Tyler Riddell from the transfer portal. Riddell threw for 2,573 yards and 16 TDs with the Runnin Bulldogs in 2024. Riddell is a graduate transfer in his seventh season of college football.
The Duquesne defense gave up 24.0 points per game and 340.5 yards per game in 2024. There are six returning starters on the defensive side of the ball. Redshirt senior defensive back Antonio Epps was a First-Team All-NEC selection in 2024 after leading the team in tackles with 55.
Junior defensive lineman Jack Dunkley was also a First-Team All-NEC selection. Dunkley was a terror for opposing offenses as he led Duquesne with 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 8 QB hurries and 3 forced fumbles.
Unlike that game in 1939 where Duquesne upset the Panthers, this game will not be disappointing for Pitt fans. There is just too much talent on the Pitt roster for anything that resembles a close game. Expect the backups to be in just before halftime and Pitt wins walking away.