Jan. 22, 2008

   PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh announced today its non-conference football schedule for 2008. The Panthers will play five non-conference games this season, including three at Heinz Field.

                                                      

   Pitt's home slate will include its first meeting with traditional Big Ten power Iowa in 56 years. The Panthers and Hawkeyes will meet Sept. 20, the first game between the two schools since 1952. Pitt will open the '08 campaign at home against Bowling Green on Aug. 30 and will also host Buffalo Sept. 6.

  

   Iowa has advanced to bowl games in six of the past seven seasons, while Bowling Green is a 2007 GMAC Bowl participant. Buffalo is coming off one of its most successful seasons in recent memory, finishing as co-champions of the Mid-American Conference's East Division.

  

   Pitt will play road non-conference contests at Notre Dame (Nov. 1) and Navy (Oct. 18). The 2008 meeting marks the first of eight consecutive games between the Panthers and Irish. Pitt claimed a dramatic 41-38 victory in its last visit to Notre Dame during the Panthers' 2004 Fiesta Bowl season.

 

   Navy played in the Poinsettia Bowl last season, its fifth consecutive postseason game. The Panthers last played in Annapolis in 1987.

 

   The 2008 Big East schedule will be released at a later time. Pitt will host West Virginia, Louisville and Rutgers at Heinz Field. The Panthers will play Big East road contests at Cincinnati, Connecticut, Syracuse and USF.

 

   The complete non-conference schedule: 

 

   Aug. 30: Bowling Green                        

                                                                       

   Sept. 6: Buffalo                                    

                                                              

   Sept. 20: Iowa                                        

 

   Oct. 18: at Navy                                    

 

   Nov. 1: at Notre Dame                          

 

   All home games denoted in bold