Feb. 4, 2010

PITTSBURGH -

Adding to the excitement of Pitt's 10-win season in 2009, Pitt announced today its 2010 non-conference football schedule.

The Panthers' home schedule will be highlighted by a Thursday night ESPN matchup with Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Heinz Field. The Hurricanes are listed in numerous preseason top 25 rankings after finishing 9-4 in 2009.

Pitt will also host New Hampshire (Sept. 11) and Florida International (Oct. 2), while the Panthers travel to Utah to open the season (Sept. 2) and Notre Dame (Oct. 9).

The Panthers kick off the 2010 season Thursday, Sept. 2 at Utah, set to be broadcast on CBS College Sports. Utah, coming off its ninth consecutive bowl victory and back-to-back 10-win seasons, has had just one meeting with Pitt in the schools' history, the 2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Pitt will open its home schedule with New Hampshire Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field. The Wildcats have advanced to the FCS playoffs each of the last six seasons and have defeated their last five FBS (formerly Division I) opponents, beginning with Big East foe Rutgers in 2004.

The Panthers return home Saturday, Oct. 2 for their first-ever meeting with Florida International. The Golden Panthers return five players who were honored by the Sun Belt Conference on their postseason teams.

Pitt rounds out its non-conference schedule with a trip to Notre Dame on Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m. on NBC. Matchups between Pitt and the Irish have thrilled fans over the past few years, including a 36-33 four-overtime Pitt victory in South Bend in 2008, which marked the longest game in both schools' history. Last season, the Panthers claimed a 27-22 win over Notre Dame at Heinz Field in front of a sold out crowd.

The 2010 Big East schedule will be released at a later time. Pitt will host Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia at Heinz Field. The Panthers will play Big East road contests at Connecticut, Cincinnati, Syracuse and USF.