Pitt announces 2011 non-conference football schedule

By Kevin Kelley -

The Pittsburgh Panthers have announced their 2011 non-conference football schedule, which features games against Iowa, Notre Dame and Utah.

Pitt will open the 2011 season at Heinz Field on September 3 against the Buffalo Bulls of the MAC. The Panthers are 2-0 against the Bulls, having won 27-16 at home in 2008 and 54-27 at Buffalo in 2009.

The Panthers will host the Maine Black Bears, an FCS team, on September 10 before traveling to face the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten on September 17. Pittsburgh has never faced Maine and owns a 3-1 record against Iowa.

Notre Dame visits Heinz Field on September 24. The Fighting Irish lead the overall series against the Panthers 45-20-1, but the two schools have split the last six games.

Pittsburgh’s final non-conference contest is at home on October 15 against Utah. The Utes, who will play in the expanded Pac-12 in 2011, beat the Panthers last year 27-24 in Salt Lake City.

The Big East portion of Pitt’s schedule will be released in the Spring. Pittsburgh will host Cincinnati, Connecticut, Syracuse and USF and will travel to face Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia.

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