Pitt Opening 2025 Football Season with Historic Duquesne Matchup

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Sports Now
By Karl Ludwig | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 2:17 PM ET

Pitt will kick off the 2025 season with the renewal of a crosstown rivalry.

Pitt will host Duquesne at Acrisure Stadium on Aug. 30 to open the 2025 season, the university announced on Tuesday. The kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

Pitt and Duquesne haven’t met in 86 years, since a 21-13 Dukes win at Pitt stadium in 1939. Pitt holds an all-time advantage, leading the series 5-2 since an inaugural meeting in 1901.

For the first time in 86 years…

Pitt vs Duquesne

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Pitt is coming off a well-documented 7-6 season, capped by a loss to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl last month. It was the final loss in a six-game losing streak to end the season. The coaching staff has been busy in the transfer portal since, looking to revamp a roster that had the best start in recent memory.

The roster is buoyed by the returns of quarterback Eli Holstein and All-American running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis. It wasn’t a fun conclusion to the season, but there are pieces in place for a bounce back.

Duquesne is coming off an 8-3 (5-1 NEC) season that ended with a loss to Central Connecticut State for the NEC auto bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

The Pitt non-conference slate also includes Central Michigan, West Virginia and Notre Dame, and the full 2025 season slate will be announced on the ACC Network later this month.

2025 Non-Conference Opponents

Aug. 30: Duquesne

Sept. 6: Central Michigan

Sept. 13: at West Virginia

TBA: Notre Dame

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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