College Football: 25 most underappreciated team rivalries of all time

3. Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

Though they don’t reside in the same state, the Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia Mountaineers are separated by just 75 miles. In that stretch of land between, there is no doubt an array of fans that cheer for either side.

As a result, the meeting between the two teams has been dubbed the Backyard Brawl. It’s a rivalry that deserves more attention, especially considering that it’s not been in the spotlight in recent years.

The Backyard Brawl is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, as the two teams first played one another back in 1895. That game was won by West Virginia, but in the 104 overall games that the teams have faced each other in, it’s the Panthers that hold the edge, boasting a 61-40-3 record against their close rivals.

Despite the long history of the rivalry, though, perhaps the two best instances of the Backyard Brawl happened in the 2000s. The first was in 2007 when a sub-.500 Pitt team went on the road and upset the second-ranked Mountaineers, ending West Virginia’s BCS National Championship hopes.

Two years later, West Virginia returned the favor, as they knocked off a top-10 ranked Pittsburgh team on a thrilling field goal at the end of the 60 minutes of action.

Unfortunately, fans haven’t been treated to another edition of the Backyard Brawl in nearly a decade, as the two teams last met in 2011 (a game won by West Virginia, 21-20).

It may be a bit before we see it again too, but the two programs will meet for four-straight years starting in 2022. If past meetings are any indication, that’s something football fans should be looking forward to.