Feb 2, 2007 2 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pitt will play seven home games in what may be its weakest home football schedule in decades, one that lacks a single marquee opponent. Pitt’s 2007 home opponents are Eastern Michigan, Grambling, Connecticut, Navy, Cincinnati, Syracuse and South Florida.

None of the teams finished in the Top 25 last season, and Eastern Michigan (1-11), UConn (4-8), Syracuse (4-8) and Division I-AA Grambling (3-8) all had eight or more losses. Only Navy (9-4), South Florida (9-4) and Cincinnati (8-5) had winning records.

Pitt plays three Top 15 teams from last season, all of them Big East rivals on the road: No. 6 Louisville (12-1), No. 10 West Virginia (11-2) and No. 12 Rutgers (11-2). The West Virginia game in Morgantown on Dec. 1 will close Pitt’s season.

Pitt also plays Michigan State (4-8) and Virginia (5-7) on the road as the Panthers, 6-6 a season ago, try for their first winning record under third-year coach Dave Wannstedt. Pitt beat Virginia at home last season but lost to Michigan State at Heinz Field.

One change finds all 12 games scheduled on Saturdays. Last season, Pitt played two Friday night road games and West Virginia on a Thursday night. The last three Pitt-West Virginia games were Thursday games.

During most of its football history, Pitt commonly played at least one of its big rivals – West Virginia and Penn State – at home.

But the Panthers haven’t met the Nittany Lions since 2000, and West Virginia visits only once every other season as part of the Big East schedule.

Pitt’s schedule, with times to be announced later:

Sept. 1, Eastern Michigan; Sept. 8, Grambling, Sept. 15, at Michigan State; Sept. 22, Connecticut; Sept. 29, at Virginia.

Oct. 13, Navy; Oct. 20, Cincinnati; Oct. 27, at Louisville.

Nov. 3, Syracuse; Nov. 17, at Rutgers; Nov. 24, South Florida.

Dec. 1, at West Virginia.