You’ve heard the talk. People say the Penn State vs WVU football rivalry isn't a "real" rivalry anymore because Penn State has dominated for so long. Or they say West Virginia just can't keep up with the Big Ten’s resources.
Honestly? That’s kinda reductive.
If you were in Morgantown on August 31, 2024, you felt it. The air was thick. Not just from the humidity or the looming storm clouds that eventually paused the game for over two hours, but from a century of regional friction. This isn't just a game. It’s a cultural collision between the Alleghenies and the Susquehanna.
The Reality of the Penn State vs WVU Football History
Let’s look at the numbers because they’re staggering. Penn State leads the all-time series 50-9-2.
That looks like a blowout on paper. But for the fans who lived through the 70s and 80s, these games were wars. Between 1947 and 1992, these two played every single year. It was a staple of Eastern independent football before conference realignment tore the schedule apart.
The 2024 matchup was the second leg of a home-and-home renewal that started in 2023. Penn State took both. They won 38-15 in Happy Valley and then silenced a sellout crowd of 62,084 at Milan Puskar Stadium with a 34-12 victory.
Why the 2024 Game Changed the Narrative
Most experts thought WVU had a legitimate shot in 2024. Garrett Greene was coming off a hot season. The Mountaineers had momentum.
Then Drew Allar happened.
Allar looked different in that season opener. He was efficient, throwing for 216 yards and three touchdowns. But it was Harrison "Tre" Wallace III who really broke the Mountaineers' hearts. He caught five passes for 117 yards and two scores, basically making the WVU secondary look like they were standing in wet cement.
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Then came the lightning.
A two-hour and 19-minute weather delay can kill a team’s energy. When play resumed, Nicholas Singleton put the nail in the coffin with a 40-yard touchdown run. He finished with 114 yards on just 13 carries. Total yards? Penn State 457, West Virginia 246.
It wasn't just a win; it was a statement.
The "Old Ironsides" Trophy and Lost Traditions
Here’s something most people totally forget: The Old Ironsides Trophy.
Back in the day, Penn State, West Virginia, and Pitt were the "Big Three" of the tri-state area. They played a round-robin every year for this trophy.
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In 1984, West Virginia actually won the trophy. Then, Penn State "misplaced" it. Seriously. It vanished. Some say it's in a closet in State College; others think it’s a legend. That kind of petty history is what makes Penn State vs WVU football so much better than a standard non-conference game.
What’s Next for This Rivalry?
Don’t hold your breath for another game anytime soon.
Scheduling is a nightmare now. With the Big Ten moving to a 9-game conference schedule and WVU tethered to the Big 12, finding a Saturday that works is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube in the dark.
West Virginia is busy renewing the Backyard Brawl with Pitt through 2036. Penn State is focused on their Big Ten gauntlet.
But the demand is there. The 2023 game was NBC’s most-watched primetime college football game featuring only one ranked team since 2015. TV executives love this matchup. Fans love it.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a fan of either program, here is how you should view the current landscape:
- Follow the Strength of Schedule: Penn State’s dominance in this series is a huge feather in the cap for Big Ten proponents. If you're betting or tracking CFP rankings, these regional wins carry more weight than beating a random Group of Six school.
- Watch the Secondary: If West Virginia wants to compete with Tier 1 programs, the 2024 loss showed they must recruit more speed in the defensive backfield.
- Keep the Pressure on Athletic Directors: If you want to see this game again before 2035, fan noise matters. Regional rivalries are the soul of the sport, and losing them to conference expansion is a net negative for everyone involved.
Check the future non-conference schedules for both schools regularly. While nothing is currently on the books for a third renewal, the massive TV ratings from the last two years make it a prime candidate for a neutral-site game in Pittsburgh or even another home-and-home deal once the current TV contracts approach their next cycle.