Pitt Panthers

- The Panthers will open the 2006 season at home against Virginia of the ACC on Sept. 2. The Cavaliers are one of seven bowl teams the Panthers will face this year.

• In addition to Virginia, Pitt will host Big 10 foe Michigan State (Sept. 16) and one of the nation’s winningest programs in Toledo (Sept. 30).

• Also visiting Heinz Field will be three Big East bowl teams: Rutgers (Oct. 21), Sugar Bowl champion West Virginia, (Nov. 16) and Louisville (Nov. 25). The Citadel will also visit Pittsburgh (Sept. 23).

• Pitt will open Big East play on the road with the “River City Rivalry” at Cincinnati (Sept. 8) and also play league games at Syracuse (Oct. 7), South Florida (Nov. 4) and Connecticut (Nov. 11).

• The Panthers’ lone non-conference road game will be at Central Florida (Oct. 13) in Orlando, site of Pitt’s 2001 Tangerine Bowl triumph.