The remnants of tropical storm Gordon arrived in Pittsburgh well before the 8 p.m. kickoff and the fans were soaked before they sat down in their wet seats. Rain fell early and often and soon the tears of the Panther faithful added to the deluge of water inside Heinz Field. The impact of the field conditions on the game was minimal. Following a competitive first half, Penn State pulled away, scoring 44 unanswered points.
There was confusion on the Pitt side prior to the opening coin flip, and although the Panthers won the toss, the captains chose to receive the kickoff.