MORGANTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The historic rivalry between West Virginia University (WVU) and the University of Pittsburgh is set to enter a new arena this season—virtual football.
WVU Esports has partnered with Pitt to bring the famed Backyard Brawl to EA Sports College Football 25, marking the first time this heated contest will take place in the digital realm.
Registration was open for current students at WVU and Pitt who wish to participate in their school’s online College Football 25 tournament.
The registration period ended on Sunday.
Each school’s tournament will run from Tuesday, September 3, through Sunday, September 8.
The winners of these tournaments will represent their universities in a face-off on Friday, September 13, at 12 PM at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, just a day before the Mountaineers and Panthers clash on the football field.
Josh Steger, WVU Esports Director and Varsity Head Coach, expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
“This is a very exciting thing for us to get to do; it feels like an aspect of this rivalry that should have started ages ago. Now even if Pitt and WVU miss a year of action [in football], we have the esports aspect to always fall back on for students to play each other in.”
The arrival of EA Sports College Football 25 has been eagerly anticipated by college football fans, as it marks the first installment in the series in 11 years.
The game allows fans and students to immerse themselves in the full experience of college football, from the big plays and iconic traditions to the intense rivalries that define the sport.
“We get to extend the rivalry beyond just the players on the field, but also allow the fans and students to be engaged in the Backyard Brawl in a new way,” Steger said. “Now our students can feel like the rivalry is in their hands in some aspects.”
