PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) — Pitt released its 2012 regular season football schedule Tuesday, featuring six games to be played at Heinz Field.

The Panthers open with a 6 p.m. home game against Youngstown State Sept. 1, followed by an early conference opener at Cincinnati at 8 p.m. Sept. 6. The Cincinnati game is a Thursday night ESPN broadcast.

Non-conference play continues Sept. 15 at home against Virginia Tech followed by a visit from Gardner-Webb Sept. 22. Both kickoffs are to be determined.

After a bye week, Pitt returns to Big East play for a Friday night ESPN game at Syracuse Oct. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Pitt hosts Louisville Oct. 13, travels to Buffalo Oct. 20 and returns home to host Temple Oct. 27. All times are to be announced.

The Panthers’ final non-conference game of the year is Nov. 3 at Notre Dame — a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

The regular season wraps up with an 8 p.m. Friday night game at UConn on ESPN and then at USF Dec. 1.

Here’s a list with dates, times and opponenets (home games in bold):

Sept. 1: vs. Youngstown State, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6: at Cincinnati, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Sept. 15: vs. Virginia Tech, TBA
Sept. 22: vs. Gardner-Webb, TBA
Oct. 5: at Syracuse, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Oct. 13: vs. Louisville, TBA
Oct. 20: at Buffalo, TBA
Oct. 27: vs. Temple, TBA
Nov. 3: at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
Nov. 9: at UConn, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Nov. 24: vs. Rutgers, TBA
Dec. 1: at USF, TBA (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)

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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com