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FACTS & STATS: Site:Kinnick Stadium (70,585) -- Iowa City, Iowa. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Pittsburgh 2-0, Iowa 1-0. Away Record: Pittsburgh 0-0, Iowa 0-1. Neutral Record: Pittsburgh 0-0, Iowa 0-0. Conference Record: Pittsburgh 0-0, Iowa 0-0. Series Record: Pittsburgh leads, 3-1.

GAME NOTES: For the first time in 60 seasons, the Pittsburgh Panthers will travel to Iowa to meet the Hawkeyes in a non-conference showdown.

Pitt has an opportunity to start 3-0 for the first time since 2000 should it win in Iowa City, which will be no easy task. The Panthers gave head coach Todd Graham his first win at the school with a season-opening victory over Buffalo, but struggled to pull away in a 35-29 win over FCS-level Maine next time out. The Panthers have the best running back in the country through two games, but face Iowa, Notre Dame and USF in the next three weeks.

Iowa is coming off a tough 44-41 loss in three-overtimes to bitter rival Iowa State last weekend in Ames. The Hawkeyes had the lead three different times in the fourth quarter and during the extra frames, but nonetheless dropped their first game to the Cyclones in four years. In the end, the Hawkeyes couldn't capitalize on 11 penalties, three fumbles and two missed field goals by Iowa State. The home date with Pittsburgh will mark the beginning of a tough four-game stretch for the Hawkeyes, who close out non-league play with ULM before opening the Big Ten season at Penn State and at home against Northwestern in the following weeks.

Pittsburgh leads the series 3-1. The last time both teams met in Iowa City was in October of 1951, when the Hawkeyes enjoyed a 34-17 win.

The Pitt offense is firing on all cylinders thanks to running back Ray Graham, who after two weeks is the nation's leading rusher, gaining 322 yards and carrying a 5.6 yard per carry average. Graham is also tied for the national lead in touchdowns with six, and second in the country in points per game (18). The Pitt offense has put up 70 points in wins against Buffalo and Maine, with quarterback Tino Sunseri completing 58.7 percent of his passes for 403 yards and a touchdown. Sunseri has already been sacked nine times however, including seven times by FCS-level Maine last week in a game that was much closer than many expected.

The Pitt defense gave up 29 points to Maine in a tight win, which is cause for concern heading into this weekend's matchup with Iowa, a team that can flat- out score. The Panthers have given up 610 yards passing in two games (774 yards of total offense) but have started fast, outscoring opponents 16-0 in the first quarter. Where Pitt has been in form through two games is against the run, holding opponents to 164 yards rushing at 2.4 yards per clip. Statistically, K'Waun Williams has been the unit's best player so far, registering 15 tackles (two tackles for loss) and two pass breakups.

Offensively, Iowa has been led the first two games by running back Marcus Coker, who shredded Iowa State's defense. Coker carried 35 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback James Vandenberg completed 16-of-28 for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Iowa's offense hasn't been explosive through two weeks by any means, where in the opener the Hawkeyes only put up 394 yards of total offense in a 34-7 win over Tennessee Tech. There is no denying Iowa's ability to score, putting up 75 points through the first two contests, and its penchant for finishing off drives. The Hawkeyes have scored on 8-of-9 trips to the red zone.

The Hawkeye defense was dominant in the opener against Tennessee Tech, and it came up huge with three takeaways against the Cyclones. Iowa forced two fumbles and two punts on the first four possessions against Iowa State, and was dictating the game early. But the unit ran out of gas in the fourth quarter and overtime against its instate rival, allowing five touchdowns on Iowa State's final six possessions. Iowa allowed 474 yards of total offense against Iowa State, including 194 yards on the ground.

The Hawkeyes will face a stiff test this weekend with the nation's leading rusher coming to town in Pitt's Graham. The Panthers' performance against Maine was disappointing, and the country is about to learn a lot more about this team as it faces its first real test of the season in Iowa. The Hawkeyes have plenty to prove after a rare loss in their rivalry with Iowa State, and if the defense finds a way to contain Graham and force Sunseri to beat them, the Hawkeyes have enough to prevail in a slugfest.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Iowa 31, Pitt 28