[1] Parke H. Davis, recognized as a "major selector" in the official NCAA football records book,[2] named Pitt as one of that season's co-national champions.

[5] On December 15, at a private team banquet, coach Sutherland named end Edward Hirshberg captain for the 1931 Pitt football season.

Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press reported: "...the Ohioans, while not hoping for a victory, expect to give the Panthers a rough and ready battle, with Wilbur Cartwright, an ace runner and passer, in the major role.

[27] Coach Sutherland spoke with The Pitt Weekly: "I am just as anxious as you are to find out just what kind of team we have this year, but we won't be able to tell until we have been in a game.

[44][45] The Pitt Weekly was confident: "About all that West Virginia can hope to do against the Panthers tomorrow is hold them to a low score, and its prospects for doing so are not very bright.

"[46] The Panthers were healthy and Coach Sutherland used the same starting lineup that played in the Iowa game except for John Luch at fullback in place of James Clark.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Theodore Dailey, John Meredith, Francis Seigel, Joseph Tormey, Robert Morris, Tarciscio Onder, Herman Yentch, John Love, Joseph Skladany, Arthur Timmons, Rocco Cutri, Zora Alpert, James Simms, Melvin Brown, Mike Sebastian, Dick Matesic, James Clark, Howard Gelini and William Hasson.

[50] The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph reported: "Karl Davis and Tom Keady, Western Reserve football chiefs, were not dismayed at the prospect that their team would be outclassed and decisively beaten in the game with Pitt...Coach Keady says..his main object is to develop material for the future, and he is confident that his present sophomores, combined with the fine freshman material at hand, soon will put Reserve on the map from a football viewpoint.

"[51] Coach Sutherland spent the week preparing his first string for the Notre Dame game, while prepping his second and third teams to take on the Red Cats.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Edward Hirshberg, Joseph Timmins, Jesse Quatse, Paul Cuba, Walter Milligan, John Valenti, Ralph Daugherty, Herman Yentch, Hart Morris, George Schindehutte, R. K. Smith, James MacMurdo, Ray Anderson, Arthur Timmons, Arthur Craft, Bob Hogan, Zora Alpert, Melvin Brown, Warren Heller, Howard O'Dell, Eric Heller, Dick Matesic, Arthur Sekay, Harold Roth, Howard Gelini, William Hasson and Jack Schricker.

The game was somewhat bittersweet in that famed Notre Dame coach, Knute Rockne, tragically died in a plane crash on March 31.

[58][59] Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press noted: "Jock Sutherland wants to win this game more than any other on the schedule and every trick he's ever mastered will be at the command of the Panthers Saturday.

Two starters, guard Hart Morris (broken hand) and halfback Paul Reider (severe leg injury), were injured in the Notre Dame game and unable to play.

Later in the quarter State fullback George Lasich's fumble led to William Hasson's 25 yard dash to the end zone.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were William Hasson, Robert Morris, Dick Matesic, Herman Yentch, Melvin Brown, George Schindehutte, Zora Alpert, Arthur Timmons, Paul Cuba, John Valenti and Howard Gelini.

[73] Even though the Tartans were missing three starters from their lineup due to injuries (fullback Jerry O'Toole, guard Clyde Heinzer and end Lib Lewis), "the sterling fight the Tartans put forth in battling Notre Dame has convinced their supporters that if effort and spirit can win the game today, the Skibos will come out on top.

"[75] The Pitt students refrained from the downtown parade that blemished the 1930 city clash, and held a pep rally close to campus.

In the third quarter Warren Heller completed a 26 yard scoring pass to Reider, and MacMurdo was good again with the placement to double the Panther lead to 14 to 0.

[78] Coach Sutherland mused: "The Carnegie boys were fighters, they played heads-up football throughout the contest, and I want to compliment them for their fine showing...It was a great battle."

Tartan coach Waddell concurred: "We were up against a superior and better football team, but I think the Pitt players and the spectators agree that Carnegie gave the best it had.

The game ended in a scoreless tie and the proceeds went to the National Unemployment Relief Fund commissioned by President Herbert Hoover.

[80] On November 14, the entire United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets marched into Pittsburgh for the first gridiron battle between the two schools.

[83] Army considered cancelling their season after sophomore Cadet Richard Sheridan broke his neck during the Yale contest and died two days later.

"[88] The Panthers lost both their starting quarterback (Bob Hogan) and left end (Eddie Hirschberg) early in the first quarter due to injuries.

In the final period Heller connected with both Rocco Cutri and Mike Sebastian on touchdown passes to close out the scoring; both extra points were blocked.

"[89] The Cadets recovered from this loss and won their final three games against Ursinus, Notre Dame and Navy to finish the season with an 8–2–1 record.

Substitutes appearing in the game for Pitt were Theodore Dailey, John Meredith, Francis Seigel, Joseph Tormey, Robert Morris, Tarciscio Onder, John Love, Joe Skladany, Arthur Timmons, Rocco Cutri, Zora Alpert, Mike Sebastian, Dick Matesic, Melvin Brown, James Clark and William Hasson.

"[94] The football fates smiled on the Panthers the previous Saturday, as USC beat Notre Dame (16–14) and Yale upset Harvard (3–0).

[15] In the second quarter the Nebraska offense reached the Pitt 5-yard line, but Panther center Joseph Tormey intercepted a pass to stop the threat.

Warren Heller scored four touchdowns, Mike Sebastian added two, and James MacMurdo converted four placements to total forty points.