:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8606689/20121226_kkt_sv7_674.0.jpg)
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has confirmed the news that the Villanova vs. Pittsburgh football game scheduled for August 31st has been canceled.
The Panthers pushed the move for this cancelation to fill the Labor Day slot with a game against Florida State now set for September 2nd.
Florida State cancelled their commitment to play FCS Wofford over Labor Day weekend to face the Panthers.
'Nova's trip to Heinz Field will be replaced with another FBS opponent, which has not yet been named though Army have openings on their schedule because they play at Hawaii (allowing a 13th game). Syracuse recently completed their non-conference schedule by adding a game against the NEC's Wagner, leaving Western Kentucky as the only other FBS team without a completed conference slate for 2013.
None of the remaining FBS programs have an open date over Labor Day weekend, which means that if Villanova is going to open their season that weekend, it would have to be against a program that is willing to shuffle it's non-conference slate to accommodate the game.
The ACC was pushing for Pitt and FSU to play that weekend to open the season, and it is possible that they stepped in to facilitate Villanova finding another opponent in their conference. If that is the case, we should know for sure this week as the ACC is planning to release it's schedule soon.
Villanova hopes to have it's 2013 schedule finalized next week, according to spokesman Dean Kenefick, but details are still being finalized for their replacement opponent.
One possibility that has been mentioned is for Villanova to travel to Boston to rekindle an old rivalry with Boston College, who they have played more times than any opponent but Delaware (and even that count is close) — with 45 meetings since the 1950s.
BC is currently scheduled to play new CAA member Stony Brook, but the Eagles could have been persuaded to drop or reschedule that game in favor of Villanova, while the Seawolves are able to pick up a later slot on Pittsburgh's schedule.
Florida State's originally-scheduled opponent, Wofford, signed on to open their season against Baylor today, after the Bears had SMU drop them from the schedule to pick up a game against Montana State.