Top Bowl Destinations for Pitt Football
Pitt football is bowl eligible again, having secured its sixth win of the season back on October 12th. With the regular season now completed, various national media outlets are projecting where the Panthers will end up in the postseason, and it appears a couple of familiar destinations are surfacing.
Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium?
247Sports predicts a fascinating Big East reunion matchup in the Pinstripe Bowl held on Dec. 28th at New York’s iconic Yankee Stadium. It envisions the Pitt Panthers facing off against the UConn Huskies. The two teams were annual opponents from 2004-12. UConn, with an 8-4 record this season, has taken on four power conferences already losing by one-score to Duke, Wake Forest, and Syracuse .
UConn opened its season against Maryland, losing in a blowout, 50-7.
Nebraska (6-6) and Minnesota (7-5) and even Michigan (7-5) from the Big Ten are possibilities for the Panthers, according to projections by USA Today, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy and 247Sports, respectively. Michigan would be an intriguing opponent, considering its recent upset over Ohio State.
Sun, Sand, and Potential San Diego?
For those who yearn for warmth during a December bowl game, pitchers at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego beckon. CBS Sports and Athlon Sports project a matchup against either Washington (6-6) or Washington State (8-4) on Dec. 27th.
Birmingham Bowl Beckons a Third Time?
If you spend enough time on football forums online, you’ll see a projected trip to the Birmingham Bowl mentioned again for Pitt. It’s no longer called the BBVA Compass Bowl. Pitt played there in three consecutive seasons (2010-12), a rarity in bowl history.
This year it could be facing Arkansas (6-6) according to College Football Network.
Remembering Baylor?
Sporting News projects a trip to the Pop-Tart Bowl (previously called the Blockbuster Bowl). That would be another historical match-up, considering Baylor was the first team to beat a Johnny Majors-coached Pitt team back in 1973, and 20-14. Until 1983, Baylor was the only team with a losing record to beat Pitt.
A Deep Run Unlikely?
These bowl projections are, of course, subject to change depending on how many teams from the ACC get chosen for the 12-team College Football Playoff. If only the conference champion (SMU or Clemson) earns a CFP berth, that will push Miami and the ACC runner-up up the pecking order, leaving Pitt further down.
Focusing on the Future
Coaches, naturally, appreciate any bowl invitation because it affords extended practice time that serves as a warm-up for spring ball and an early learning opportunity to see how next year’s roster shapes up. Pitt’s head coach, Pat Narduzzi has said he always prefers playing in a bowl game.
Some star players choose to opt out of bowl games these days to minimize risk of injury while focusing on preparing for the NFL draft.
Back in 2021, Kenny Pickett made this choice, skipping the Peach Bowl after leading Pitt to an ACC championship. The Panthers lost their likely final game against Michigan State, 31-21.
khan Carroll, while Pitt was down to its third quarterback after Nick Patti’s injury. Pickett was a first-round choice that year.
Pitt has a rich bowl history dating back to the Rose Bowl in 1928, although they lost 7-6 to Stanford. In fact, Pitt’s first four bowl games were all in Pasadena. There have been dry spells in the bowl picture, too (1937-54 and 1957-72), but since Majors arrived in 1973, Pitt has made 31 postseason appearances.
Narduzzi is 2-4 in bowl games, winning over Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl in 2019 and defeating UCLA in the Sun Bowl in 2022. Pitt Qualified for bowl games in all but two of Narduzzi’s nine previous seasons (excluding 2017 and 2023).
School officials wisely kept the Panthers home for the covid-interrupted 2020 season.
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Who are some of the specific teams mentioned as possible opponents for Pitt in various bowl scenarios?
## Interview with College Football Analyst
**News Anchor:** Welcome back! Pitt football is bowl eligible for another year, and fans are buzzing about potential destinations. Joining us to break down the latest bowl projections is college football analyst, [Guest Name]! Thanks for being here.
**Analyst:** Thanks for having me! It’s an exciting time for Pitt fans with so many bowl options on the table.
**News Anchor:** Let’s dive right in. Several outlets are predicting a trip back to Yankee Stadium for the Pinstripe Bowl. How likely is that scenario?
**Analyst:** Very likely! The Pinstripe Bowl often features ACC vs. Big Ten matchups, and Pitt aligns well with teams like UConn, Nebraska, Minnesota, or even Michigan.
**News Anchor:** Wow, Michigan would be quite a game! Any thoughts on UConn, a former conference rival?
**Analyst:** UConn has had a solid season. They’ve taken on some tough opponents and shown they can compete. A reunion matchup with Pitt would be a great storyline for the Pinstripe Bowl.
**News Anchor:** Another warm-weather destination making the rounds is the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. What do you think about that possibility?
**Analyst:** The Holiday Bowl is definitely a contender. Facing either Washington or Washington State would be a compelling matchup. It would also be a nice change of scenery for Pitt fans traveling for the game.
**News Anchor:** And let’s not forget the Birmingham Bowl, a familiar spot for Pitt.
**Analyst:** That’s right! Three years in a row is a long time, and some fans might be weary of returning to Birmingham. However, playing Arkansas in that bowl would be an interesting matchup.
**News Anchor:** And the Pop-Tart Bowl, where Pitt could potentially face Baylor again – a blast from the past!
**Analyst:** That’s right! Baylor holds a unique place in Pitt history, and a rematch decades later would be full of nostalgia.
**News Anchor:** it seems like a variety of exciting possibilities are on the table for Pitt fans. What are your final thoughts on their chances in the postseason?
**Analyst:** Pitt has a good shot at securing a bowl win this year. The team has proven themselves capable, and I expect them to put on a good showing regardless of where they end up.
**News Anchor:** Great stuff! Thanks for your insights, [Guest Name], and for shedding light on Pitt’s bowl picture this year.