By Colin McGuigan
Pitt is 2-0 all-time in Detroit-hosted bowl games
GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL GAME NOTES
https://pittsburghpanthers.com/documents/2024/12/18/Pitt_GameAbove_Sports_Bowl_Notes_2024.pdf
PITT vs. TOLEDO
GAMEABOVE SPORTS Bowl • DETROIT, MICH.
December 26, 2024 • 2 p.m.
Ford Field (65,000/FieldTurf)
ESPN • 93.7 The Fan • Pitt Panthers Radio Network
GAME STORYLINES
- The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl marks Pitt’s 38th all-time postseason appearance and seventh under the direction of Coach Pat Narduzzi.
- Pitt and Toledo will meet for the first time in 18 years and fourth time overall. The Panthers hold a 2-1 series edge and won the most recent encounter, 45-3, in 2006.
- Pitt is 34-5 all-time against Mid-American Conference foes.
- Pitt is 2-0 all-time in Detroit-hosted bowl games, most recently defeating Eastern Michigan, 34-30, in 2019. Pitt also played at Ford Field in 2013 and scored a 30-27 win over Bowling Green.
- A victory over the Rockets would give the Panthers an eighth victory on the year and mark a five-game improvement over 2023’s three-win campaign.
- Since 1990, Pitt has won at least eight games 11 times. Among Pitt head coaches during that span, Pat Narduzzi has the most seasons with at least eight wins (five).
- All-America all-purpose back Desmond Reid ranks sixth nationally with an average of 150.90 all-purpose yards per game.
- The Panthers have been fixtures in the opposing backfield. Pitt ranks third nationally in sacks (3.33 avg.) and fourth in tackles for loss (8.3 avg.).
- All-America linebacker Kyle Louis paces Pitt in tackles for loss (15.5) and quarterback sacks (seven).
- All-ACC safety Donovan McMillon (team-high 108 tackles) is the first Pitt player to record consecutive 100-tackle seasons since linebacker Scott McKillop in 2007-08.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 2002
Series Overall: Pitt leads 2-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 2-0
At Toledo: Toledo leads 1-0
At Neutral Sites: DNA
OT Games: DNA
Last Meeting (at Pitt): Sept. 30, 2006 (Pitt won, 45-3)
Last Meeting at UT: Sept. 20, 2003 (Toledo won, 35-31)
Current Series Win Streak: Pitt has won 1 (2006)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 1 game, twice (2002; 2006)
Longest Toledo Series Win Streak: 1 game (2003)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 42 points (45-3, 2006)
Largest Toledo Victory Margin: 4 points (35-31, 2003)
COACHING MATCHUP
Pitt Coach Pat Narduzzi
Overall (season): 72-55 (10th)
At Pitt (season): same
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Record vs. Boston College: 0-0
Toledo Coach Jason Candle
Overall (season): 72-40 (ninth)
At Toledo (season): same
Alma Mater: Mount Union, 2003
Record vs. Pitt: 0-0
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ESPN
Matt Schumacker (play-by-play)
Dustin Fox (analyst)
Harry Lyles Jr. (reporter)
93.7 The Fan & Pitt Radio Network (937thefan.radio.com)
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
Pat Bostick (analyst)
Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson (reporters)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
SiriusXM 371 and on the SiriusXM App
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
COURTESY PITT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
DETROIT – The Toledo Rockets (7-5) face the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 26 (2:00 p.m./ESPN), looking to end their season on a high note with a victory over a Power Four opponent.
Among Toledo’s seven wins this season are a 41-17 trouncing of SEC member Mississippi State on the road. A win over Pitt would give Toledo two wins over power conference opponents in the same year for only the second time in its history. The Rockets defeated Arkansas and Iowa State in 2015.
Pittsburgh is 7-5 with victories over Syracuse, North Carolina, Cal and West Virginia. The Panthers were ranked as high as No. 18 this year before falling out of the Top 25.
“Pitt is a great opponent,” said Head Coach Jason Candle. “They’re a well-coached team, very physical team. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Leading Toledo’s offense is junior quarterback Tucker Gleason, who has thrown for 2,457 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 61.8% of his passes. Gleason has a pair of first-team All-MAC wide receivers to target – Jerjuan Newton (64 receptions, 949 yards, 11 TDs) and Junior Vandeross III (73 receptions, 763 yards, 4 TDs).
Toledo enters the GameAbove Sports Bowl having clinched its 15th consecutive season without a losing record, the third-longest streak among FBS schools.
Toledo is looking to win a bowl game for the 13th time in its history. The Rockets are 12-9 in bowl games, going back to their first bowl win in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969. Toledo has played in bowl games in the Detroit area on four different occasions: the Motor City Bowl at the Pontiac Silverdome in 2011 and at Ford Field in 2002 and 2004, and the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in 2010.
Toledo vs. Pittsburgh
GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.
Thursday, Dec. 26 – 2:00 p.m.
• TEAM RECORDS:
Toledo (7-5, 4-4 MAC)
Pittsburgh (7-5, 3-5 ACC)
• SERIES RECORD: Toledo is 1-2 all-time vs. Pitt, including a 35-31 win in the Glass Bowl in 2003 when the Panthers were ranked No. 9 in the country.
• THE COACHES:
Jason Candle, 72-40 (9th year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. Pitt.
Pat Narduzzi, 72-55 (10th year) at Pitt, same overall. 0-0 vs. Toledo.
• TV/STREAMING: ESPN
Play by Play: Matt Schumacker
Analyst: Dustin Fox
Sideline: Harry Lyles, Jr
• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 12:30 p.m.
Play by Play: Mark Beier
Analyst: Jack Mewhort
Sidelines: Mike Robinson
• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast is available on UTRockets.com.
• X/TWITTER: @ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on game day.
• TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl can be purchased through Ford Field here or at the gate on game day.
Rocket Launches
• Toledo is playing in its fourth-straight bowl game and eighth under Head Coach Jason Candle.
• Toledo has been bowl-eligible for 15 straight years, the sixth-longest streak in the country.
• Toledo is 12-9 all-time in bowl games.
• Toledo has clinched its 15th consecutive season without a losing record, the fourth-longest streak in the FBS.
• Jason Candle (72-39) needs one win to tie Gary Pinkel (73-37-3 from 1991-2000) as Toledo’s all-time leader.
• Toledo leads the MAC in passing offense (246.17) and is second in passing efficiency (141.42).
• Toledo has four seniors who have been invited to post-season all-star games: DL Darius Alexander (Senior Bowl), safety Maxen Hook (Senior Bowl), WR Jerjuan Newton (Hula Bowl), TE Anthony Torres (Hula Bowl).
COURTESY TOLEDO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
