PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It became official on Sunday afternoon, the Pitt Panthers will play in the Peach Bowl on Thursday, December 30 at 7p.
The 11-2 Panthers will take on 10-2 Michigan State in their seventh ever meeting and first in the post-season. Pitt is 0-6-1 all-time against the Spartans, their last meetings being a home-and-home series in 2006 and 2007. Losing at home 38-23 and in East Lansing 17-13. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi hired away from Michigan State, where he served as defensive coordinator.
The Spartans have the worst pass defense in FBS allowing 4,052 yards, averaging to 337.7 yards per game. MSU has nine interceptions on the year, no one player with more than one. They have 37 sacks (16 different players) and 75 tackles for loss
The two have one common opponent, the Spartans won at Miami 38-17, while the Panthers lost at home to the Hurricanes. Michigan State’s signature win is Michigan’s only loss, 37-33. MSU lost at Ohio State and at Purdue.
Michigan State driven by Walker, the Big 10’s and Power 5’s leading rusher with 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and 136.3 yards per game. Eight times Walker rushed for over 100 yards.
Sophomore Peyton Thorne threw for 2,886 yards, completing 60.7% of his passes for 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Redshirt junior Jayden Reed caught 53 passes for 946 yards for eight touchdowns and an average of 17.85 per reception. Second leading receiver Jalen Nailor averaged 18.9 yards per reception.
Pitt’s last bowl win came the day after Christmas in 2019, a 34-30 win over Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl. Tailback Kenneth Walker rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns in the game
Pat Narduzzi is 1-3 in his career in bowl games getting the Quick Lane Bowl win to go with losses in the Sun, Military and Pinstripe Bowls.
You can hear Pitt in the Peach Bowl live on 93.7 The Fan.