The stage is set for the inaugural GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, where the MAC’s Toledo will take on Pittsburgh from the ACC at 2 p.m. on Dec. 26 (ESPN). This season marks GameAbove Sports as the new sponsor of the former Quick Lane Bowl. The firm is “committed to changing the […]
The stage is set for the inaugural GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, where the MAC’s Toledo will take on Pittsburgh from the ACC at 2 p.m. on Dec. 26 (ESPN).
This season marks GameAbove Sports as the new sponsor of the former Quick Lane Bowl. The firm is “committed to changing the sports sector through strategic investments, athlete sponsorships, and youth sports programs,” as stated on its website.
Toledo (7-5, 4-4 MAC) is set to make its fifth trip to a bowl in Detroit, having participated in the Motor City Bowl (21, ’03, ’04) and the Little Caesars Bowl (2010), achieving a record of 1-3 in those games. The Rockets only victory at Ford Field came in 2001 when Tom Amstutz’s team triumphed over Cincinnati, 23-16. Toledo has had a more favorable record at Ford Field recently, having won the MAC championships in 2022 and 2017.
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Pitt (7-5, 3-5 ACC) will be making its seventh bowl appearance in 10 years under coach Pat Narduzzi, who previously held the role of defensive coordinator at Michigan State under Mark Dantonio. This includes a participation in the Quick Lane Bowl in 2019, where the Panthers defeated Eastern Michigan, 34-30. The Panthers also competed in the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field back in 2013.
Under head coach Jason Candle, the Rockets will be playing in their seventh bowl in nine seasons. This season, Toledo achieved one of the MAC’s significant upsets by defeating Mississippi State in Starkville, although they lost three of their last five games, causing them to fall out of MAC contention.
Senior quarterback Tucker Gleason leads the team, completing 61.8% of his passes for 2,457 yards, with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He frequently connected with senior Jerjuan Newton, who made 64 receptions for 949 yards and led the MAC with 11 touchdowns.
The journey to Detroit, about 40 miles north of Toledo on I-75, will feel like a homecoming for roughly a dozen Rockets who have ties to the metro Detroit area, including senior linebacker Lance Dixon, who recorded 42 tackles (including six for loss) and two sacks after excelling at West Bloomfield.
The Panthers started strong, winning their first seven games and making their debut at No. 18 in the College Football Rankings following the first release on Nov. 5. However, Pitt faced a tough November, losing all five games and relinquishing their position in the ACC standings.
This included a loss to Louisville on Nov. 23, which resulted in redshirt freshman Eli Holstein being carted off with a left leg injury. Junior Nate Yarnett stepped in as the quarterback; he has completed 58.7% of his passes this season for 1,056 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
In addition, Pitt might have to cope without their leading playmaker, as running back Desmond Reid was sidelined during the Panthers’ season finale against Boston College on Nov. 30 due to an undisclosed injury. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound transfer from Western Carolina amassed 1,361 yards from scrimmage, including 797 rushing yards on 151 attempts and receiving 47 passes for 564 yards, tallying four touchdowns in each category.
