University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics
Panthers to Play Stanford in 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl
12/2/2018 5:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—The Panthers are headed for the "Sun City."
Pitt will represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl, played on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas, it was announced this afternoon. The Panthers' opponent will be the Stanford Cardinal of the Pac-12 Conference.
The game will be a national CBS telecast (KDKA-TV, Channel 2, in Pittsburgh) and have a 2 p.m. (ET) kickoff.
This will be Pitt's fourth trip to the Sun Bowl. The Panthers are 2-1 in their three prior trips to El Paso, claiming victories in 1975 (33-19 over Kansas) and 1989 (31-28 over Texas A&M). Pitt lost to Oregon State (3-0) in 2008.
The 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl will be Pitt's 34th all-time bowl appearance and third under the direction of Coach Pat Narduzzi. The ACC runner-up, Pitt enters the bowl season with a 7-6 overall record. The Panthers won the ACC's Coastal Division with a 6-2 mark.
Stanford is the latest challenging foe for Pitt, which played a national-best 11 bowl-eligible teams this year, including undefeated College Football Playoff (CFP) entrants Clemson (13-0) and Notre Dame (12-0). The Panthers also faced a 12-0 UCF team that finished No. 8 in the final CFP rankings.
Stanford, under the direction of Coach David Shaw, went 8-4 overall (6-3 in the Pac-12) this season and is receiving votes in both major Top 25 polls.
The Panthers are 2-1 all-time against Stanford but the two schools haven't played in 86 years. The Cardinal won the lone postseason meeting, 7-6, in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 1928. Pitt claimed regular-season wins in 1922 (16-7) and 1932 (7-0).
"We are honored to represent the ACC in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl," Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "The Sun Bowl Association has a well-deserved reputation for providing outstanding hospitality and a first-class bowl experience. I know our student-athletes and fans will be treated to an exceptional time in El Paso. We are greatly looking forward to making the trip to Texas."
Narduzzi faced Stanford in a bowl game while defensive coordinator at Michigan State. The Spartans won the 2013 Big Ten title and then defeated the Cardinal, 24-20, in the Rose Bowl.
"Our invitation to the Hyundai Sun Bowl presents us with a tremendous challenge as well as an exciting opportunity," Narduzzi said. "I have a great deal of respect for Coach Shaw and the outstanding program he has built at Stanford. They are entering this game with a lot of momentum, having won their last three games. I know our team will be excited about facing a strong Pac-12 program like Stanford."
Bowl ticket packages will be available for purchase from the Pitt Ticket Office beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 3. For more information, call (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log onto PittsburghPanthers.com.
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Pitt will represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl, played on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas, it was announced this afternoon. The Panthers' opponent will be the Stanford Cardinal of the Pac-12 Conference.
The game will be a national CBS telecast (KDKA-TV, Channel 2, in Pittsburgh) and have a 2 p.m. (ET) kickoff.
This will be Pitt's fourth trip to the Sun Bowl. The Panthers are 2-1 in their three prior trips to El Paso, claiming victories in 1975 (33-19 over Kansas) and 1989 (31-28 over Texas A&M). Pitt lost to Oregon State (3-0) in 2008.
The 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl will be Pitt's 34th all-time bowl appearance and third under the direction of Coach Pat Narduzzi. The ACC runner-up, Pitt enters the bowl season with a 7-6 overall record. The Panthers won the ACC's Coastal Division with a 6-2 mark.
Stanford is the latest challenging foe for Pitt, which played a national-best 11 bowl-eligible teams this year, including undefeated College Football Playoff (CFP) entrants Clemson (13-0) and Notre Dame (12-0). The Panthers also faced a 12-0 UCF team that finished No. 8 in the final CFP rankings.
Stanford, under the direction of Coach David Shaw, went 8-4 overall (6-3 in the Pac-12) this season and is receiving votes in both major Top 25 polls.
The Panthers are 2-1 all-time against Stanford but the two schools haven't played in 86 years. The Cardinal won the lone postseason meeting, 7-6, in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 1928. Pitt claimed regular-season wins in 1922 (16-7) and 1932 (7-0).
"We are honored to represent the ACC in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl," Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said. "The Sun Bowl Association has a well-deserved reputation for providing outstanding hospitality and a first-class bowl experience. I know our student-athletes and fans will be treated to an exceptional time in El Paso. We are greatly looking forward to making the trip to Texas."
Narduzzi faced Stanford in a bowl game while defensive coordinator at Michigan State. The Spartans won the 2013 Big Ten title and then defeated the Cardinal, 24-20, in the Rose Bowl.
"Our invitation to the Hyundai Sun Bowl presents us with a tremendous challenge as well as an exciting opportunity," Narduzzi said. "I have a great deal of respect for Coach Shaw and the outstanding program he has built at Stanford. They are entering this game with a lot of momentum, having won their last three games. I know our team will be excited about facing a strong Pac-12 program like Stanford."
Bowl ticket packages will be available for purchase from the Pitt Ticket Office beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 3. For more information, call (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log onto PittsburghPanthers.com.
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