2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl

Last updated
2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl
10th GameAbove Sports Bowl
Pittsburgh Panthers Toledo Rockets
(7–5)(7–5)
ACC MAC
4648
Head coach: 
Pat Narduzzi 		Head coach: 
Jason Candle
1234OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OTTotal
Pittsburgh21011773222046
Toledo61401073222248
DateDecember 26, 2024
Season 2024
Stadium Ford Field
Location Detroit, Michigan
MVPJunior Vandeross III (WR, Toledo) [1]
Favorite Pittsburgh by 6.5
Referee Ron Hudson (CUSA) [2]
Attendance26,219
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN
Announcers Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
GameAbove Sports Bowl
 < 2023 2025 > 

The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 26, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The 10th annual GameAbove Sports Bowl game (though only the first under the name; prior editions were known as the Quick Lane Bowl) featured Pittsburgh and Toledo. The game began at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. [3] [4] The game was one of the 2024–25 bowl games concluding the 2024 FBS football season.

Contents

The game took six overtime periods to decide, setting the record for the most overtime periods in a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) bowl game, a record that had previously been set just two days prior when the 2024 Hawaii Bowl took five overtimes to decide. [5] Lasting for four hours and thirty-nine minutes, it is the longest bowl game this season.

Teams

Based on conference tie-ins, the game was expected to feature teams from the Big Ten Conference and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). There was no Big Ten team available to play so it became an at-large bid and that let an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team participate in the game. This was the fourth time Pittsburgh and Toledo faced each other. In their prior meetings, all during regular-season play, Pittsburgh won in 2002 and 2006, while Toledo won in 2003. [6]

Pittsburgh Panthers

Pittsburgh entered the game with a 7–5 record (3–5 in the ACC), having finished in 10th place in their conference. After winning their first seven games and being ranked as high as 18th, the Panthers finished their regular season with five consecutive losses. This was the Panthers' second appearance in a GameAbove Sports Bowl, the prior being a victory in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl when the bowl was played under a different name. They also made one appearance in the Detroit-based defunct Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, winning the 2013 edition.

Toledo Rockets

Toledo entered the game with a 7–5 record (4–4 in the MAC), having finished in seventh place in their conference. The Rockets started their regular season with three consecutive wins, went 4–3 in their middle seven games, then finished with back-to-back losses. This was Toledo's first GameAbove Sports Bowl. They played in four editions of the defunct Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (three when it was known as the Motor City Bowl), posting a 1–3 record.

Game summary

2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl
Quarter1234OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OTTotal
Pittsburgh21011773222046
Toledo61401073222248

at Ford Field • Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: Thursday, December 26, 2024
  • Game time: 2:04 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoor
  • Game attendance: 26,219
  • Referee: Ron Hudson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First Quarter
  • (11:42) UT – Anthony Torres 2 yard pass from Tucker Gleason, PAT kick blocked (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:18; Toledo 6–0)
  • (11:42) PITT – Kyle Lewis defensive PAT conversion (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:18; Toledo 6–2)
Second Quarter
  • (14:56) PITT – Desmond Reid 3 yard run, Ben Sauls kick (Drive: 11 plays, 79 yards, 4:35; Pittsburgh 9–6)
  • (11:12) PITT – Ben Sauls 57 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 2:51; Pittsburgh 12–6)
  • (7:38) UT – Junior Vandeross III 67 yard pass from Tucker Gleason, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 93 yards, 1:06; Toledo 13–12)
  • (7:24) UT – Braden Awls 42 yard interception return, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 1 plays, 0 yards, 0:14; Toledo 20-12)
Third Quarter
  • (6:55) PITT – Jake Overman 11 yard pass from Julian Dugger, David Lynch pass to Gavin Bartholomew for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 3:47; Tie 20–20)
  • (3:23) PITT – Ben Sauls 37 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards, 3:18; Pittsburgh 23–20)
Fourth Quarter
  • (13:11) PITT – Raphael Williams Jr. 16 yard pass from Julian Dugger, Ben Sauls kick (Drive: 6 plays, 34 yards, 3:04; Pittsburgh 30–20)
  • (7:49) UT – Darius Alexander 58 yard interception return, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 32 yards, 3:33; Pittsburgh 30–27)
  • (1:45) UT – Dylan Cunanan 51 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 47 yards, 2:54; Tie 30–30)
Overtime
  • PITT – Julian Dugger 2 yard run, Ben Sauls kick (Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards; Pittsburgh 37–30)
  • UT – Tucker Gleason 1 yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 8 plays, 25 yards; Tie 37–37)
Second Overtime
  • UT – Dylan Cunanan 33 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 10 yards; Toledo 40–37)
  • PITT – Ben Sauls 19 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 24 yards; Tie 40-40)
Third Overtime
  • PITT – Julian Dugger pass to Kenny Johnson for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Pittsburgh 42–40)
  • UT – Tucker Gleason Pass to Terrell Crosby Jr. for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Tie 42–42)
Fourth Overtime
  • UT – Tucker Gleason Pass to Anthony Torres for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Toledo 44–42)
  • PITT – Julian Dugger run for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Tie 44–44)
Fifth Overtime
  • PITT – Julian Dugger pass to Gavin Bartholomew for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Pittsburgh 46–44)
  • UT – Tucker Gleason Pass to Jerjuan Newton for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Tie 46–46)
Sixth Overtime
  • UT – Tucker Gleason Pass to Junior Vandeross III for 2-Point Conversion (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards; Toledo 48–46)

Statistics

StatisticsPITTUT
First downs2918
Plays–yards98–43875–416
Rushes–yards66–30125–80
Passing yards137336
Passing: comp–att–int17–32–326–50–1
Time of possession36:1223:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PittsburghPassingJulian Dugger7/13, 72 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Desmond Reid 33 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingRaphael Williams Jr.3 receptions, 36 yards, 1 TD
ToledoPassing Tucker Gleason 26/50, 336 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingJacquez Stuart7 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingJunior Vandeross III12 receptions, 194 yards, 1 TD

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Caesars Pizza Bowl</span> Defunct college football bowl game held in Detroit

The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game that was played annually from 1997 to 2013. The first five games (1997–2001) were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, and moved to the 65,000-seat Ford Field in downtown Detroit, Michigan in 2002—the past and present homes of the Detroit Lions respectively. The game marked the first bowl game held in the Detroit area since the Cherry Bowl in 1984–85.

The 2005 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, played on January 1, 2005, was the 34th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game was played between Utah and Pittsburgh, in front of 73,519 fans. It is notable for being the first BCS game to feature a team from a BCS non-AQ conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision</span> Top level of college football in the U.S.

The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of the largest schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As of the 2024 season, there are 10 conferences and 134 schools in FBS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 FIU Panthers football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mario Cristobal and played their homes games at the on-campus FIU Stadium in Miami.

The 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was an NCAA bowl game played at 8:30 p.m. EST on December 26, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and aired on ESPN. The bowl game matched up the Florida International Panthers of the Sun Belt Conference against the Toledo Rockets of the Mid-American Conference.

The 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the 16th edition of the game, was a post-season American college football bowl game that was held on December 26, 2012 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as part of the 2012–13 NCAA football bowl season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Pittsburgh Panthers football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by head coach Paul Chryst and played their home games at Heinz Field. They were a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This was Pitt's first season as a member of the ACC after being a member of the Big East since 1991. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in sixth place in the Coastal Division. Pitt was invited to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, beating Bowling Green on a field goal by Chris Blewitt in the final two minutes. Running back, James Conner, rushed for 229 yards and broke a Pittsburgh bowl record previously held by Tony Dorsett.

The 2013 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is an American college football bowl game that was played on December 26, 2013 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The 17th edition of Little Caesars Pizza Bowl featured the Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference against the Bowling Green Falcons from the Mid-American Conference. It was one of the 2013–14 bowl games that concluded the 2013 FBS football season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Boyd (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tyler Alexander Boyd is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

The 2014–15 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football bowl games. They completed the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and included 39 team-competitive games and four all-star games. The games began on December 20, 2014 and, aside from the all-star games, ended with the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship which was played on January 12, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GameAbove Sports Bowl</span> College football bowl game

The GameAbove Sports Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that began play in the 2014 season. The game was previously known as the Quick Lane Bowl with Ford Motor Company serving as title sponsor of the game for 10 years, through its auto shop brand Quick Lane. That sponsorship ended in June 2024. In October 2024, strategic investment company GameAbove, through its GameAbove Sports brand, was announced as the game's new title sponsor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Conner (American football)</span> American football player (born 1995)

James Earl Conner is an American professional football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. In 2014, he garnered AFCA first-team All-American honors and was awarded the ACC Player of the Year. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft.

The 2016 Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football game was a regular-season college football game between the Syracuse Orange and the Pittsburgh Panthers, played on November 26, 2016, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The game held the record for the most combined points scored in an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) regulation game with 137 total points, breaking the previous record by a single point. The record was broken on November 5, 2022 when the SMU Mustangs defeated the Houston Cougars 77–63 for a combined 140 points.

The 2018 Sun Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on Monday, December 31, 2018. It was the 85th edition of the Sun Bowl, and was one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by Hyundai Motor America, the game was officially known as the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Quick Lane Bowl</span> Postseason college football bowl game

The 2019 Quick Lane Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 26, 2019, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. It was the 6th edition of the Quick Lane Bowl, and was one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Pittsburgh Panthers football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by sixth-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's eighth season as a member of the ACC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 152nd season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision. The regular season began on August 28, 2021, and ended on December 11, 2021. The postseason began on December 17, with the main games ending on January 10, 2022, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the all-star portion of the post-season concluding with the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 19, 2022. It was the eighth season of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system. It was the first time since 2016 that no major team finished the season undefeated as the Cincinnati Bearcats, the season's last undefeated team, were defeated in the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic. The season's Heisman Trophy winner was Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young.

The 2021 Peach Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30, 2021, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EST and televised on ESPN. It was the 54th edition of the Peach Bowl, and was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. Sponsored by restaurant chain Chick-fil-A, the game was officially known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The 2022 Sun Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30, 2022, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The 89th edition of the Sun Bowl, the game featured Pittsburgh from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and UCLA from the Pac-12 Conference. The game began at 12:13 p.m. MST and was aired on CBS. It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. Sponsored by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal, the game was officially known as the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, after its mascot, Tony the Tiger.

References

  1. ↑ @GameAboveBowl (December 26, 2024). "Your 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl MVP: Junior Vandeross III
    Vandeross finished with 194 yards on 12 receptions and 1 touchdown!"     (Tweet). Retrieved December 26, 2024– via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Austro, Ben (December 9, 2024). "2024-25 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  3. ↑ Cobb, David. "2024-25 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, locations, kickoff times, TV channels". CBS Sports. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Kelley, Kevin. "College football bowl schedule for 2024-25 season released". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Toledo Downs Pitt 48-46 in Six Overtimes in GameAbove Sports Bowl". Sports Illustrated . December 26, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Toledo Rockets football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.