Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m. ET
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium — Annapolis, MD
- Spread: Pittsburgh (-10)
- Over/under: 55.5
- All-time series: Series tied, 2-2
- Last meeting: East Carolina 37, Pittsburgh 31 — October 24, 1992
- Current streak: East Carolina, 2 (1991-92)
- Pittsburgh last bowl: 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl, 48-46 loss to Toledo
- East Carolina last bowl: 2024 Military Bowl, 26-21 win over NC State
- 2024 Military Bowl matchup: East Carolina 26, NC State 21
Setting the scene
The Military Bowl welcomes the reigning champions back to Annapolis. Last December, East Carolina won a heated rivalry over NC State, prevailing 26-21 on an unforgettable 86-yard scamper by Rahjai Harris
in the final two minutes. This year, the Pirates posted an even better regular season record — their best in 11 years — earning a return trip to the bowl against another ACC opponent.
Lining up opposite of the Pirates are the Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt found itself in a 5-way tie for second-place in the ACC, barely missing out on its first conference championship appearance since 2021. The Panthers will make their first Military Bowl appearance since 2015, Pat Narduzzi’s first year at the helm.
This marks the first meeting between the American and ACC foes since 1992, and the winner claims control of the all-time series, as well as a coveted trophy to celebrate a 9-win season.
Pittsburgh Panthers outlook
Pittsburgh (8-4, 6-2 ACC) is eyeing its first bowl win since 2022 and just its third under Pat Narduzzi. Despite consistently qualifying in the Narduzzi era, Pitt has struggled in postseason settings, posting just a 2-5 record in the last decade.
This particular Panthers squad registerd the program’s best conference record since 2021, and one man taking credit for that is quarterback Mason Heintschel. Heintschel took the reins from Eli Holstein at the position in October and fired over 300 yards in four of his first five starts. The true freshman enters the Military Bowl with 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions, eyeing a strong finish to a breakout campaign.
Pitt’s greatest issue with Heintschel is keeping him upright. The quarterback took 30 sacks in his eight starts (3.75 per game), and taking the whole year into account, Pitt is 8th-to-last in the FBS in sacks yielded, surrendering 3.33 on average. The right side of the line is fortified with All-ACC honorable mention tackle Ryan Baer, but other parts of the unit haven’t been as reliable.
But the Panthers’ 15th-ranked scoring offense typically dominates with its skill position talent. Feature running back Desmond Reid (who dealt with injuries all year) will miss this contest, leaving Ja’Kyrian Turner as the lead option. The freshman thrived throughout the year, producing 652 yards and seven touchdowns on a 5.7 average.
The running back depth may be thinner without Reid, but Pitt enters Annapolis with a slew of talented receivers. Kenny Johnson, Raphael “Poppi” Williams, and Cataurus Hicks make up the main trio of options for Heintschel, and all three excel at getting separation downfield — allowing Pitt to boast a top 20 FBS passing offense.
Defensively, Pitt is exceptional against the run, but opposing quarterbacks have seen success airing it out. The Panthers allow the 9th-fewest rushing yards in the FBS, stymying opponents to 97 yards per game on a 2.8 average. Chief run-stopper Kyle Louis will be a significant absence, but the Panthers remain loaded with money backer Rasheem Biles, who leads the team in tackles (85) and tackles for loss (12.0). Biles also landed two pick-sixes in the regular season, and as a unit, Pitt’s defense ranks second in the nation in interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Five different Panthers — three linebackers and two defensive backs — have multiple picks on the year, for this opportunistic defense that has 15 interceptions on the year. East Carolina isn’t afraid to sling it, and safeties to watch on the back end in this contest include Javon McIntyre and Kavir Bains-Marquez, who combine for 103 tackles and four interceptions.
East Carolina Pirates outlook
East Carolina (8-4, 6-2 American) is on a tear since promoting Blake Harrell to head coach, winning 13 of 18 games under the former defensive coordinator. The Pirates were in the mix of American Conference contention in November after a thrilling win over Memphis but fell to UTSA one week later. Still, this was ECU’s best regular season in over a decade, and the Pirates can notch a ninth win for the first time since 2013.
However, this Military Bowl will be an uphill battle as starting quarterback Katin Houser opted out of the remainder of the season due to intent to transfer, even though the portal doesn’t open until Jan. 2. Houser’s presence will be missed as the two-year Pirate compiled 3,300 passing yards and 19 touchdowns for the nation’s 14th-best total offense and 22nd-best scoring offense.
That likely thrusts polymath Mike Wright Jr. as the starting quarterback. The former Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Northwestern QB (16 collegiate starts) was utilized in a myriad of positions, offense and defense, for the Pirates this year. Wright, whose main threat is his mobility, could shift ECU’s offensive gameplan. Freshman Chaston Ditta could also see reps at quarterback in this contest.
The Pirates’ run game should see more utilization than normal, and they shined in this facet later in the season. London Montgomery and Marlon Gunn Jr. both picked up their production in November, escalating ECU’s ground offense to 36th in the FBS.
ECU will be lacking in the receiving corps as wide receiver Yannick Smith and tight end Jayvontay Conner are among other Pirates ending their 2025s early due to intent to transfer. Leading the group is 6’3” deep threat Anthony Smith who stands 103 yards short of his first 1,000-yard season. Smith, ECU’s leading receiver for the second-straight year, managed a 30+ yard reception in six of 12 contests and is renowned for his downfield playmaking. Other receivers stepping up alongside him will be Brock Spalding and Payton Mangrum.
As sharp as ECU’s offense was, defense was the defining feature of the team for the bulk of the season. The Pirates own the nation’s 28th-ranked scoring defense, surrendering 20.3 points per game, and they held a third of their schedule to six points or fewer — only allowing more than 27 points twice.
What East Carolina’s defense does best is pressure at the line of scrimmage. This group is fourth in the country in tackles for loss per game at 7.8. By forcing frequent negative plays, the purple and gold own one of the best run defenses in the American, checking in at 29th in the FBS in fewest ground yards allowed. Defensive end Zion Wilson ranks atop the Pirates with 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks while linebackers Samuel Dankah and Dameon Wilson are among other common backfield invaders.
Prediction
East Carolina is 2-0 in its only two bowl games since 2015 (2022 Birmingham and 2024 Military), but the Pirates must overcome plenty of adversity to win this matchup without Katin Houser in the lineup. Houser was crucial to the team’s success all season, injecting a stream of verticality into the unit as the nation’s 15th-leading passer. Mike Wright Jr. is a veteran starter, and he’ll offer a different style game for ECU, and the Pirates must overcome a potent Pitt rushing defense in order to score in this one.
Pitt’s stellar aerial offense matches up favorably against an ECU defense which ranks 87th against the pass on a national level. Expect true freshman Mason Heintschel to wrap up a strong debut season with an MVP-level performance, involving Kenny Johnson and Poppi Williams early and often in a seamless victory.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 30, East Carolina 14
