The day after Christmas features the GameAbove Sports Bowl, showcasing a clash between the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) and the Toledo Rockets (7-5). This marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2006, when Pittsburgh secured a dominant 42-point victory.
Pittsburgh started the season in spectacular fashion, rattling off seven consecutive wins and breaking into the Top 25 rankings, peaking at No. 18. However, their fortunes took a sharp turn as they dropped their final five games.
The skid began with a loss to then-No. 20 SMU, followed by a tough stretch of competition, including a defeat to Virginia. In their regular-season finale, quarterback Nate Yarnell delivered a strong performance with 296 passing yards and three touchdowns, though it wasn't enough to overcome Boston College.
Meanwhile, the Toledo Rockets entered the season as perennial contenders in the MAC and kicked things off with an impressive 3-0 start, highlighted by a stunning 41-17 road victory over SEC foe Mississippi State. However, their momentum faltered as they suffered four conference losses, including a disappointing defeat to rival Akron in the season's final game.
Unlike many teams impacted by the transfer portal, Toledo has retained much of its roster, with only four players unavailable for this matchup, none of whom were key contributors.
The Sporting News has everything you need to know about how to watch Pitt vs. Toledo.
Pitt vs. Toledo will air live on ESPN, with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play announcer), Dustin Fox (color analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline reporter) calling the action. The viewers in the US can also stream the game live with Fubo.
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Pitt vs. Toledo will begin at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 26.
The game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
You can listen to the Pitt vs. Toledo live on SiriusXM. The national broadcast can be found on channel 84, while Pittsburgh fans will want to tune into channel 371 for their team-specific game commentary.
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The GameAbove Sports Bowl will take place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on December 26, 2024. Known for its iconic dome structure, the stadium typically accommodates around 65,000 spectators, with the flexibility to expand to 70,000 for football events or up to 80,000 for basketball games.
The stadium's name reflects its strong connection to the Ford Motor Company, which secured naming rights in a $40 million, 20-year agreement. The Ford family's influence extends beyond the company, as they have maintained control of the Detroit Lions franchise since 1964.