Military Bowl Capsule

By foxsports
Published

Pittsburgh (8-4, ACC) vs. Navy (10-2, AAC), 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: Navy by 3

Series Record: Pitt leads 22-14-3

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Playing its final game with star QB Keenan Reynolds, Navy vies for the first 11-win season in the history of the program and its first three-game winning streak in bowl games. Pittsburgh wraps up its first season under coach Pat Narduzzi seeking its first nine-win season since 2009. Making its eighth straight bowl appearance, the Panthers have dropped three of their last four postseason games.

KEY MATCHUP

Navy's triple-option vs. the Pitt defense. With Reynolds leading the way, the Midshipmen averaged 319.2 yards rushing per game, third-best in the nation. It's not just Reynolds that makes the option work, as Navy fullbacks have combined for 1,292 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. The Panthers ranked 20th in the country against the run, allowing 126.1 yards per game and holding three opponents under 100 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Navy: Reynolds has scored 85 career touchdowns (all rushing), the most in Division I history. He has rushed for a school-record 4,415 yards, has a career record of 31-13 and his 512 career points are the second-most in NCAA history.

Pittsburgh: Freshman RB Qadree Ollison, the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, began the season as a third-stringer. He moved up following injuries to James Conner and Rachid Ibrahim and finished with 1,048 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns. He's only the fifth freshman in Pitt history with a 1,000-yard season and did so with only 204 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.

FACTS & FIGURES

Pitt went 5-1 on the road this season, and although this is technically a neutral site, the game is being held at Navy's home stadium. ... Dating back to last year, Navy has won 16 of 19 with two of the defeats coming against Notre Dame. ... Pitt is 13-18 in bowl games, Navy 9-10-1. ... Pitt junior Tyler Boyd is the school career leader with 248 catches and 3,308 yards receiving. ... First game for Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo since he turned down chance to take over at BYU. He interviewed for job after Midshipmen beat Army 21-17 on Dec. 12 to reclaim the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy. He is 67-37 at Navy. ... Pitt has allowed only two TDs and 32 points in the third quarter. ... Navy has gone 47 straight games without being blanked and has scored a touchdown on the ground in each of those contests.

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AP College Football website: collegefootball.ap.org