Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Bowl season is always crazy, but the day after Christmas, college football fans saw something they had never seen before.
Thursday GameAbove Sports Bowl between Pittsburgh and Toledo took nearly five hours to complete because of the first bowl game.
The contest saw six overtimes, the most ever in a bowl game, en route to a 48-46 Toledo victory.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS REPORTS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Toledo Rockets quarterback Tucker Gleason (4) runs for a first down during the first half of the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Overtime was instituted in college football in 1996, and it wasn’t until a month ago that we saw Georgia and Georgia Tech go to eight overtimes. The most in any game is nine from the 2021 battle between Illinois and Penn State.
In the first half, Toledo trailed 12-6 but scored two touchdowns in a 14-second span – a 67-yard pass and then a 40-yard pick-six – to take a 20-12 lead.
Pitt rallied to take a 30-20 lead in points, but Pitt tied the game with just under five minutes left in regulation.
Pittsburgh Panthers’ David Lynch is sacked by Toledo Rockets defensive end D’Andre Ragino during the first half of the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Both teams made field goals on their first possession of overtime and then matched each other with field goals on the next possession. The new overtime rules mandate that starting in the third overtime, teams must convert two-point conversion plays.
Both teams scored on each of the first three attempts, but in the sixth overtime, after Toledo had scored its fourth straight, Pitt’s pass was incomplete.
However, in the fourth overtime, Toledo celebrated twice. But their first stop was overturned for a penalty, and after thinking they had stopped Pitt again, a replay review overturned the decision and resumed play. The Rockets still took the win.
Toledo’s Tucker Gleason went 26-for-50 for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for a score. Junior Vandeross III had 12 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Desmond Reid ran for 165 yards on 32 carries for Pitt in a losing effort.
Toledo is now 12-10 in its bowl game history; it was the fourth straight year they made a bowl game.
Toledo Rockets tight end Anthony Torres runs for yards after making a catch against Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Brandon George during the first half of the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Pitt missed out on a bowl opportunity last year after taking home the 2022 Sun Bowl.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports broadcast on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
