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Struggling early in the season, the Pitt Panthers looked like they would be unable to make it to bowl eligibility late in the 2012 season. But wins in two of their last three games gave the Panthers the six wins they needed to take part in bowl season for the fifth straight year.
And for the third straight season, Pitt drew a trip to Birmingham, Ala. for the BBVA Compass Bowl, where it will meet the Ole Miss Rebels in a Saturday afternoon Big East-SEC showdown.
Behind quarterback Tino Sunseri and running back Ray Graham, a 4-6 Pittsburgh team was able to top the then-No. 18 Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the USF Bulls in consecutive games to get to the key six wins and make the Compass Bowl once again.
Ole Miss lost three of its last four contests of the 2012 season, but was able to cap its year with a big victory over their instate rivals, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 41-24.
Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace finished the season with just shy of 2,900 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns, while rushing for eight touchdowns on the ground. Ole Miss running back Jeff Scott ran for 828 yards and six touchdowns on the season to lead the Rebels running attack.
Game date and time
January 5, 1 p.m. ET
Location
Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.
Spread
Ole Miss is a 3.5-point favorite against the Panthers
TV schedule
ESPN
Watch online
ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Radio schedule
ESPN Radio
Last year’s game
SMU Mustangs 28 vs. Pittsburgh Panthers 6
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