In a battle between Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and the lackluster Michigan State pass defense and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker and Pitt’s stout rush defense, there are plenty of storylines for the Peach Bowl without even mentioning Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi’s homecoming.
There’s enough intrigue for CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli to rank the Peach Bowl as one of the five most intriguing bowl games of the season — just behind the two College Football Playoff games and the Rose Bowl between No. 6 Ohio State and No. 11 Utah.
However, if Pickett decides to not play in the Peach Bowl — expressing his uncertainty Wednesday — after Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s resignation and eventual hire to the same position at Nebraska, a lot of national intrigue would vanish.
Neither Pickett nor Walker has officially opted out of the game, and until either does so, the matchup does have its exciting bits. Pickett is a Heisman finalist going up against the worst-ranked pass defense in the country, so if he does play, a fireworks show should be expected. Walker is the second-leading rusher in college football this season, but his matchup against a Top 10 rush defense in college football should be a grueling battle.
And even if Pickett does decide to opt-out in preparation for the 2022 NFL Draft, while that would be disappointing for Pitt fans hoping to see one last hurrah, the potential to see backup Nick Patti in action in a serious bowl game would still provide some excitement.
In the meantime, fans nationwide will hope for one game from Pickett before he goes to the NFL.
Seeing Patti-cakes play would create zero, and possibly negative, excitement. He’s not going to be the guy next season. If he is, we’re in for a long season.
I was about to play my ticket order for the bowl game and make the drive. With the question of KP possibility sitting it out I’ve decided to wait and see what he does.
No judgment on Kenny but I’ll watch it from home of he’s not playing.
Let’s go Kenny. One more time. This is a big bowl game and it’s important to the program. Put that Pitt helmet on one more time and put on a show that lands Pitt in the top 10 with a 12 win season to finish it off. 👍