ATLANTA — In a historic season for Pitt, the defense reached a major milestone in the final game.
When linebacker Cam Bright scooped up a fumble by Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and returned it for a touchdown, it was the fifth defensive touchdown of the season for the Panthers.
That mark tied the 2021 team with the 1986 team for the most defensive touchdowns in a season in school history.
It all started back in September against New Hampshire when Damarri Mathis snatched a pick six, and the ball continued rolling into conference play. One week later at Georgia Tech Josh Petrishen started the game off with a bang on a first quarter pick six.
SirVocea Dennis’ pick six against Clemson was a crucial second half play that doubled the Panthers’ lead in one of the statement games of the season against Clemson at Heinz Field.
That play paved the way for a trip to the ACC Championship Game, where Erick Hallett put the exclamation point on the monumental win with a 19-yard pick six that accounted for the game’s final points in the fourth quarter.
Bright’s fumble return made it five defensive scores for five different players, and gave the Panthers a 21-10 lead in the third quarter.
