If you were an unbiased observer, Pitt vs. Toledo was probably awesome. If you were a Toledo fan, it was probably really awesome. If you were a Pitt fan, well…
It was an exciting game, all things considered.
The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl set an NCAA record for the most overtime periods played in an FBS bowl game, which had previously been set earlier this year.
The game set GameAbove Sports Bowl records for most receiving yards (Toledo wideout Junior Vandeross III, 194 yards), longest field goal (Ben Sauls, 57 yards), interception return (Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander, 58 yards) and total points scored (94).
According to the CFB Numbers’ Excitement Index, which measures win probability swings, the GameAbove Sports Bowl was the most exciting bowl game in the College Football Playoff era.
It was 30-30 at the end of regulation, and through the ensuing six overtime periods, the Panthers and Rockets traded touchdowns, conversions and near misses before Julian Dugger’s two-point conversion attempt in the sixth overtime period fell incomplete in the end zone.
According to ESPN analytics, Pitt opened with a 64.6% chance to win the game. It went as high as 81.5% for Pitt in the second quarter and 76.3% for Toledo in the third quarter.
Pitt had a 97.3% chance to win the game early in the fourth quarter after Juelz Goff picked up 10 yards on a carry to move across midfield, holding a 10-point lead. But the Toledo pick-six and 51-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning brought the win probability back down to 50/50 at the end of regulation.
Pitt had an 87.2% chance to win the game as Francis Brewu and Sean FitzSimmons combined for a first down sack in the first overtime, holding a 37-30 lead.
The win probability flipped from Pitt to Toledo to Pitt to Toledo in the second overtime as the twists and turns unfolded.
Even if only the overtime periods are considered, the GameAbove Sports Bowl provided more than its fair share of twists and turns. The officials had to call Toledo off the field multiple times in the overtime period.
Pitt turned to Dugger full-time in the second half, and if nothing else, his performance was exciting for Panther Nation. He completed 7-of-13 pass attempts for 72 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and added 88 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Even the Pitt All-Americans finished strong, too. Desmond Reid ran for a season-high 165 yards and a touchdown, and Kyle Louis blocked and returned a point-after attempt for two points.
