Inside The Panthers

Panthers Make School, Bowl Game History vs UCLA

The Pitt Panthers set a school and college football record with their win over UCLA.

Stephen Thompson

Panthers Make School, Bowl Game History vs UCLA
Panthers Make School, Bowl Game History vs UCLA /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers' 14-point comeback against UCLA in the Sun Bowl did more than just earn them a ninth win in 2022 and 20th win over the past two seasons. The wild turnaround set school and bowl game records. 

The Panthers trailed by two whole touchdowns in the third quarter before outscoring the Bruins 27-7 over the game's final 18 minutes to emerge victorious. It was the largest postseason comeback in school history. 

The way the Panthers came back was also extraordinary. Holding a six-point lead inside two minutes remaining, the Pitt defense surrendered a 70-yard touchdown drive that lasted just 1:27 to UCLA's backup quarterback, Ethan Garbers, who filled in for the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson. They scored with 34 seconds remaining to take a one-point lead. 

But Pitt responded with a quick, impressive drive of their own, marching 46 yards in 30 seconds to set up a game-winning, 47-yard field goal from Ben Sauls. It's been 13 years since a team has manufactured a comeback like that in a postseason game. According to ESPN Stats and Info, 34 seconds is the latest a team has fielded a kickoff while trailing in a bowl game it's won since Idaho did it with 32 seconds left against Bowling Green in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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