Northwestern's Austin Carr was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award this season.
No. 23 Pittsburgh and Northwestern will meet for the first time since 1973 when they tangle in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. The series is tied at three games apiece, with Pittsburgh taking a win most recently.
Game info
Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Northwestern (6-6)
Dec. 28, 2016
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
How to watch
Game time: 2 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Live stream: You can live stream the game here.
Players to watch
- Pittsburgh running back James Conner courageously battled back from cancer to lead the team with 1,060 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
- Northwestern’s offense is paced by Justin Jackson, who has rushed for exactly 1,300 yards this season with 12 touchdowns. He’s also caught 33 passes for 210 yards.
Key stats
- Pittsburgh closed its season with three straight wins, starting with a win over then-No. 2 Clemson thanks to a last-second field goal from kicker Chris Blewitt.
- The Panthers have been streaky this season, winning two games, losing two games, winning three games, losing two games and finally winning three games to close the season with an 8-4 record.
- This is Pittsburgh’s ninth straight season with a bowl trip; the Panthers are 3-5 in the previous eight bowl games.
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- Neither of these teams have played in the Pinstripe Bowl during the previous six years of its existence.
- In addition to a 1,000-yard rusher, the Wildcats boast a 1,000-yard receiver in Austin Carr, who caught 84 passes for 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
- Northwestern rallied for a 6-6 finish after opening the season 1-3 through four games.
- This is Northwestern’s second trip to bowl season in a row; the Wildcats are just 1-10 in their last 11 bowl trips.
- Northwestern’s only bowl win other than the 1944 Rose Bowl is the 2012 Gator Bowl -- a 14-point win over Mississippi State which saw future Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian and a brief cameo by future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Injuries
- Panthers wide receiver Tre Tipton is questionable with an upper-body injury.
- Pittsburgh defensive lineman Tyrique Jarrett is questionable with a leg injury.
- Panthers running back Chawntez Moss is questionable with an undisclosed injury.
- Pittsburgh defensive back Jordan Whitehead is questionable with an arm injury.
