Thursday December 30th, at 7pm on ESPN

Bowl season is officially here, and it’s almost time for the New Year’s Six. This season’s Peach Bowl will feature the University of Pittsburgh Panthers taking on the Michigan State Spartans. Here’s all you need to know before the New Year’s Eve kickoff:

Pickett out, Patti in for Pitt at QB

Pitt has its first ACC Championship under its belt after beating Wake Forest, but the team now has to face the Spartans without its most consistent player. QB Kenny Pickett declared for the NFL Draft and will not play in the Peach Bowl. His stock could not be higher after a remarkable senior season. Pickett threw for 4,319 yards with an outstanding 42/7 TD/INT ratio. Instead, Redshirt Junior Nick Patti gets the nod to start in Pickett’s place. Patti barely appeared in games this season and will man the helm without his OC – Mark Whipple defected to Nebraska at the end of the regular season.

But the Panthers do still have weapons to support their new starting QB. WR Jordan Addison hauled in 17 TD catches and looks to remain the Panthers’ primary target. On the ground, Pitt has three options. Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis, and Rodney Hammond Jr. have split carries all season long. If nothing else, this game is Patti’s one real shot to prove he’s the best option among next year’s crowded QB room in Pittsburgh.

Walker Walks Away from Bowl, Nailor Returns in Nick of Time for Michigan St.

Michigan State is also without its star player. RB Kenneth Walker III, who was only voted as the best running back in all of college football, will also skip out on the Peach Bowl. Walker racked up 1,636 rushing yards and 18 TDS on the way to winning Walter Camp National Player of the Year. Replacing him as the Spartans’ prime back is Sophomore Jordon Simmons, who functioned well as a change-of-pace option during the season.

However, plenty of the Spartans’ starters will return for this one. QB Payton Thorne looks to finish off his first season as starter on a high note. Other than a pummeling at the hands of Ohio State, Thorne had a respectable first campaign behind center. His favorite target, Jayden Reed, needs just 53 yards to hit 1,000 on the season. Also expected back at WR is Jalen Nailor, who has been sorely missed since suffering a right hand in October. He looks to give the Spartans back the one-two punch on the outside they ran with early in the season.

Defensive Standouts

Defense isn’t exactly the name of the game with these two teams, but that doesn’t mean both don’t have any playmakers.

Pitt’s Erick Hallett is the one consistent threat in the secondary. He leads the team with 3 interceptions, including a pick 6, and two forced fumbles. Habakkuk Baldonado and Calijah Kancey head the Panthers’ Defensive Line with a combined 16 sacks.

As for Michigan State: there are nine Spartans’ players with a pick, but each of them has just the one interception. Of those, LB Cal Haladay has the only TD. They are a perfect 10/10 in recovering forced fumbles. (Pitt is only 6/9 in that regard.)

The Verdict

The defenses are very closely matched in points allowed, but Pitt’s allows 100 less yards per game compared to Michigan St.’s. With plenty of depth on offense, Patti should only have to game manage to keep his team in this one. Pitt comes into the matchup as favorites, looking to win 12 games in a season for only the second time in the program’s history.

The two teams face off this Thursday, December 30, at 7pm on ESPN.