Football: Panthers accept bowl bid

The Pitt football team accepted a bid to the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 8 against… The Pitt football team accepted a bid to the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 8 against Kentucky after finishing the regular season at 7-5 and earning a three-way share of the Big East Championship.

The game will be played in Birmingham, Ala., at Legion Field as the Panthers go for their second straight bowl victory after defeating North Carolina last year in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

“What a tremendous opportunity our football program has in playing an SEC team on ESPN in this year’s BBVA Compass Bowl,” Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt said in a news release. “I know our team is excited about the challenge. We appreciate the invitation to play in Birmingham and look forward to a great experience on and off the field.”

Kentucky (6-6) will be playing in its first bowl game since 2008, when it beat East Carolina 25-19 in the Liberty Bowl. The game will mark the first time Pitt has played an SEC team since it beat Tennessee in 1983.

“We are extremely pleased to host the University of Pittsburgh in this year’s game,” said Mark Meadows, executive director of the BBVA Compass Bowl. “We congratulate Coach Wannstedt and his team on winning a share of the Big East Championship. We look forward to having the Panther fans in Birmingham with the opportunity to experience some great Southern hospitality during their stay.”