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ACC COASTAL DIVISION CHAMPION, PITTSBURGH SET TO TAKE ON STANFORD IN 85TH ANNUAL HYUNDAI SUN BOWL December 2, 2018

EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai of El Paso have announced that Pittsburgh will face Stanford in the 85th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl, Monday, Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. (MT) in Sun Bowl Stadium.

The Pitt Panthers represent the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) after coming off a 7-6 overall record during the regular season and earning runner-up in the conference. The Panthers won the ACC’s Coastal Division with a 6-2 mark. The Stanford Cardinal head to its 10th consecutive bowl game, a school-record, after going 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Pac-12.

“This is another great matchup with two really good football teams,” Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association Bernie Olivas said. “To have a conference runner-up in our game is always great. We are ecstatic for the teams to arrive and enjoy a fun and exciting week with the Borderland community.”

This marks Pitt’s 34th all-time bowl appearance and third under the direction of Coach Pat Narduzzi. The ACC runner-up, Pitt enters the bowl season with a 7-6 overall record.

The 2018 bowl appearance will be the 30th overall for Stanford, and fifth trip to the Sun Bowl. The Cardinal is 14-14-1 in bowl games, and 3-1 in the Sun Bowl, most recently defeating North Carolina, 25-23, in 2016. This will be Stanford’s third straight bowl game in the state of Texas, including the 2017 Alamo Bowl.

“How could we not take the ACC Coastal Division Champions and a team that works as hard as it does,” said football selection committee chairman John Folmer. “The City of El Paso loves football and knows that this will be a good matchup to look forward to.”

Tickets for the 85th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Sun Bowl Association office. The 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl is set for Monday, Dec. 31 in Sun Bowl Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 12 p.m. (MT).

All information for the game can be viewed online through the link available at www.sunbowl.org. Customers and fans can also call the Sun Bowl Association office (915-533-4416) and are also invited to stop by the Sun Bowl Association office located at 4150 Pinnacle Street, Suite 100 in El Paso to purchase tickets.

Appearances in Sun Bowl
Pittsburgh (2-1)
Win vs. Kansas, 33-19 (Dec. 26, 1975)
Win vs. Texas A&M, 31-28 (Dec. 30, 1989)
Loss vs. Oregon State, 3-0 (Dec. 31, 2008)

Stanford (3-1)
Win vs. Louisiana State, 24-14 (Dec. 31, 1977)
Win vs. Michigan State, 38-0 (Dec. 31, 1996)
Loss vs. Oklahoma, 31-27 (Dec. 31, 2009)
Win vs. North Carolina, 25-23 (Dec. 31, 2016)