The 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl features the 8-4 Pittsburgh Panthers and the 8-4 East Carolina Pirates. Here is the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl Preview.
Pittsburgh won eight games to make their second-straight bowl game. They defeated three bowl-eligible teams this season: Central Michigan, NC State and Georgia Tech. Their only loss to a team that didn’t make a bowl game in West Virginia.
The Panthers score 35.1 points per game, ranking 17th in the country. They pass for 274.8 yards (ranked 19th) and rush for 117 yards (ranked 114th) per game.
Freshman Mason Heintschel took over during the season at quarterback. He passed for 2,098 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 63.8 percent completion. Five pass-catchers had at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Kenny Johnson and Raphael Williams Jr. have both been great targets, as they have 695 and 644 yards, respectively.
Three running backs have over 200 rushing yards for the Panthers. Ja’Kryian Turner leads the team with 652 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Desmond Reid battled injury, but had 278 yards, while Juelz Goff racked up 270 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Panthers give up 24.75 points per game, ranking 69th in the FBS. They give up 97 rushing yards (ranked ninth) and 240.2 passing yards (ranked 103rd) per game. Rasheem Biles leads the team with 84 tackles. Jimmy Scott paces the team with 4.5 sacks. Rashad Battle has had some nice plays in the secondary with five passes defended.
The Pirates won eight games to make their second-straight bowl game. They defeated three teams that made bowl games: Coastal Carolina, Army and Memphis. All four of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams: NC State, BYU, Tulane and UTSA.
East Carolina scores 33.5 points per game, ranking 24th in the FBS. They pass for 280.7 yards (ranked 15th) and rush for 184 yards (tied 38th) per game.
Katin Houser has been the starting quarterback for the Pirates, but he is heading to the transfer portal. Chaston Ditta and Mike Wright have each taken minimal snaps this season at quarterback, but will start. Five players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season, although two of them are in the transfer portal. Leading receiver Anthony Smith is currently playing, after having 60 catches for 897 yards and five touchdowns.
Four players have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. London Montgomery leads the team with 742 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Marlon Gunn Jr. rushed for 532 yards and six touchdowns behind Montgomery. TJ Engelman Jr. and Parker Jenkins aided the rushing attack with 282 and 238 yards apiece.
The Pirates’ defense allows 20.3 points per game, ranking 28th in the nation. They concede 120.2 rushing yards (ranked 29th) and 228.7 passing yards (ranked 88th) per game. Ja’Marley Riddle has led the team in tackling from the secondary with 70. Zion Wilson has the team-high with seven sacks. Riddle has also made plays against the pass, as he has six passes defended and three interceptions.
With some of ECU’s top players in the transer portal, they will struggle to keep up. With Houser transferring, they won’ be able to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s subpar pass defense. Pittsburgh should be able to win by a decent margin.
Pittsburgh Panthers 38 East Carolina Pirates 24
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