Pitt's reward for ACC title is Peach matchup vs Michigan St

Updated Dec. 5, 2021 3:33 p.m. ET

Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A milestone season for Pittsburgh and quarterback Kenny Pickett is continuing with a Peach Bowl matchup against Michigan State.

No. 13 Pitt’s reward for its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship is the Panthers' first New Year’s Six bowl since 2004 in the Dec. 30 game in Atlanta against No. 11 Michigan State.

Pitt (11-2) moved up four spots to No. 13 in Sunday’s AP Top 25 following its

Pickett threw for two touchdowns but his highlight was a

Pitt lost to Utah 35-7 in the Fiesta Bowl following the 2004 season in its last New Year's Six game.

Michigan State (10-2) closed its regular season by

RECORDS FOR PICKETT

Pickett has boosted his NFL stock and could be one of the Heisman Trophy favorites following his record-setting season. He

Pickett also set an ACC record for most scoring passes in a season with 42. Clemson’s Deshaun Watson had 41 in 2016.

SPARTANS TURNAROUND

Second-year coach Mel Tucker has led the Spartans to a dramatic turnaround from a 2-5 finish in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The eight-game jump in wins is the most dramatic improvement in school history.

Michigan State recovered from a 56-7 loss at Ohio State to finish its regular season by beating Ohio State. Michigan State finished undefeated at home for the first time since 2015.

WELCOME TO ATLANTA

Each team will be making its first Peach Bowl appearance.

Michigan State is the first Big Ten team to play in the game since Michigan in 2018. Pitt is the ACC's first team in the Peach Bowl since Florida State in 2015.

BIG TEN VS. ACC

It is the first Big Ten-ACC matchup in the game since 1988, when North Carolina State beat Iowa 28-23.

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