2025 Military Bowl Preview
During the season, Pitt surprised many as they became one of the more formidable teams in the ACC. In fact, they were in the chase for the ACC title game until their home loss to Miami.
Quarterback Mason Heintschel emerged as a budding star as a freshman and guided the Panthers to a successful season. He set the school records for most passing yards in a game by a freshman with 423 yards against NC State.
On the other side, ECU head coach Mike Harrell has done a great job since taking over the program in 2024. Harrell was the interim coach after taking over for Mike Houston, but has led ECU to a 13-5 record under his watch. Having won last year’s Military Bowl, he looks to win his second Military Bowl game in as many seasons.
Pitt Panthers vs. East Carolina Pirates: History and Excerpts
Saturday marks the fifth time the two teams have met, with each team winning two games apiece.
The most notable matchup was in 1989, which resulted in a 47-42 shootout won by the Panthers. That game featured longtime NFL quarterback Alex Van Pelt, who had three total touchdowns and orchestrated a 14-point comeback. This Saturday would be their first meeting this century.
Keys to the Game and Predictions
Entering this 2025 Military Bowl matchup between Pitt and East Carolina, there are a multitude of important aspects, as well as predictions for what could decide the game. We’ll cover the impact players for both sides and what the Pirates need to do to leave Annapolis with their second consecutive Military Bowl win.
Key Players for Pitt
Rasheem Biles could make it a very long day for the Pirates’ offense. He’s a tackling machine that can rush the passer and has surprisingly soft hands when he drops into coverage to play the passing lanes.
Pitt prides itself on their defensive front to command the line of scrimmage, and Jimmy Scott should play a role in that department. He has eight tackles for loss this season to go along with 4.5 sacks.
Quarterback Mason Heintschel may get the bulk of the headlines for the Panthers, but their defense will have a heavy hand in the outcome Saturday.
Key Players for East Carolina
For the Pirates’ offense, everything starts with wide receiver Anthony Smith. Since arriving on campus in 2024, he has provided East Carolina with a steady presence outside the numbers. Yet this year, he has become even more efficient.
Smith set career highs in receptions (60), receiving yards (897). At 6-foot-3, Smith has a large catch radius and does a great job of plucking throws out of the air with his hands and catching the ball away from his body. Factoring in his speed, and Smith should get a lot of cushion from defensive backs for fear of his ability as a deep threat.
Defensively, Ja’Marley Riddle is going to be all over the field. He is able to play near the box in run support, but is also very adept in pass coverage and has very good ball skills.
How the Panthers Win the Military Bowl
If Mason Heintschel continues his scorching freshman season, it’s going to be hard to beat the Panthers. Kenny Johnson and Raphael Williams have given him consistent, reliable options in the passing game.
How the Pirates Win the Military Bowl
The one trait to describe this Pirates team is selfless. It’s about the team first and foremost, and that characterizes the roster for coach Harrell.
Their starting quarterback, Katin Houser, opted out to enter the transfer portal, which means it’s a mystery as to who will see the bulk of the snaps at quarterback. It could be the freshman Chaston Ditta or veteran transfer Mike Wright. East Carolina may use both at the same time. Wright has shown up in a multitude of different spots throughout his career, so some combination of either quarterback shouldn’t be unexpected.
What the Pirates will have to do to win the game is to establish their rushing attack to keep Pitt’s offense off the field and sprinkle some deep shots to Smith. If they can manage to get over 20 points and limit turnovers, the Pirates win their second consecutive Military Bowl.
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