The two programs have previously met three times, most recently in 1932, with Pittsburgh holding a 2–1 series lead.
[6] The referee for the game, David Smith of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), was the quarterback and MVP for Alabama in the 1988 Sun Bowl.
[7] Stanford started off the season with four straight wins, including a victory over rival USC, and they rose in the polls from No.
Pittsburgh started their season with four losses in their first seven games, losing to ranked opponents such as Penn State, UCF, and Notre Dame.
However, the Panthers pulled off a four-game winning streak, including victories over teams such as No.