College football returns to Annapolis this December as the Pitt Panthers and East Carolina Pirates are set to face off in the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled for Saturday, December 27, with an 11 a.m. kickoff and national television coverage on ESPN. Tickets for the National Capital Region’s annual bowl game are on sale now.

Military Bowl Matchup Returns To Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

The Military Bowl Foundation announced that Pitt and East Carolina will meet for just the fourth time in series history and the first time ever in a bowl game. The teams last played on October 24, 1992, when East Carolina defeated Pitt 37-31 in Pittsburgh.

“We are so excited for this matchup!” Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “Both teams have had excellent seasons and will bring plenty of support to Annapolis. East Carolina won a thrilling 2024 Go Bowling Military Bowl and the Pirates’ definitely painted the town purple and gold. And we certainly remember the last time Pitt played in our game – the 2015 game drew the second-largest crowd in Military Bowl history and our largest in Annapolis.”

Pitt’s only previous appearance in the Military Bowl came in 2015, a 44-28 loss to Navy before an overflow crowd of 36,352, which also marked Coach Pat Narduzzi’s first bowl game as a head coach. East Carolina first played in the Military Bowl in 2010 and was slated to face Boston College in the 2021 game before that contest was canceled.

Pitt Closes Strong Behind Emerging Freshman Quarterback

Pitt enters the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl with an 8-4 record after winning six of its final eight regular season games. The Panthers’ late-season surge included a 42-28 win over then-No. 16 Georgia Tech, as freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel emerged as a key playmaker and helped guide the team to a 6-2 conference record.

“On behalf of our football program, I would like to thank the Go Bowling Military Bowl for the opportunity to compete in this year’s game,” Narduzzi said. “We’re looking forward to the chance to honor our country’s service members, as well as the opportunity to compete against East Carolina. We have a tremendous amount of respect for the Pirates, and we’re excited for the challenge.”

East Carolina Returns To Military Bowl After Strong Season

East Carolina also comes into the game at 8-4, having won five of its final six regular season games. The Pirates saw four players earn first-team all-conference honors: wide receiver Anthony Smith, offensive tackle Jimarion McCrimmon, defensive lineman Zion Wilson, and safety Ja’Marley Riddle. Quarterback Katin Houser led the offense with 3,300 passing yards and 19 touchdowns.

“We are looking forward to returning to the Go Bowling Military Bowl and continuing our momentum from the regular season,” East Carolina Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. “Last year’s Military Bowl was a special experience for Pirate Nation and there’s no doubt they will return to Annapolis to support the Pirates. This is a great opportunity for coaches, staff, and student-athletes to play a formidable opponent. Thank you to Steve Back and everybody involved with the Military Bowl Foundation for the invitation.”

Military Bowl Supports Patriot Point And Honors Service Members

The Go Bowling Military Bowl benefits Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s 294-acre retreat for wounded, ill, and injured active-duty and veteran service members, their families, and caregivers. The game has become a staple of the college football postseason in the National Capital Region, pairing competitive football with a mission to honor and support the military community.

Fans can find the latest updates and ticket information at militarybowl.org, follow @MilitaryBowl on Twitter and Instagram, or like the Go Bowling Military Bowl page on Facebook. For sponsorship opportunities, interested parties may contact Military Bowl Foundation Senior Director of Partnerships Marc Goldman at [email protected].

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