Toledo Triumphs Over Pittsburgh in Epic Six-Overtime Thriller

Toledo Triumphs Over Pittsburgh in Epic Six-Overtime Thriller

DETROIT — In a game that will be remembered for its sheer endurance and drama, Tucker Gleason led Toledo to a nail-biting victory over Pittsburgh, 48-46, in a record-setting six overtimes at the GameAbove Sports Bowl held at Ford Field on Thursday. This game not only tested the limits of the players but also set a new benchmark for bowl games, surpassing the previous record set just two days earlier when South Florida edged out San Jose State 41-39 in five overtimes during the Hawaii Bowl.

It’s been a season of extended play, with this being the third bowl game to stretch into multiple overtimes, marking the most in a single bowl season since the overtime rule was introduced in 1996. Earlier in the week, Northern Illinois had outlasted Fresno State 28-20 in double overtime at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Before this week, no bowl game had ever reached four overtimes, making this season a historic one for college football.

Adding to the excitement, this is the first season to feature multiple games extending to at least six overtimes. Just last month, Georgia and Georgia Tech battled it out in an eight-overtime marathon, with Georgia emerging victorious 44-42. For Toledo, this was their first multi-overtime game since a double-overtime win against Iowa State back in September 2015.

Pittsburgh’s freshman sensation, Julian Dugger, made a memorable college debut, running for two overtime touchdowns and throwing for two more. However, his incomplete pass in the sixth overtime sealed the fate of the Panthers. Despite starting the season with a promising 7-0 record, Pittsburgh became only the second team in FBS history to end a season on a six-game losing streak, including a bowl game.

The overtime saga began with Gleason and Dugger exchanging rushing touchdowns in the first overtime, followed by each team securing a field goal in the second. The third overtime saw both quarterbacks successfully completing two-point passes, with Gleason adding another in the fourth to give Toledo a 44-42 lead.

Drama unfolded when Dugger was sacked, seemingly ending the game, but a holding call against the Rockets gave Pittsburgh another chance. Dugger’s sneak attempt was initially ruled short, prompting Toledo to celebrate prematurely, but a replay review confirmed he had crossed the plane.

In the fifth overtime, Dugger connected with Gavin Bartholomew to put Pittsburgh ahead 46-44, but Gleason responded with his fifth touchdown pass of the game. The sixth overtime saw Toledo regain the lead, and Dugger, under pressure, threw an errant pass to conclude the epic contest.

Pittsburgh faced adversity even before the game began, playing without their starting quarterback Eli Holstein due to a leg injury, and backup Nate Yarnell who entered the transfer portal. This left the Panthers relying on David Lynch, a redshirt freshman walk-on, who started his first game but was replaced in the third quarter after throwing two interceptions.

Dugger’s entry into the game sparked a rally, leading the Panthers to two touchdowns and a field goal on his first three drives, overturning a 20-12 deficit into a 30-20 lead. However, Toledo’s defense struck back with their second pick-six of the game, as Darius Alexander returned Dugger’s interception 58 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 30-27 with 7:49 remaining. The Rockets then tied the game with a field goal with just 1:45 left on the clock.

Toledo set the pace early, with Gleason throwing a touchdown pass on the opening drive. However, Kyle Louis blocked the extra point and returned it for Pittsburgh’s first defensive two-point conversion since 1990. Pittsburgh briefly took the lead with Desmond Reid‘s 3-yard run and a 57-yard field goal by Ben Sauls, but Gleason’s 67-yard touchdown pass to Junior Vandeross III swung the momentum back to Toledo.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Braden Awls intercepted Lynch’s pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown, giving Toledo a 20-12 halftime lead.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.