Penn State fans had fun at the expense of Pitt, who blew a 21-10 lead to Michigan State in the Peach Bowl.
The Pittsburgh Panthers looked to be coasting to a Peach Bowl win over the Michigan State Spartans. They had a 21-10 lead in the early portion of the second half. But then, Mel Tucker’s Spartans came all the way back to win 31-21, with a pick-six late in the fourth quarter ending a comeback bid by the Panthers.
Pitt fans had to be feeling terribly watching the team blow a lead. Then, there were Penn State Nittany Lions fans, who relished in their loss.
https://twitter.com/NTS_17_/status/1476758956735352856?s=20
https://twitter.com/TheGOATFollower/status/1476759343513026568?s=20
Can’t wait to hear “ we had a better record than penn state”
— Mark Wise (@mdwise11) December 31, 2021
#MSUvsPITT I’m from PA and a Penn State fan - really think I’d root for Pitt? Plus my kid went to MSU so #GoGreenGoWhite! Great come from behind win!
— Scott Geesey, CJE (@yearbookScott) December 31, 2021
There were also reactions from those who watched Pitt lose in heartbreaking fashion at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.
Pitt missed the best player in college football tonight.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 31, 2021
Pitt is 0-2 against schools from the state of Michigan this year and 11-1 vs. everyone else.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 31, 2021
Pitt has won all year with Pickett. All Michigan State had to do to beat them was pick it.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 31, 2021
A pick 6 by @MSU_Football over @Pitt_FB has closed the deal 31-21 for @Coach_mtucker & bring Peach Bowl trophy to East Lansing home of one of GOAT Spartans & @Lakers @MagicJohnson
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 31, 2021
Pitt fans down bad bad in those ISO shots. I’d have already been down in the concourse chain-smoking.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) December 31, 2021
These Pitt fans can/should be sad but you just lost the Peach Bowl without your first-round pick/Heisman Trophy finalist.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 31, 2021
You won the ACC title. Season isn't really changed.
Oh Pitt. Quite a fourth quarter that was 🤦♂️
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 31, 2021
Pitt blows 21-10 lead, loses Peach Bowl to Michigan State
The Panthers were already without star quarterback Kenny Pickett, who opted out of the Peach Bowl as he prepares for the 2022 NFL Draft. Then, backup Nick Patti was injured early on in the game. That left Pitt with third-string signal caller Davis Beville.
Pitt gained their 21-10 lead on a fumble recovery touchdown by Cam Bright. But then, the Spartans marched back with 14 points on two touchdown passes from Payton Thorne. Beville then worked his way down field, setting them up into at least field goal range, but he threw a brutal pick-six to Cal Haladay to officially end things.
Beville completed 14-of-18 pass attempts for 149 yards, one touchdown and the aforementioned interception. Patti got on the score board with a 16-yard touchdown run.
This is definitely not the way that Pitt wanted the season to end — in gut-wrenching fasion.
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