It’s not always easy to sell your fans on a trip to the same bowl two seasons in a row.

The benefit for East Carolina is another shot at an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.

The Pirates are in the Military Bowl for a second straight year, but Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh in Annapolis, Maryland, is a nice opportunity for them. Pitt was in contention for an ACC title until it lost its regular-season finale, and ECU — which plays in the American Athletic Conference — clearly was eyeing a chance to face a Power Four team when bowl bids were dispersed.

“Obviously, I think all things considered, most people do not want to travel to the same bowl location year after year,” East Carolina athletic director Jon Gilbert said. “I think we landed in a very good spot against a very good opponent.”

In 2024, the Pirates faced N.C. State in this bowl. East Carolina blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before a late touchdown gave the Pirates a 26-21 victory. Then a brawl broke out between the teams.

That melee didn’t prevent ECU (8-4) from being invited back, this time facing Pitt (8-4), which would have made it to the ACC title game if it had beaten Miami in late November.

It’s no small thing for an AAC team to face a Power Four opponent. ECU lost to N.C. State in a rematch to open this season and then fell to BYU in September. The AAC put a team in the playoff this year in Tulane, but not all of the league’s top teams are getting a chance to play against the Power Four in the postseason. ECU is facing Pitt, and Navy takes on Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl. Memphis lost to N.C. State in the Gasparilla Bowl.

North Texas and South Florida, on the other hand, ended up in bowls against fellow Group of Five teams.

Upheaval

East Carolina recently lost offensive coordinator John David Baker to Mississippi and defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge to South Florida. Quarterback Katin Houser, who ran for two touchdowns in last year’s bowl win, announced earlier this month he was entering the transfer portal.

Series history

This is the fifth meeting between Pitt and ECU. Each team has won twice. The Panthers and Pirates haven’t played since 1992, when ECU won 37-31.

Repeaters

Not counting the playoff, only five FBS teams are playing in the same bowl as last season — East Carolina, UConn (Fenway Bowl), Miami of Ohio (Arizona Bowl), Louisiana Tech (Independence Bowl) and LSU (Texas Bowl). Four of those games are Saturday.

Key switch

Pitt freshman Mason Heintschel went 6-2 after taking over as starting quarterback. He threw for 300 yards four times, including a 423-yard effort against N.C. State.

Another rookie

Freshman Ja’Kyrian Turner led Pitt in rushing with 652 yards, helping the Panthers overcome Desmond Reid’s injury problems. Turner ran for 201 yards and a touchdown in a late-season win over Georgia Tech.

Military Bowl

East Carolina (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (8-4), Dec. 27 at 11 a.m.

BetMGM College Football Odds Line: Pittsburgh by 7. Against the spread: Pittsburgh 8-4, East Carolina 7-5.

How to watch: ESPN

Key stats

Pittsburgh offense — Overall: 392.2 yards per game (64th in FBS); Passing: 275 yards per game (20th); Rushing: 117.2 yards per game (115th); Scoring: 35.1 points per game (17th)

Pittsburgh defense — Overall: 337.2 yards per game (39th in FBS); Passing: 240.2 yards per game (104th); Rushing: 97 yards per game (9th); Scoring: 24.9 points per game (70th)

East Carolina offense — Overall: 465.7 yards per game (13th in FBS); Passing: 280.7 yards per game (16th); Rushing: 185 yards per game (37th); Scoring: 33.5 points per game (24th)

East Carolina defense — Overall: 348.9 yards per game (48th in FBS); Passing: 228.7 yards per game (89th); Rushing: 120.3 yards per game (29th); Scoring: 20.3 points per game (28th)

â-  Both teams perform well defensively on third down. Pittsburgh is 23rd in the FBS, allowing opponents to convert 33.7% of the time. East Carolina ranks 11th, allowing a 30.2% third down conversion rate.

â-  Both teams are heavily penalized. Pittsburgh ranks 133rd in the FBS averaging 70.1 penalty yards per game, and East Carolina ranks 113th with a 63.3-yard average.

â-  Pittsburgh is 76th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 83.3% of trips. East Carolina’s red zone defense ranks 9th at 71.4%.

Team leaders

Pittsburgh — Passing: Mason Heintschel, 2,101 yards, 15 TDs, 7 INTs, 63.8 completion percentage; Rushing: Ja’Kyrian Turner, 654 yards on 124 carries, 7 TDs; Receiving: Raphael Williams, 684 yards on 47 catches, 6 TDs

East Carolina — Passing: Katin Houser, 3,300 yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs, 65.9 completion percentage; Rushing: London Montgomery, 742 yards on 156 carries, 7 TDs; Receiving: Anthony Smith, 897 yards on 60 catches, 5 TDs