Stanford Football: 3 reasons to watch 2018 Sun Bowl vs. Pittsburgh

3. Can Kenny Pickett have breakthrough vs. Stanford secondary?

Pittsburgh definitely did not make their mark through their passing game in 2018. The Panthers ranked 120 in passing yards per game and 112th in yards per completion, as they spent most of their time rooted on the ground.

A big reason why Pittsburgh ranked among the bottom 10 passing offenses in the country this year was that Kenny Pickett was in his first full year as a starter. As a freshman in 2017, Pickett led the offense for the last two games of the year, going 1-1 in his first two starts. That included an 18-of-29 performance with three total touchdowns in the upset of then-undefeated Miami on Black Friday.

Former starter Ben DiNucci opted to transfer to James Madison after the 2017 season, opening the door for Pickett to own the starting position. He has responded with a string of mostly disappointing performances. Pickett went over 200 yards just once this year, when he gashed Wake Forest for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Otherwise he has a long string of sub-200 yard games that include a disappointing eight-yard effort against Clemson.

Against a Stanford secondary that ranks 121st in passing yards allowed, 67th in opponent passing efficiency, and manages less than one interception per game, Pickett could cap the season with a breakout showing for the second straight year.