Ben Sauls kicked five field goals, including a 47-yarder in the final seconds, and Pitt beat No. 18 UCLA 37-35 in a wild, back-and-forth Sun Bowl on Friday.
The Panthers (9-4), playing without five starters who opted out of the game, took advantage of five UCLA turnovers, including four interceptions.
"We were down a few guys and just found a way to win a football game," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. "One way or another, our guys found a way to get it done. I couldn't be more proud of this team."
Sauls, who was named the game's Special Teams MVP, set a Sun Bowl record with his five field goals.
"You are what you tell yourself," Sauls said. "And at the end of the day, I really think I'm a decent kicker."
UCLA (9-4) grabbed a 35-34 lead on T.J. Harden's 8-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds remaining. The late scoring drive started at the UCLA 25-yard line with less than two minutes left, and was keyed by a 34-yard run by Harden.
"I thought both teams played their hearts out," UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. "It was a heck of a game."
With Pitt down 1 with 34 seconds left and no timeouts remaining, quarterback Nick Patti had completions of 18 yards to Jared Wayne and 17 yards to Bub Means on the ensuing drive. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Patti scrambled for 11 yards to the UCLA 29-yard line. After another spike with 10 seconds left, Sauls came on to kick the game-winner.
Sophomore Rodney Hammond Jr., the game's MVP, rushed for 89 yards and two TDs for the Panthers, who were without running back Israel Abanikanda, the nation's leader in total TDs with 22.
The Bruins, who led 21-14 at halftime, played without star senior running back Zach Charbonnet. Harden finished with 111 yards on 11 carries.
UCLA was in control after Jaylin Davies intercepted Patti and returned it 52 yards to make it 28-14 with 8:45 to go in the third quarter.
But Pitt responded with 20 straight points.
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was injured and didn't return to the game after throwing an interception early in the fourth, threw for 271 yards on 16-of-24 passing. He had three interceptions, and Ethan Garbers also threw an interception on the game's final play.
The game was the first meeting between Pitt and UCLA since 1972.
The Panthers improved to 3-2 in Sun Bowl appearances and 15-22 overall in bowls with their first victory in El Paso since 1989.
With a 9-4 campaign to follow up last year's ACC title, Narduzzi's team has won 20 games since 2021, Pitt's most victories over a two-year span since 1981-82.