After waiting until the last game of the season to secure bowl eligibility, Northwestern learned Sunday it will play Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl at New York’s Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28.

“Our entire football family is ecstatic for the opportunity to take the field one more time this season in an iconic setting,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a statement. “I have great respect for Pat Narduzzi, his staff, and the Panthers student-athletes. They’ve done a remarkable job this season. This is going to be a tremendous challenge against a disciplined and physical opponent. We can’t wait to get to New York.”

The Wildcats (6-6) are playing in a bowl game for a second straight season, following last season’s 10-win campaign. They turned around their season this year after a 1-3 start that included home losses to Illinois State and Western Michigan.

They bounced back with a 5-4 Big Ten season that included victories against bowl-bound teams Iowa and Indiana. Northwestern earned its sixth win by beating Illinois at home in the regular-season finale behind another impressive performance from running back Justin Jackson.

Pittsburgh (8-4) owns some impressive victories. The Panthers handed No. 2 Clemson its only loss, and its victory against Penn State essentially kept the Nittany Lions out of the College Football Playoff.

The Panthers, who are coached by former Michigan State defensive coordinator Narduzzi, have won three straight games. Three of Pitt’s losses were by seven or fewer points.

“You see (Narduzzi’s) DNA all over the team,” Fitzgerald said. “They’re tough. They’re physical.”

The schools last played in 1973, a 21-14 Pitt victory in Evanston when Tony Dorsett rushed for 265 yards. The all-time series between the teams is 3-3, and they’ve never met in a bowl game.

Despite playing in a lower-level bowl than last season, Northwestern hopes to secure a bowl victory after losing 45-6 last season to Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.

“We have some memories from last year and we want to erase and get that taste out of our mouths,” Fitzgerald said.

The Wildcats offense has shown significant improvement with key players Jackson and receiver Austin Carr.

Carr won the Big Ten’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year award after leading the conference with 84 receptions, 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jackson moved into second on Northwestern’s all-time rushing list, jumping ahead of Tyrell Sutton (2005-08), with 3,905 career yards, including 1,300 this season.

“It’s for our seniors,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster with wins and losses. . The opportunity to play in the Pinstripe Bowl is a terrific honor for us.”