For the second time in its last three bowl appearances, Pitt will rely on a third-string quarterback.

David Lynch, a Walkon who signed in January 2023, will start for the Panthers on Thursday against Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit.

Three years ago, Davis Beville replaced an injured Nick Patti late in the first quarter of the 2021 Peach Bowl against Michigan State. Patti, who injured his shoulder during a touchdown, started after Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett opted out before the NFL Draft to protect himself from injury. Beville completed 14 of 18 passes for 149 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, in a 31-21 loss to the Spartans.

The Panthers also used a second reserve player in the 2022 Sun Bowl when Patti replaced Kedon Slovis, who was transferred. Pitt hasn’t played in a bowl game with its regular starting quarterback since Pickett led a 34-30 win over Eastern Michigan in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl.

Lynch (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) gets the call Thursday after Eli Holstein missed the final regular-season game with a leg injury and No. 1 backup Nate Yarnell moved on. Holstein wasn’t in uniform Thursday but stood on the Pitt sideline wearing a walking boot on his left leg.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Dieffenbach also transferred, so Lynch’s replacement will be freshman Julian Dugger, a Penn Hills graduate who has been with the program since January 2024. Dugger did not appear in any games this season.

Lynch played briefly in the final two games of the season at Louisville and Boston College, completing six of nine passes with one interception.

A graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Lynch spent the 2022 season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he led the team to the National Post-Grad Athletic Association championship with 1,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. Prior to his time at IMG, he led Bishop Hendricken to an Interscholastic League State Championship Super Bowl championship.

Lynch played football, basketball and baseball in high school, where he played all-state basketball and led Bishop Hendricken to three state championships.