Palko was redshirted the following season in 2003 . As a redshirt-sophomore in 2004 , Palko threw for 3,067 yards and 24 touchdowns , with only seven interceptions , earning him second-team All-Big East honors . He was also named Pitt 's MVP and offensive captain as a first-year starter . Palko 's 24 touchdowns led the Big East and were the third-highest single-season total in Pitt history , and his total passing yardage was the most ever for a sophomore and third-best overall in school history as well . Palko also had four 300-yard passing games and one 400-yard passing game during this season alone . In a game against the University of South Florida , Palko threw for a career-high 411 yards , the fifth-highest in school history , and matched a personal best of five touchdowns with no interceptions . Palko threw another five touchdown passes and totaled 334 yards in the air with no interceptions against Notre Dame , becoming the first quarterback to throw for five touchdowns in a single game as a visiting team player against the Fighting Irish . Late in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame , the Panthers went on two late scoring drives : one for a touchdown and the second for a game-winning field goal with one second left to play . Palko also led three consecutive scoring drives against Temple to overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit . They also surprised the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Backyard Brawl after being down 13-9 in the fourth quarter . Palko led a drive that consisted of four third-down conversions , ending with his two-yard touchdown run . Pittsburgh earned a bid to play in the Fiesta Bowl against the Utah Utes , where Palko was sacked nine times in a 35-7 loss
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Tyler Palko