Heinz Field in Pittsburgh was the place for college football fans to attend between the 15th-ranked Pitt Panthers and the Number 5 Cincinnati Bearcats. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt prepared the home team against Coach Brian Kelley's offensive schemes. The Bearcats' title aspirations were doubtful as the Panthers held a 21-point lead late in the first half. Pitts Dion Lewis led the way on two rushing TDs, while his teammate QB Bill Stull's TD toss to Jonathan Baldwin helped the Pittsburgh surge. Bearcat speedster Mardy Gilyard erupted for 374 yards and two scores as the Bearcats rallied from down 21. Lewis's third time crossing the goal line via a five-yard run put Pitt ahead 44-38 with 1:36 remaining. Holder Andrew Janocko muffed a perfect snap from center, and Pitt never got off the extra point, a mistake that would hurt later. Cincinnati posted its first lead on Tony Pike's 29-yard TD pass to Armon Binns with 33 seconds left. ESPN called this the 127th Greatest College Game in history in a 2019 poll.