The game was the final contest of the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 41–7 victory for Maryland.
The West Virginia Mountaineers had finished the regular season with a record of 8–4, which already included a defeat at the hands of Maryland.
He had already compiled an impressive record in his first two years, elevating Terrapins football back to the national stage for the first time since Bobby Ross left the program in the wake of the Len Bias tragedy.
West Virginia's 2003 season started off badly, with a 1-4 record including losses to Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Maryland, and fellow Big East foe Miami.
[1] West Virginia took over on downs on their 34-yard line and rushed three times for 16 yards before quarterback Rasheed Marshall fumbled and Maryland linebacker Andrew Henley recovered it at midfield.
[1] On their next possession, the Terps pushed to the Mountaineer 31-yard line before Scott McBrien completed a pass to Jafar Williams for a 31-yard touchdown.
Maryland drove down to the West Virginia 18, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Nick Novak was again missed.
[1] The New York Times computer ranking system rated the Maryland Terrapins as the number-three team in the nation, after split-national champions USC and LSU.
The rating put the Terps considerably ahead of number-four Ohio State, number-five Miami, and number-six Georgia.
Maryland players Lamar Bryant (OG), Eric Dumas (OL), Dennard Wilson (S), and Jeff Dugan (TE) were selected to play for the Kai squad.
Scott Smith (DE) was selected for the Las Vegas All-American Classic, while Madieu Williams (FS) played in the Senior Bowl.
Bruce Perry (TB), Scott McBrien (QB), and Leon Joe (LB) played in the Gridiron Classic.