Pittsburgh (7-5, 5-2 Big East) was selected to play Kentucky (6-6, 2-6 SEC) in the game.
After their slow start, the Panthers rebounded, winning 4 out of their next 5 games, improving their record to 6-4.
The Panthers ended the season at 8-5 and finished as Big East Co-Champions, along with West Virginia and Connecticut.
However, because of the Panthers' losses to both schools, they were not eligible for the conference's bid to a BCS Bowl Game.
They then split the last 4 games of the season, finishing it at 6-6, good for 5th in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference.