December 5, 2009
Cincinnati 45 Pittsburgh 44
I'll never forget watching the end from RedsFest at the Duke Energy Convention Center.
No. 5 UC (12-0/7-0) trailed Pittsburgh by 21 points late in the first half with a perfect season and BCS bowl berth slipping away.
But Tony Pike's 29-yard touchdown pass to Armon Binns with :33 seconds left capped the comeback as the Bearcats stunned Pittsburgh 45-44 to secure their second straight Big East title.
Pitt had leads of 31-10, 38-24 and 44-38.
Mardy Gilyard gave the Bearcats a jolt with a 99-yard kickoff return only 70 seconds before halftime -- and he made it 31-24 in the third quarter with a 68-yard scoring catch.
Pike completed his final 11 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Binns made five catches for 104 yards.
Boxscore HERE