MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Pitt freshman tailback LeSean McCoy said earlier in the week that he didn't understand the hatred many of his teammates had for West Virginia and didn't appreciate just how deep the rivalry between the two schools was because he had never played against the Mountaineers.

But on the bus ride going to Mountaineer Field, the Panthers were besieged by an hostile mob of West Virginia fans who shouted and chanted at them, and threw rocks at the Pitt buses.

At that point McCoy stood up and gave his teammates a little speech and then went out and proceeded to stomp all over the Bowl Championship Series hopes of those same fans and their favorite team.

McCoy rushed 38 times for 148 yards and helped the Panthers pull off one of the most stunning upsets of the year -- a 13-9 victory against the No. 2-ranked Mountaineers.

Pitt's victory knocked West Virginia out of the BCS national title game and, combined with No. 1 Missouri's loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference title game, opened the door for Ohio State and LSU to play for the national championship.

Pitt also got an incredible effort from its defense, which held the high-powered Mountaineers to only one touchdown and 183 yards of total offense. The Mountaineers came in averaging 41.6 points and 474.8 yards per game.

It is easily the biggest victory of the Dave Wannstedt era and arguably the Panthers' biggest upset win since 1941 when they defeated Fordham, 13-0, to knock it out of a likely Rose Bowl berth.

"This was my first one and the atmosphere of it was great," McCoy said. "Before that bus ride coming in, I always said to myself, 'Man, why these guys hate them so much?' Now I understand why. Start of the game everyone is talking, it was a different game. I'm so happy we won that game, I'm just so happy for us."

Pitt senior offensive tackle Mike McGlynn said, "This is the best win of my career, nobody believed in us but we got the job done. We were 28¹/₂-point underdogs. Everyone said on ESPN "GameDay" that the only way we'd win it is because West Virginia didn't show up -- well they showed up and so did we and we shocked the world baby."

Despite the loss West Virginia (10-2, 5-2) still captured the Big East Conference championship and will go to a BCS bowl, just not the national title game.

West Virginia clinched the Big East title with a 66-21 victory against Connecticut last week.

"We picked a bad time to play our worst offensive game in years," West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said.

"I am still proud of them and we still won the Big East and we are still going to a BCS bowl."

The Panthers entered the game as four-touchdown underdorgs but trailed, 7-3, at halftime. From there they seemed to gain confidence with each passing series.

The Mountaineers missed two early field goals but took a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard run by quarterback Jarrett Brown, who replaced injured starter Pat White earlier in the drive. White went out with a dislocated thumb.

Pitt responded with a late drive and Conor Lee kicked a 48-yard field goal to pull the Panthers to within four as time expired in the first half.

West Virginia received the kickoff at the start of the second half but Vaughn Rivers, a Perry graduate, fumbled and the ball was recovered by Pitt corner Jovani Chappel at the Mountaineers' 48.

The Panthers then drove 48 yards on 11 plays and took a 10-7 lead on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Pat Bostick.

It was the first time the Mountaineers had trailed in the second half since the fifth game of the season -- a 21-13 loss to South Florida.

Pitt had a chance to add to its lead but a holding call on wide receiver Oderick Turner wiped out a 13-yard touchdown run by McCoy.

The Panthers had to settle for a 35-yard field-goal attempt by Lee, which was wide left.

Lee did give Pitt a 13-7 lead with an 18-yard field goal with 6:27 to play, but Noel Devine returned the ensuing kick 48 yards to the Pitt 33 to set up the Mountaineers. But the Panthers defense held on fourth down and Pitt took possession at the 25.

The Panthers couldn't get a first down but they stopped the Mountaineers' two final drives and then ran out the final seconds when punter Dave Brytus took a safety by running out of the back of the end zone.

NOTES -- White was knocked out of the game in the second quarter when he fell and his thumb on his non-throwing (right) hand was dislocated. He came out of the game and was replaced by Brown. White returned for a few plays late in the fourth quarter. ... Pitt played without tight ends Nate Byham (knee) and John Pelusi (toe). Wide receiver TJ Porter (high ankle sprain) didn't start but played sparingly. ... McCoy set the all-time rushing record for a Big East Conference freshmen. He had 1,328 yards this season. The record was 1,261 yards and was set by Rutgers' Terrell Willis in 1993.