Behind two first-quarter touchdowns and an impressive second-half performance by their defense, the Syracuse Orange defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers, 14-13, in a Big East Conference game at the Carrier Dome. The victory was the Orange's first against Pitt (2-3, 0-2 Big East) since 2004 and snapped a eight-game losing streak to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.

Syracuse's lone scores came in the first quarter. The first was a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Adonis Ameen-Moore that capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive that took just 3:01 and helped give SU a 7-0 lead. The second was a 52-yard score on a fumble recovery and return by sophomore linebacker Dyshawn Davis, who help give the Orange a 14-0 lead with 9:54 remaining in the first quarter.

Behind two field goals by kicker Kevin Harper, who also missed one, and a one-yard touchdown run by running back Ray Graham, the Panthers clawed back into the game closing the gap to 14-13 in the fourth quarter. However, the Orange defense held tough as Pitt failed to score on three possible go-ahead drives late in the fourth.