Last year's West Virginia-Louisville game was the most anticipated game of the season and neither team disappointed leading up to the Thursday night, nationally televised battle. Both teams were undefeated with West Virginia ranked third and Louisville fifth.

The excitement for the game was at an all-time high in Louisville where media and fans were hyping the game as the biggest and most important in the history of the school. The school called for a blackout, and fans responded by wearing all black to the game to match the Cardinal's all black uniforms. Then for good measure, the power went out in the first half. The lights in part of the stadium went out briefly, but the teams opted to play through the problem in the dimmed stadium.

The first half was a virtual stalemate with the score 16-14 at the half in favor of the home team. The high powered offenses were held in check for the most part with Louisville driving the field three times only to be forced to kick field goals. Anthony Allen also scored on a ten-yard touchdown run. Allen was filling in for the injured Michael Bush, who broke his leg in the first game of the season.

Steve Slaton scored on a 42-yard run in the first quarter, and Pat White scored from two yards out to cap an 81-yard drive in the second quarter. That accounted for all the Mountaineer scoring in the first half.

In the third quarter, things fell apart for the Mountaineers. West Virginia fumbled on its first two possessions of the second half with the second being returned 13 yards for a touchdown. After the game, it was revealed that Slaton had banged his funnybone in his elbow making it difficult to grip the ball.

Louisville added to the onslaught with a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown by Trent Guy just moments later. That marked the end for punter Scott Koslowski, who lost his starting job and hasn't punted since. Coach Rich Rodriguez had called for a punt to the left, and Koslowski shanked it to the right where there was little coverage making the route to the endzone much easier for Guy. That touchdown stretched the Louisville lead to 30-14.

Things looked bleak for the Mountaineers. With Slaton out of the game nursing his elbow, quarterback Pat White took control of the game carrying the ball on virtually every play of a 92-yard drive, accounting for 50 yards himself including a five-yard touchdown run. That cut the deficit to 30-21 and it looked as if the Mountaineers had new life.

But, the Cardinals answered right back with a Brian Brohm to Mario Urrutia touchdown pass. The Mountaineers continued to climb back in the game with a touchdown on another five-yard White run. The two-point conversion failed and West Virginia trailed 37-27.

The West Virginia defense could not stop Louisville's offense. The Cardinals again marched right down the field to score on another Allen touchdown run, this one from five yards out. That made the score 44-27.

Slaton re-entered the game, but was limited. Pat White continued his heroic efforts capping another 91-yard drive with a rushing touchdown, but it wasn't enough as West Virginia lost 44-34. White finished the game with 125 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 23 carries. Slaton was able to add 156 yards on 18 carries despite his injury. White was also 13 of 20 passing for 222 yards.

But it was Brian Brohm who had the big night completing 19 of 26 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown.

The loss ended West Virginia's 14-game winning streak and ended the Mountaineers hopes of playing in the national championship game. West Virginia would go on to lose again that season 24-19 to South Florida, ending any chance of winning the Big East title, dropping the Mountaineers to their third Gator Bowl appearance in four years. The Cardinals went on to lose at Rugters ending their hopes of a perfect season. The Cardinals did manage to win the Big East and beat ACC Champ Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.