Pitt (3-4, 1-1 Big East), which had lost four in a row coming into the contest, didn't take the lead until Stephens-Howling carried the ball for the fifth consecutive play during a fourth-quarter drive that ended with a 7-yard score.

Cincinnati (6-2, 1-2) entered the game leading the Big East in rushing defense but was shredded by a Pitt running attack that featured big days by Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy. Stephens-Howling carried 13 times for 100 yards and McCoy, a freshman, gained 137 yards on 25 carries.

It was the first time Pitt had two 100-yard rushers in a game since Curvin Richards (202) and Darnell Dickerson (108) accomplished it against Rutgers on Nov. 5, 1988.

Ben Mauk was 21-of-32 for 237 yards and rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Bearcats, who uncharacteristically fumbled three times in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati was coming off its first loss in 10 games after being upset by Louisville last week. The Bearcats' No. 15 ranking heading into that game was their highest in 53 years.

Pitt, meanwhile, had dropped nine of its past 10 against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) teams.

Panthers freshman Pat Bostick, making his Big East debut, was 18-for-29 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Early on, it appeared as if the Bearcats were on their way to a rout when Mauk scored on a 1-yard sneak early in the first quarter. After the Panthers were stopped on fourth-and-inches at their own 28, Jake Rogers' 37-yard field goal gave Cincinnati a 10-0 lead with 6:55 to play in the first quarter.

But Pitt answered with two scores of its own and tied the game by the midway point of the second quarter. After a Conor Lee field goal, Bostick threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Strong with 7:46 to play in the first half. It was the only passing play of a 67-yard drive.

Doug Jones' second carry of the season was good for a 3-yard touchdown run 4½ minutes later that gave Cincinnati a 17-10 lead.

But Rogers missed a 26-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, and Lee cut the deficit to 4 with a 25-yard field goal with 8:01 left in the third quarter.

Pitt, which was playing a ranked opponent for the first time this season, had the ball and the momentum at the start of the fourth quarter. But with the ball at the Bearcats 38, Bostick was intercepted by DeAngelo Smith.

Cincinnati entered the game fourth in the nation in turnover margin, and the Panthers were 110th in forcing turnovers with six. But Dominick Goodman fumbled after a reception at the Cincinnati 17 four plays later, which would lead to Lee's third field goal of the afternoon.