At Legion Field, in Birmingham Alabama – the Pittsburgh Panthers won their final game of the season over the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2011 Compass Bowl. Pittsburgh was held scoreless in the first quarter, but scored in the final three quarters for the 27-10 win.

The Panthers players dedicated the win to their former coach Dave Wannstedt, who resigned following the regular season finale, citing a disappointing season as his reason. Pittsburgh’s interim coach was Phil Bennett. It was the final game for Bennett with Pittsburgh, as he was hired as the defensive coordinator at Baylor.

Dion Lewis rushed 22 times for 105 yards, and scored the game clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter for the Panthers. Kentucky, playing without starting quarterback Mike Hartline finished the game with 315 total yards, and just one turnover, but was unable to get the ball into the end zone except for the third quarter run.

Pittsburgh will look to hire their third head coach in the last two months. After Wannstedt resigned, the Panthers hired former Miami Ohio head coach Mike Haywood. Haywood was fired just three weeks later after being arrested for a domestic violence offense.