West Virginia stops Pittsburgh

West Virginia turned to standouts Pat White and Steve Slaton to rally Thursday night for a 45-27 Big East Conference victory over Pittsburgh at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

The Mountaineers (9-1 overall, 4-1 in the conference) beat their rival for the fourth time in five seasons, though not quite as easily as last season’s 45-13 romp in Morgantown in which White and Slaton combined for 399 of their team’s 451 yards rushing.

Pittsburgh (6-5, 2-4) led, 27-24, at halftime, but the Panthers were overwhelmed by No. 8 West Virginia’s playmaking speed in a second half in which the Mountaineers ran for 371 of their 438 yards rushing.

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Matt Muncy recovered a botched punt snap for a touchdown, Kalvin McRae rushed for 136 yards and a score and Ohio earned a berth to the Mid-American Conference championship game with a 17-7 victory over Akron at Athens, Ohio.

The Bobcats (8-3, 6-1) will play Central Michigan in the title game Nov. 30 at Ford Field in Detroit. Akron fell to 5-6, 3-4.

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North Texas officials announced that they will name a new practice facility after Darrell Dickey, the coach who was fired last week.

Houston furniture magnate Jim McIngvale, who had donated $1 million to the facility, was angered by the firing and asked that the gift be redirected to the music department if North Texas did not name the facility in Dickey’s honor.

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Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said he will be at Beaver Stadium for his team’s regular-season finale Saturday against Michigan State.... Boise State running back Ian Johnson was discharged from a San Jose hospital after spending five days being treated for a partially collapsed left lung, a hospital spokesman said.

Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge will start against Vanderbilt after missing last Saturday’s game against Arkansas because of a sprained right ankle.... Miami safety Anthony Reddick has been reinstated after serving a four-game suspension for his role in the Hurricanes’ sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International last month.