Phoenix ? Oregon State’s Steven Jackson got the pregame attention. Pittsburgh’s Brandon Miree got the MVP award — and the victory.

Miree rushed for 113 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run, as the 24th-ranked Panthers beat the Beavers, 38-13, Thursday night in the Insight Bowl.

Jackson, the Pac-10’s leading rusher and No. 4 nationally with 1,656 yards, managed a season-low 34 yards in 19 carries. Overall, Oregon State gained just 8 yards on the ground.

“Him being such a great running back and with the great line they had, we just came out and met the challenge,” said Pitt defensive end Claude Harriott, who had two sacks and four tackles for loss.

The game matched the country’s No. 10 defense (Oregon State) and No. 11 (Pittsburgh). But the night belonged to the Panthers.

Jackson had gained fewer than 100 yards in just three games all season, but broke loose only once against Pittsburgh, a 60-yard gain that was called back by a holding penalty. Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson admitted he was surprised at how ineffective the running game was.

“They played very physical against us,” Erickson said. “It did surprise me, because I thought we could run the football against most people, and we couldn’t tonight.”

Pitt eventually just overpowered the Beavers.

Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald, front, catches a touchdown pass against Oregon State's Mitch Meeuwsen. The Panthers knocked off the Beavers, 38-13, in Thursday's Insight Bowl in Phoenix.

“We knew they were a tough defense, No. 10 in the nation coming in,” Miree said. “But we felt we were a physical football team. We’ve been physical with all the teams that we played this year.”

Shawn Robinson became the first Pitt player to return a punt for a touchdown in the school’s 22 bowl appearances as the Panthers won nine games in a season for the first time in 20 years.

The victory made the Big East 2-0 on the day. Boston College routed Toledo 51-25 in the Motor City Bowl.

“I think people cannot ever refer to it as the Big Easy anymore,” coach Walt Harris said.

The Panthers (9-4) broke a 10-10 tie with a pair of TDs in the third quarter. Tez Morris’ interception set up the go-ahead touchdown on Rod Rutherford’s 1-yard run, then Robinson broke a pair of tackles en route to his 66-yard punt return to make it 24-10 with 3:26 to go in the third quarter.

“That was the turning point,” Harris said, “that and the field goal at the end of the half.”

Pittsburgh added two more touchdowns in the fourth.

Derek Anderson completed 21 of 44 passes for 318 yards for Oregon State (8-5). James Newson caught 10 for 165 yards for the Beavers, including a remarkable 65-yard touchdown play.