Line went down and RUTGERS lost outright.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Noel Devine and Ryan Clarke each ran for a touchdown and JT Thomas' interception with 1:59 left helped West Virginia to a 24-21 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.
After beating Rutgers for the 15th straight time, West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 Big East) accepted a bid to play in the Gator Bowl, possibly against Florida State and former WVU coach Bobby Bowden.
Gator Bowl officials at Rutgers Stadium invited West Virginia to the Jan. 1 game in Jacksonville.
The Scarlet Knights (8-4, 3-4), who dropped to 4-31-2 against the Mountaineers, could go to any of four bowls.
Devine, the Big Easts second-leading rusher, was held to 65 yards while quarterback Jarrett Brown completed 10 of 20 passes for 116 yards.
Rutgers quarterback Tom Savage was 9-for-27 for 153 yards and two interceptions. Mohammed Sanu caught six passes for 105 yards.
West Virginia opened 24-14 lead with 8:44 left in the final quarter on Tyler Bitancurt?s 41-yard field goal. Rutgers came back on its first play from scrimmage when Savage threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Sanu, pulling the Knights within three.
West Virginia had the ball at the Rutgers 40 after Kent Richardson blocked a punt. But the Mountaineers gave it back when Brown dropped a low snap and Alex Silvestro recovered at the Knights' 47.
On fourth-and-6 from the 49, Savage?s pass went off the hands of Sanu and Thomas intercepted with 1:59 remaining. Faced with a third-and-6 at Rutgers 42, Brown appeared caught for a loss but stiff-armed George Johnson and gained 12 yards to seal the game for West Virginia.
After a second quarter in which both teams combined for 3 yards, each side scored third-quarter touchdowns without their offenses being on the field.
West Virginia expanded its lead to 21-3 when Sidney Glover intercepted Savage and returned it 24 yards four a score.
Joe Lefeged returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards and Savage scored on a 2-point conversion run. San San Te added a field goal late in the quarter to pull Rutgers within 21-14.
Devine scored on a 6-yard run as West Virginia went 86 yards on five plays in the game?s opening series. Rutgers responded with a 38-yard field goal by San San Te.
Later in the quarter, West Virginia used another long drive to make it 14-3, as Clarke?s 1-yard run capped an 80-yard march.