CINCINNATI — Senior quarterback Tony Pike was standing on Cincinnati's sideline, watching his sophomore backup lead another drive, when he heard coach Brian Kelly's voice.

Huh?

"He said, 'Pike!' and I was kind of just following along the sideline," Pike said. "I thought he was calling me to talk about a play or something. He told me to go in. I had some trouble getting my chin strap buttoned and everything so quick."

No time to think. On his first snap, he threw a touchdown.

Pike returned for the first time since he hurt his nonthrowing arm a month ago, and made an instant impact. He got on the field for four plays and threw a pair of touchdown passes, helping No. 5 Cincinnati hold off West Virginia 24-21 on Friday night for the best start in school history.

Far from perfect, the Bearcats (10-0, 6-0) were good enough to stay unbeaten. Now they can try to run the table with their senior quarterback leading the way.

Pike had to have a plate in his left forearm replaced after he got hurt in a win at South Florida on Oct. 15. Sophomore backup Zach Collaros started the last four games and kept the offense running at full speed. In his 4Z\x games after Pike got hurt, Collaros completed 77 percent of his passes for 1,305 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran for 329 yards and four touchdowns.

Kelly knew that West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) wouldn't blitz when the Bearcats were close to the end zone, so he felt comfortable letting Pike get in the game with a protective brace on his left forearm.

He didn't expect such quick results — a touchdown on his first throw.

"I don't know if anybody's ever done that before," Kelly said. "It was kind of crazy."

The Bearcats are in a place no Cincinnati team has visited. The win kept them in the conversation about national championship contenders. They have a bye week before playing Illinois at home — Pike is expected to start that game — and then go to No. 8 Pittsburgh to play for the Big East title.

For West Virginia, it was a breathtaking loss that crushed their Big East hopes.

"Every loss hurts, but this is a very tough loss," fullback Ryan Clarke said. "This kind of loss really hits you."