In the 2000 Music City Bowl, West Virginia defeated Ole Miss 49–38. This game was also West Virginia Mountaineers football coach Don Nehlen's final game.[2] Although West Virginia won the game, it was notable because of a second half comeback by freshman Eli Manning. Down 49–16 in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe inserted Manning.[3] Ole Miss scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
The game was played in below-freezing temperatures. The temperature at kickoff was 31 degrees, and climbed down to 27 degrees by the end of the game.