2011 Power Polls

FINAL WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED

McClung, Lindsey and Austin honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Anthony McClung • So. • WR • Cincinnati • Indianapolis, Ind.
McClung had eight catches for a career-high 142 yards with two touchdowns to help Cincinnati to a 35-27 win against Connecticut, giving the Bearcats a share of their third BIG EAST title in the last four years. McClung had touchdown receptions of 13 and 31 yards, giving him a team-high five touchdown receptions in the regular season.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brandon Lindsey • Sr. • LB • Pittsburgh • Aliquippa, Pa.
Lindsey had a hand in three turnovers to lead Pittsburgh to a 33-20 win against Syracuse, making the Panthers bowl-eligible. Lindsey finished the game with six tackles, a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hurries to lead a defense that forced six Syracuse turnovers. Lindsey finished the regular season with 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tavon Austin • Jr. • WR • West Virginia • Baltimore, Md.
Austin had 208 all-purpose yards, including 141 yards on three kickoff returns, to help West Virginia to a 30-27 win at USF, giving the Mountaineers a share of their record seventh BIG EAST championship. Austin returned a third-quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, giving him two TDs on kickoff returns this season. He also had a team-high seven receptions for 54 yards and added a 30-yard punt return for the Mountaineers.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in a 35-27 win against Connecticut.

Dave Teggart • Sr. • K • Connecticut • Northborough, Mass.
Scored 13 points, going 4-for-4 on field goal attempts with makes of 35, 45, 53 and 43 yards, in a 35-27 loss at Cincinnati.

Kevin Harper • Jr. • K • Pittsburgh • Mentor, Ohio
Scored 15 points, including field goals of 37, 36, 36 and 47 yards, in a 33-20 win against Syracuse.

Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had seven receptions for 80 yards, including a pivotal 26-yard catch on fourth down in the game-winning drive, in a 30-27 win at USF.

Najee Goode • Sr. • LB • West Virginia • Cleveland, Ohio
Had seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a key forced fumble in the fourth quarter in a 30-27 win at USF.

Final Power Poll

1. West Virginia
2. Cincinnati
3. Louisville
4. Rutgers
5. Pittsburgh
6. Connecticut
7. USF
8. Syracuse

WEEKLY HONORS AND UPDATED POWER POLL

Bridgewater, Miller and Smith honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Bridgewater engineered a comeback from a 17-3 second-half deficit to lead the Cardinals to a 34-24 win at USF, giving Louisville at least a share of the BIG EAST championship. He completed 19 of 28 passes for 241 yards and three second-half touchdowns, helping the Cardinals outscore the Bulls 31-7 in the second half. Bridgewater has helped Louisville to five wins in its last six games as the Cardinals claimed their second BIG EAST title.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julian Miller • Sr. • DT • West Virginia • Columbus, Ohio
Miller earns BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks after helping West Virginia to a 21-20 win against Pittsburgh. He had 12 tackles and tied a school record with four sacks against the Panthers, including two sacks on Pittsburgh’s final drive. Miller leads all active Bowl Subdivision players with 27.5 career sacks.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Corey Smith • Jr. • P • West Virginia • Inwood, W.Va.
Smith entered West Virginia’s game against Pittsburgh in the second quarter and made an immediate impact in the field position battle, helping the Mountaineers to a 21-20 win. Smith averaged 57.2 yards on four punts, hitting kicks of 57, 50, 62 and 60 yards, dropping two punts inside the Panther 20-yard line and one on the 2-yard line. Smith’s 60-yard punt from the West Virginia 14 in the final two minutes, helped the Mountaineers seal the win on defense.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Pat O’Donnell • Jr. • P • Cincinnati • Lake Worth, Fla.
Averaged 54.0 yards on four punts with three inside the 20-yard line in a 30-13 win at Syracuse.

Isaiah Pead • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Had nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 80 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown in a 30-13 win at Syracuse. Pead was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.

Nick Williams • Jr. • WR • Connecticut • East Windsor, N.J.
Had 158 return yards, averaging 42.7 yards on three kickoff returns with a 30-yard punt return in a 40-22 win against Rutgers.

Trevardo Williams • Jr. • DE • Connecticut • Bridgeport, Conn.
Had six tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble in a 40-22 win against Rutgers.

Tavon Austin • Sr. • WR • West Virginia • Baltimore, Md.
Had 10 catches for 102 yards and had 122 all-purpose yards in a 21-20 win against Pittsburgh.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (8-3, 4-2; last week: 1)
WVU was able to rally to beat rival Pittsburgh in the “Backyard Brawl”, remaining in contention for the Big East title. In addition to a win over USF on Thursday night the Mountaineers will need Cincinnati to beat Connecticut on Saturday, which would result in a three-way tie for the league title. Their BCS ranking would then more than likely catapult Dana Holgorsen’s team into the BCS.

2. Louisville (7-5, 5-2; 4)
Charlie Strong’s team finished off the season with its’ first-ever win at USF, and their rise after a 2-4 start has to make the Cardinals’ head man favorite for the Big East Coach of the Year award. Teddy Bridgewater has made great strides as the season’s worn on, and the upcoming bowl practices should be a springboard into 2012 for this young team. To get the league’s BCS berth all the Cardinals would need is a Cincinnati loss to UConn.

3. Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2; 5)
Munchie Legaux played much better on Saturday in the Bearcats’ 30-13 win at Syracuse, keeping alive their hopes of winning the Big East. The Bearcats need to not only beat UConn but also have West Virginia lose on Thursday night. Those two things happen and Butch Jones’ team is BCS bound as a result of their win over Louisville earlier this season.

4. Pittsburgh (5-6, 3-3; 3)
Pittsburgh virtually disappeared offensively in the second half on Friday night, falling to West Virginia 21-20 and seeing their hopes of winning the Big East disappear as a result. Todd Graham’s team needs a win over Syracuse on Saturday to reach bowl eligibility, a situation no one thought they’d be in before the season started.

5. Connecticut (5-6, 3-3; 6)
The Huskies were highly impressive in their 40-22 demolition of Rutgers, ending the Scarlet Knights’ conference title hopes while also keeping alive the possibility of reaching bowl eligibility. A win by Paul Pasqualoni’s team on Saturday at Cincinnati would send Louisville to the BCS and the Huskies to a bowl game.

6. Rutgers (8-4; 4-3; 2)
Greg Schiano’s team simply laid an egg on Saturday afternoon, showing up flat with at the least a share of their first-ever Big East title on the line. Gary Nova replaced Chas Dodd in the fourth quarter, and the question heading into the bowl game is whether or not there will be an open competition for the starting job.

7. USF (5-6, 1-5; 7)
USF was better offensively against Louisville than they were the week prior against Miami but it still wasn’t enough as they dropped to 5-6 on the year. Skip Holtz’s team needs a win on Thursday to reach bowl eligibility, and with his name beginning to pop up in some coaching searches (North Carolina) this will be an interesting couple of weeks in Tampa.

8. Syracuse (5-6, 1-5;
The free fall in Syracuse continued with a 30-13 loss to Cincinnati, meaning that the team that was 5-3 after blowing out West Virginia will now be in a fight with Pittsburgh for bowl eligibility on Saturday. Where could the Orange land with a win? That remains to be seen, but you’d have to think that they’ll be in a locale far less desirable than the Pinstripe Bowl. Pretty sure Doug Marrone’s team will take anything at this point, however.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Jamison, Heyman and Bushell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jawan Jamison • Fr. • RB • Rutgers • Starke, Fla.
Jamison rushed for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries to lead Rutgers to a 20-3 win against Cincinnati and vault the Scarlet Knights into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST standings. Rutgers entered the game a half-game behind the Bearcats in the standings, but stands just one win shy of earning a share of its first BIG EAST title. Jamison became the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game and is the first since Ray Rice in the 2005 season.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dexter Heyman • Sr. • LB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Heyman had seven tackles, including a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss, along with an interception to lead Louisville to a 34-20 win at Connecticut, lifting the Cardinals into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST standings. Heyman led a defense that limited the Huskies to just 76 rushing yards, helping the Cardinals to their fourth win in their last five games and making Louisville bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adrian Bushell • Jr. • CB • Louisville • DeSoto, Texas
Bushell returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to send Louisville on its way to a 34-20 win against Connecticut, putting the Cardinals in a first-place tie in the BIG EAST standings with one game remaining. Bushell averaged 68.0 yards on two kickoff returns against the Huskies.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in a 20-3 loss at Rutgers.

Kashif Moore • Sr. • WR • Connecticut • Burlington, N.J.
Had seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.

Sio Moore • Jr. • LB • Connecticut • Apex, N.C.
Had 13 tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-20 loss to Louisville.

Brandon Jones • Jr. • CB • Rutgers • Sicklerville, N.J.
Had four tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in a 20-3 win against Cincinnati.

DeDe Lattimore • So. • LB • USF • Athens, Ga.
Had 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a 6-3 loss to Miami (Fla.).

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (7-3, 3-2; last week: 2nd)
The Mountaineers had an off week in advance of the “Backyard Brawl” on Friday night, and given the conference tiebreakers they’re possibly the closest the Big East has to a team that can say it’s in the “driver’s seat”. But who knows at this point? The best thing for Dana Holgorsen’s team to do is make sure they protect Geno Smith, as their league losses have featured the offensive line’s inability to keep guys out of his face.

2. Rutgers (8-3, 4-2; last week: 3rd)
The Scarlet Knights rise a spot following their 20-3 win over Cincinnati, with Jawan Jamison’s 200 yards leading the way. Rutgers made life difficult for Cincinnati quarterback Munchie Legaux, and the defense has been a strong point for the Scarlet Knights all season long. If they can continue to run the football they’ll have a good shot at locking up at least a share of their first-ever Big East title at UConn on Saturday.

3. Pittsburgh (5-5, 3-2; last week: 4th)
Pitt had an extra week to prepare for bitter rival West Virginia, but whether or not they win will boil down to which Tino Sunseri shows up at quarterback. And can that front four generate enough pressure to bother Geno Smith? If so the Panthers will have a shot at knocking off WVU.

4. Louisville (6-5, 4-2; last week: 5th)
Few gave Charlie Strong’s team a shot at playing for a share of the Big East title at the end of September, but the young Cardinals have simply plugged along. Teddy Bridgewater and the offense played much better on Saturday than they did in the loss to Pittsburgh, and a win at USF on Friday is more than possible.

5. Cincinnati (7-3, 3-2; last week: 1st)
Last week the Bearcats remained atop the poll in spite of their loss to West Virginia due to the desire to see them with Munchie Legaux at quarterback for a full game. They didn’t look good at Rutgers, falling 20-3 and out of their perch atop the Big East standings. Games against Syracuse and Connecticut are definitely winnable, but UC has to get Isaiah Pead back on track.

6. Connecticut (4-6, 2-3; last week: 6th)
The Huskies remain here since USF scored just three points in their loss to Miami and Syracuse had the weekend off, but the offense sputtered in their loss to Louisville. The wide receivers did Johnny McEntee no favors with their drops, but a game plan in which the junior is allowed to throw 43 times while just 23 rushes are attempted boggles the mind. Yes Louisville is one of the best at stopping the run, but is McEntee really going to beat anyone with his arm?

7. USF (5-5, 1-4; last week: 7th)
What keeps the Bulls here is the fact that they whipped Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, but with B.J. Daniels going down the offense looked extremely poor in their 6-3 loss to Miami. If Daniels can’t go can Bobby Eveld use the increased reps this week to play better against a tough Louisville defense? At the very least more will be needed from backs Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray.

8. Syracuse (5-5, 1-4; last week: 8th)
The bye week wasn’t without news for the Orange as the school suspended safety Phillip Thomas for a calendar year due to a rules violation. Other than that the week off came at just the right time for Syracuse, who needed to shore things up on both sides of the football. They still need a win to reach bowl eligibility as well, and they’ve got two chances to get the job done.

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Sanu, Miller and Smith honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Sanu had 13 receptions for 129 yards to key Rutgers’ 27-12 win against Army and set school and conference records in the process. With 92 receptions on the season, Sanu broke the BIG EAST single-season record of 91 catches, which was held by Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald since 2003. He also broke Kenny Britt’s school record of 87 catches set in 2008. Sanu ranks second nationally in receptions, averaging 9.4 catches per game this season.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julian Miller • Sr. • DT • West Virginia • Columbus, Ohio
Miller had seven tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown as West Virginia scored a 24-21 win at No. 23/18 Cincinnati, bringing the Mountaineers a half-game behind the Bearcats in the BIG EAST standings. Miller leads all active BIG EAST players in career sacks (23.5) and tackles for loss (36.5).
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eain Smith• Sr. • S • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Smith had four tackles, including one tackle for loss on defense, in West Virginia’s 24-21 win at No. 23/18 Cincinnati, but made the biggest play of the game on special teams. Smith blocked the Bearcats’ bid for the tying field goal as time expired to seal the Mountaineers’ win and bring West Virginia with a half-game of the Bearcats in the BIG EAST standings.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Hakeem Smith • So. • S • Louisville • Jonesboro, Ga.
Had a career-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in a 21-14 loss to Pittsburgh.
 
Tino Sunseri • Sr. • QB • Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown and ran for the game-winning TD in a 21-14 win at Louisville.
 
Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Had a team-high 13 tackles in a 27-12 win against Army.
 
B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Had 371 yards of total offense in a 37-17 win at Syracuse. Completed 23 of 34 passes for 254 yards and rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
 
Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had six receptions for 104 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown catch, in a 24-21 win at Cincinnati. Had his seventh 100-yard game of the season.

Austin named to Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (7-2 (3-1); 1st)
Not going to drop the Bearcats despite both losing to West Virginia by three and losing starting quarterback Zach Collaros for the season with a fractured ankle. While Munchie Legaux takes over under center, and Cincinnati remains in the driver’s seat for the Big East crown.

2. West Virginia (7-3 (3-2); 3rd)
The Mountaineers are right back in the Big East race thanks to their win over Cincinnati, and following their bye week Dana Holgorsen’s team will face rival Pittsburgh and USF to finish the season.

3. Rutgers (7-3 (3-2); 4th)
Mohamed Sanu set the Big East record for receptions in a season in the win against Army, but just as important was the play of running back Jeremy Deering. If he and Jawan Jamison can be productive this weekend against Cincinnati they’ve got a shot to knock the Bearcats off.

4. Pittsburgh (5-5 (3-2); 5th)
Defensively the Panthers were very good in Saturday’s 21-14 win over Louisville, and Tino Sunseri was able to avoid the critical mistake. They’ll need to take full advantage of this bye week before the Backyard Brawl if they’re to beat West Virginia, however.

5. Louisville (5-5 (3-2); 2nd)
The Cardinals drop from second to fifth due to the struggles of their offense against Pittsburgh. Louisville needs to be able to run the football if they’re going to be a factor in the Big East race the rest of the way.

6. Connecticut (4-5 (2-2); 6th)
UConn had a needed bye last weekend, which should have been used to sharpen things up offensively. Saturday’s game against Louisville will likely be a defensive struggle.

7. USF (5-4 (1-4); 8th)
The Bulls thoroughly outclassed Syracuse on Friday night, winning 37-17 at the Carrier Dome. They step out of conference this week as they host Miami, a game just as important recruiting-wise as it is on the scoreboard.

8. Syracuse (5-5 (1-4); 7th)
After blowing out West Virginia the Orange have looked worse by the week, ultimately being blown out by USF on Friday night. Doug Marrone’s team needs one win to reach bowl eligibility but will they be able to get it?

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Smith, Green and Bushell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Smith turned in his third 400-yard passing performance of the season in West Virginia’s 38-35 loss to Louisville, completing 31 of 44 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The yardage total ranks fifth on West Virginia’s single-game chart, and it gives Smith 6,197 career passing yards, good for second in school history. Smith, who has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 12 consecutive games, leads the BIG EAST and is seventh nationally in passing yards, averaging 347.2 yards per game.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Greene registered a career-high 17 tackles — the most by a BIG EAST player in a game this season — to key Rutgers’ 20-17 overtime win against USF. Greene, who leads the BIG EAST in tackles this season (92), had the most tackles by a Rutgers player since Antonio Lowery had 19 against Army last season. Greene leads a Rutgers unit that ranks second in the BIG EAST in both total defense (324.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 ppg).

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adrian Bushell• Jr. • CB • Louisville • DeSoto, Texas
Bushell made a play that potentially resulted in a 10-point swing in Louisville’s 38-35 win at No. 24/21 West Virginia when he blocked a short field goal attempt that would have tied the game. Instead, a teammate picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 31-21 lead. Bushell also finished with seven tackles to help the Cardinals to their first win in Morgantown since 1990.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Tony Miliano • Fr. • K • Cincinnati • North Bend, Ohio
Scored 14 points and made field goals of 27, 40, 32 and 41 yards in a 26-23 win at Pittsburgh.

Lyle McCombs • Fr. • RB • Connecticut • Staten Island, N.Y.
Rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in a 28-21 win against Syracuse.

Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 21 of 27 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 38-35 win at West Virginia. Completed his first 10 passes.

DeDe Lattimore • So. • LB • USF • Athens, Ga.
Had 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in a 20-17 overtime loss at Rutgers.

Alec Lemon • Jr. • WR • Syracuse • Crofton, Md.
Had nine receptions for a career-high 157 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss at Connecticut.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (7-1, 3-0) (last poll: 1st)
Last week: beat Pittsburgh 26-23
The results of Saturday’s games put the Bearcats, who made their first appearance this season in the BCS rankings at 23, in solid position atop the Big East. The one team that trails them by a game in the loss column (Louisville) has already lost to Cincinnati, and a win on Saturday against West Virginia could be the first real nail in the coffin for the rest of the league.

This week: West Virginia (Noon, ABC)

2. Louisville (5-4, 3-1) (4th)
Last week: beat West Virginia 38-35
Charlie Strong’s Cardinals remain a factor in the Big East race following the program’s first win in Morgantown since 1990. Teddy Bridgewater continues to make sound decisions at quarterback, and the defense ranks among the best in the conference. With Pittsburgh rolling into town the Cardinals have a good chance of pushing their win streak to four.

This week: Pittsburgh (Noon, Big East Network)

3. West Virginia (6-3, 2-2) (2nd)
Last week: lost to Louisville 38-35
The defense suffered a letdown on Saturday as it was unable to get off the field at the most important time in the 38-35 loss to Louisville. The Cardinals went on a drive that took up nearly eight minutes, putting the game away with a touchdown with 1:08 remaining. The Mountaineers now find themselves needing a lot of help to get into the race, but they can help their own cause with a win over Cincinnati on Saturday.

This week: at Cincinnati (Noon, ABC)

4. Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) (5th)
Last week: beat USF 20-17 (OT)
The Scarlet Knights were a poor football team for three and a half quarters on Saturday, but special teams stepped up to kickstart their rally. Jeremy Deering ran a kickoff back 98 yards to cut the Bulls’ lead in half, and the insertion of Chas Dodd ultimately led to the game-tying score. Rutgers dodged a bullet on Saturday night, keeping their fleeting hopes of winning a Big East title alive. They step out of the conference to face Army at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

This week: vs. Army (3:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)

5. Pittsburgh (4-5, 2-2) (3rd)
Last week: lost to Cincinnati 26-23
Even without the services of Ray Graham or Cameron Saddler the Panthers were more than competitive against Cincinnati, but they didn’t take care of business in the second half and allowed a 10-point lead to slip away. Tino Sunseri started off well but the inability to make snap decisions became an issue in the second half at the Bearcats got after him. That has to change against a stout Louisville defense this weekend.

This week: at Cincinnati (Noon, Big East Network)

6. Connecticut (4-5, 2-2) (7th)
Last week: beat Syracuse 28-21
Paul Pasqualoni gave Scott McCummings more opportunities to run the offense in the second half on Saturday and it paid off, as UConn was able to get enough done on the ground between he and Lyle McCombs to beat Syracuse. Will they give the redshirt freshman more chances to throw? If so time could be short for Johnny McEntee, who has struggled to move the offense. With a bye week it will be interesting to see what the Huskies do.

This week: Bye

7. Syracuse (5-4, 1-3) (6th)
Last week: lost to Connecticut 28-21
Syracuse has had two opportunities to reach bowl eligibility and they didn’t take care of business in either one, losing to both Louisville and Connecticut. On paper those were both games the Orange were expected to win, and with the offense in a downward trend it hasn’t happened. They’ll have the same expectations on Friday night as they host a winless (in league play) USF team. Ryan Nassib and company need to snap out of this skid and quickly.

This week: USF (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)

8. USF (4-4, 0-4) (8th)
Last week: lost at Rutgers 20-17 (OT)
USF looked to be well on their way to their first conference win of the season on Saturday night as they led Rutgers 17-3 with just under eight minutes left in regulation. But then things fell apart for the Bulls, who missed a chip shot field goal at the end of regulation then turned the ball over on their lone overtime possession. That makes Friday’s trip to Syracuse that much more important, because a loss would throw bowl eligibility in to serious doubt.

This week: at Syracuse (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & NEW POWER POLL

Sunseri, Brown and Philpott honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tino Sunseri • Sr. • QB • Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Susneri completed 29 of 42 passes for a career-high 419 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 35-20 win against Connecticut, moving the Panthers into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. The yardage total ranks fourth in school history, is the highest by a Pitt player in eight years, and is the highest by a collegiate quarterback in Heinz Field history. Sunseri completed 69 percent of his passes and did not throw an interception to help the Panthers register 529 yards of offense — their most since the 2000 season.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Preston Brown • So. • LB • Louisville • Cincinnati, Ohio
Brown registered seven tackles and had two sacks to key Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, moving the Cardinals into a tie for second place in the BIG EAST standings. Brown led a Cardinal defense that limited the Orange to season lows in points and yards (246) and didn’t yield a touchdown until there was 1:31 left in the game.
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Philpott • Sr. • K • Louisville • Atlanta, Ga.
Philpott scored nine points in Louisville’s 27-10 win against Syracuse, making field goals from 44 and 32 yards and connecting on all three of his PAT attempts. Philpott, who leads Louisville in scoring with 39 points, has made six of his last seven field goal attempts in the past three games and has made 8 of 12 on the season.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 17 of 24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-10 win against Syracuse.
 
Darwin Cook • So. • LB • West Virginia • Cleveland, Ohio
Had a game-high 11 tackles with two pass breakups, including a key breakup on a fake field goal, in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Jarred Holley • Jr. • FS • Pittsburgh • Easton, Pa.
Had nine tackles and a sack in a 35-20 win against Connecticut.
 
Marquis Spruill • So. • LB • Syracuse • Hillside, N.J.
Had nine tackles with a sack and a forced fumble in a 27-10 loss at Louisville.
 
Shawne Alston • Jr. • RB • West Virginia • Hampton, Va.
Had 14 carries for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 win at Rutgers.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (last week: 1st)
The Bearcats (6-1, 2-0) had a bye last week, which allowed them to fine-tune some things while watching the rest of the Big East race shake out. This week brings a trip to Pittsburgh to take on a team that lost its best offensive player (Ray Graham) for the remainder of the season. Derek Wolfe, JK Schaffer and the rest of the Bearcat defense will need to focus a little more on the run, but at the very least they know they control their own destiny.

This week: at Pittsburgh (7 PM, ESPNU)

2. West Virginia (3rd)
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) once again got off to a slow start, but they were able to answer in the second half with 20 points while holding Rutgers scoreless in the 41-31 win. Shawne Alston took advantage of the bad weather to rush for more than 100 yards while Tavon Austin made an impact on the ground as well as in the passing game. This week brings about the test of a Louisville team that’s playing with confidence, so don’t be fooled by the early point spreads.

This week: Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)

3. Pittsburgh (5th)
The Panthers (4-4, 2-1) were solid in their win over Connecticut on Wednesday night, but the loss of Ray Graham is one that will play a major role in the remainder of their season. Wisconsin transfer Zach Brown takes over for the Big East’s leading rusher, and while he’s more than capable of fitting into the offense as both a runner and receiver it’s hard to fully replace what Graham brought to the table. That puts more on the shoulders of Tino Sunseri, who will need another solid performance in order to beat Cincinnati.

This week: Cincinnati (7 PM, ESPNU)

4. Louisville (7th)
The Cardinals (4-4, 2-1) fed off of the return of defensive back Anthony Conner and put forth their best showing of the season in beating Syracuse 27-10. Teddy Bridgewater made sound decisions with the football and one week after Jeremy Wright rushed for more than 100 yards it was Victor Anderson who got it done on the ground. But against West Virginia it will be the defense, that’s been very good for much of the season, under the microscope.

This week: at West Virginia (Noon, Big East Network)

5. Rutgers (4th)
Eric LeGrand leading the team onto the field fired up Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) on Saturday, and they played very well in the first half against West Virginia. But critical mistakes in the second half spelled doom for the Scarlet Knights, who have now lost 17 straight in the series. They need to bounce back in quick order however, as a USF team that will likely be desperate for their first conference win visits. Gary Nova has to make sound decisions with the football in order for RU to be successful.

This week: USF (7 PM, ESPN3)

6. Syracuse (2nd)
One week after playing their best game of the season the Orange (5-3, 1-2) laid an egg at Louisville, falling 27-10 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate thanks to a late window-dressing score. Syracuse was able to muster only 246 yards of offense as the Cardinals got after Ryan Nassib while also short-circuiting the run game. Syracuse will need to be better if they’re to entertain any thoughts of getting back into the Big East race, beginning with this week at Connecticut.

This week: at Connecticut (Noon, ESPNU)

7. Connecticut (6th)
The Huskies (3-5, 1-2) lost at Pittsburgh 35-20, and given their first half offensive showing Paul Pasqualoni’s team is lucky the margin wasn’t wider. Johnny McEntee once again struggled to make plays through the air, an issue made tougher to solve given the lack of playmakers on the outside. UConn needs to help out Lyle McCombs, and the defense didn’t put up the best fight last week either. That could be an issue against Syracuse.

This week: Syracuse (Noon, ESPNU)

8. USF (8th)
The Bulls (4-3, 0-3) are second in the Big East in total offense and third in scoring offense, but they have no league wins to show for it. The bye week came at just the right time for Skip Holtz’s team, who needed to regroup in the worst way. USF is the most penalized team in the conference and they haven’t been anything to write home about in the red zone either. It’s the little things that cost teams conference games, and USF needs to get better at those if they’re to right the ship.

This week: at Rutgers (7 PM, ESPN3)

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & NEW POWER POLL

Collaros, Jones and Graham honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zach Collaros • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati • Steubenville, Ohio
Collaros accounted for 410 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a 37-34 win at USF, moving Cincinnati into sole possession of first place in the BIG EAST standings and making the Bearcats bowl eligible. He completed 26 of 41 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns (6, 21, 30) and rushed for 21 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Collaros engineered a 70-yard drive in the last 1:27 of the fourth quarter, capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Bearcats the come-from-behind win.
 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chandler Jones • Sr. • DE • Syracuse • Endicott, N.Y.
Jones had six tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 19 yards, and one pass breakup in Syracuse’s 49-23 win against No. 11/14 West Virginia. Jones led a defensive front that limited the Mountaineers to 70 rushing yards and had four sacks as the Orange defeated their highest-ranked opponent since a 50-42, triple-overtime win against No. 8 Virginia Tech in 2002.
 

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dorian Graham • Sr. • WR • Syracuse • Plantation, Fla.
Graham returned a second-quarter kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to help Syracuse to a 21-9 halftime lead on its way to a 49-23 win against No 11/14 West Virginia. Graham’s touchdown came after the Mountaineers had closed to within five midway through the second quarter. He finished with a game-high 181 all-purpose yards and had a team-high 66 receiving yards on five catches.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had a team-high eight tackles and a fumble recovery in a 37-34 win at USF.
 
Jeremy Wright • So. • RB • Louisville • Clermont, Fla.
Rushed for 108 yards on 11 carries, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt, in a 16-14 win against Rutgers.
 
B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Completed 31 of 48 passes for a school-record 409 yards with three touchdowns in a 37-34 loss to Cincinnati.
 
Ryan Nassib • Sr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 24 of 32 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns with one rushing TD in a 49-23 win against No. 11/14 West Virginia.
 
Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Had seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in a 49-23 loss at Syracuse. Registered his fifth straight game with at least 100 receiving yards.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0; last week 2nd)
The team in the driver’s seat in the Big East (if anyone can hold such a distinction at this point) sits atop the power poll thanks to their 37-34 win at USF. Zach Collaros accounted for more than 400 yards of offense and Isaiah Pead had more than 100 yards of offense in the win. But the Cincinnati defense was able to come up with four turnovers, making up for allowing B.J. Daniels to throw for over 400 yards.

This week: Bye

2. Syracuse (5-2, 1-1; last week 4th)
The Orange had the most impressive win of league play thus far, blowing out West Virginia and controlling the game in all three phases. Ryan Nassib threw for four touchdown passes while Antwon Bailey rushed for at least 100 yards and a touchdown for the fourth consecutive game. And Scott Schafer’s defense attacked the Mountaineers, making life uncomfortable for Geno Smith all night.

This week: at Louisville (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

3. West Virginia (5-2, 1-1; last week 1st)
Talk about a bad impression to make on national television. West Virginia’s lines were unable to handle Syracuse’s physicality on both sides of the football, and the staff was out-coached with numerous mistakes leading to the Orange’s highest point total in series history. The good news for WVU is that this race is wide-open, so a win a Rutgers will likely get them headed in the right direction.

This week: at Rutgers (Saturday 3:30 PM, Big East Network)

4. Rutgers (5-2, 2-1; last week 3rd)
Gary Nova had the worst game of his young career on Friday night as he threw three interceptions in the 16-14 loss at Louisville. But even more troubling for the Scarlet Knights were their issues running the football, putting up 91 yards with an average of three yards per carry. Rutgers doesn’t need a “star” to take over, but if they’re to win the Big East the ground game has to improve.

This week: West Virginia (Saturday 3:30 PM, Big East Network)

5. Pittsburgh (3-4, 1-1; last week 5th)
Having a couple extra days off couldn’t have come at a better time for the Panthers, who were dreadful on offense in their loss to Utah. Tino Sunseri will be the guy for Pittsburgh on Wednesday night against UConn, and maybe the Huskies’ pass defense is just what Sunseri needs to get going. But at the very least Pitt needs to get Ray Graham the football. Just 15 touches in the Utah loss? Not good.

This week: Connecticut (Wednesday 8 PM, ESPN)

6. Connecticut (3-4, 1-1; last week 6th)
UConn was able to do just enough on defense and special teams to beat USF a couple weeks ago, but one has to think that Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator George DeLeone spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to kickstart the offense. Running back Lyle McCombs needs a sidekick and quarterback Johnny McEntee reverted to early season form after solid outings against Western Michigan and West Virginia.

This week: at Pittsburgh (Wednesday 8 PM, ESPN)

7. Louisville (3-4, 1-1; last week 8th)
The Cardinals won the turnover battle on Friday night, picking off Gary Nova three times in their 16-14 win. But the biggest development may have been the 187 yards on the ground, including Jeremy Wright rushing for 108. If the Cardinals can supplement Teddy Bridgewater with a solid rushing attack the hopes of bowl eligibility will remain alive.

This week: Syracuse (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

8. USF (4-3, 0-3; last week 7th)
For the second straight game the Bulls did more to shoot themselves in the foot, committing 10 penalties (109 yards lost) and turning the ball over four times (three lost fumbles) in the 37-34 loss to Cincinnati. It’s pretty simple for the Bulls at this point: use the bye week to turn things around or watch this season plummet beyond the point of bowl eligibility. Leaders such as B.J. Daniels will be tested in the next two weeks.

This week: Bye

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Pead, Byron Jones and Brandon Jones honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Isaiah Pead • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Pead rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 25-16 win against Louisville in the Bearcats’ BIG EAST opener. Pead keyed Cincinnati’s comeback from a 16-7 halftime deficit by breaking free for a 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Bearcats the lead for good. Pead has rushed for 624 yards and eight touchdowns this season and ranks second in the BIG EAST in rushing at 104.0 yards per game.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Byron Jones • Fr. • CB • Connecticut • New Britain, Conn.
On a day when Connecticut was held without an offensive touchdown, Jones made the difference on the defensive end with a 10-yard fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to lift the Huskies to a 16-10 win against USF. Jones also had seven tackles as part of a defensive effort that held the Bulls’ offense, which had averaged better than 500 yards per game, to 339 yards and four turnovers.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Jones • Jr. • CB • Rutgers • Sicklerville, N.J.
Jones helped seal Rutgers’ 21-20 win against Navy when he blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter that would have given the Midshipmen the lead. It was the first blocked kick of the season for Jones and the fourth for Rutgers. Jones also had two tackles and an interception as the Scarlet Knights held Navy to season lows of 20 points and 303 yards.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had a career-high 11 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries in a 25-16 win against Louisville.

Lyle McCombs • Fr. • RB • Connecticut • Staten Island, N.Y.
Rushed for 130 yards on 32 carries in a 16-10 win against USF.

Khaseem Greene • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Elizabeth, N.J.
Had a career-high 14 tackles in a 21-20 win against Navy. Helped hold the nation’s leading rushing offense to 204 yards below its average.

Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Had 10 receptions for 100 yards in a 21-20 win against Navy. Moved into sixth place on the school’s career receptions chart (150).

Ryne Giddins • So. • DE • USF • Seffner, Fla.
Had career highs of 11 tackles, two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss with a forced fumble and a pass breakup in a 16-10 loss at Connecticut.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (last week: 1; Bye)
The Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0) return from their bye week ranked 15th in the first BCS standings, and there should be motivation to keep things rolling this week. West Virginia visits Syracuse on Friday night, and with that there’s the chance for Geno Smith and company to avenge last season’s defeat. But they’ll need to avoid the slow start if they’re to do so in the Carrier Dome.

This week: at Syracuse (Friday 8 PM, ESPN)

2. Cincinnati (2; beat Louisville 25-16)
It wasn’t pretty but the Bearcats (5-1, 1-0) woke up in the second half and beat Louisville 25-16 to retain possession of the Keg of Nails Trophy. Now they visit a USF team that should be borderline desperate to turn things around, but Cincinnati brings a vastly improved defense to the table. But like West Virginia, the Bearcats need better starts from Zach Collaros and the rest of the Cincinnati passing game.

This week: at USF (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

3. Rutgers (3; beat Navy 21-20)
Rutgers (5-1, 2-0) played well defensively, limiting the nation’s best rushing offense to 167 yards on the ground, not even half of Navy’s average per game. Gary Nova made some mistakes but played well in throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns while Jawan Jamison rushed for 101 yards in the win. Now comes the quick turnaround, with a trip to Louisville next up. Much will be learned about Rutgers’ chances of winning the Big East in how they handle this road trip.

This week: at Louisville (Friday 8 PM, ESPN2)

4. Syracuse (6; Bye)
Syracuse (4-2, 0-1) had the week off following their last-second win at Tulane, and now comes the task of retaining possession of the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy with West Virginia visiting on Friday night. The Orange can’t allow the game to become a shootout, but at the very least Ryan Nassib will need consistent play from receivers Van Chew, Alec Lemon and Dorian Graham if they’re to win.

This week: West Virginia (Friday 8 PM, ESPN)

5. Pittsburgh (4; lost 26-14 to Utah)
The reason why the Panthers (3-4, 1-1) stay put is that USF, a team they whipped two games ago, looked just as bad in their loss to Connecticut. Pitt’s passing game provided nothing on Saturday, and with Ray Graham getting just 15 touches that spelled disaster for the “High Octane” attack. At least the special teams (two touchdowns) showed up, but there’s a lot to work on with Connecticut next on the 26th.

This week: Bye

6. Connecticut (8; beat USF 16-10)
For the second consecutive season the Huskies (3-4, 1-1) beat USF without the benefit of an offensive touchdown. After two solid weeks throwing the football Johnny McEntee struggled, but Lyle McCombs came through with 130 yards rushing. If UConn’s going to entertain realistic thoughts of bowl eligibility they need more consistent play from the offense, and the defense needs to build on Saturday’s showing.

This week: Bye

7. USF (5; lost 16-10 at Connecticut)
The Bulls (4-2, 0-2) did more to shoot themselves in the foot on Saturday afternoon than anything, ultimately falling in a game that they were expected to win. All of a sudden the team many thought could contend finds itself in the conference cellar with Cincinnati visiting Raymond James Stadium. And if the Bulls want to at least finish with a winning league record they have to win. B.J. Daniels and the offense need to be more consistent in not only moving the football but scoring points. Disappointing start for Skip Holtz’s squad.

This week: Cincinnati (Saturday Noon, Big East Network)

8. Louisville (7; lost 25-16 at Cincinnati)
The Cardinals (2-4, 0-1) are young offensively, and that’s been a big reason for their struggles. Where would this team be if not for their defense? Louisville held a 16-7 halftime lead thanks to the defense, which made things tougher than anticipated on Cincinnati. And after facing the second-best defense in the conference with regards to takeaways, Teddy Bridgewater and company will have to deal with the nation’s best this week.

This week: Rutgers (Friday 8 PM, ESPN2)

BIG EAST WEEKLY AWARDS & POWER POLL

Bailey, Ryan and Krautman honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stedman Bailey • So. • WR • West Virginia • Miramar, Fla.
Bailey registered his fourth consecutive game with at least 100 receiving yards to lift West Virginia to a 43-16 win against Connecticut. He had seven receptions for 178 yards, including second-half touchdown catches of 84 and 27 yards, to help the Mountaineers break open what had been a one-point halftime lead. Bailey leads the BIG EAST in receiving yards, averaging 105.7 yards per game.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Ryan • So. • CB • Rutgers • Berlin, N.J.
Ryan keyed a Rutgers defense that had four interceptions and six sacks in a 34-10 win against Pittsburgh, lifting the Scarlet Knights to a 2-0 start in BIG EAST play. Ryan had two interceptions against the Panthers, including a 45-yard return for a touchdown, to go with four tackles and a pass breakup. Rutgers leads the nation with 22 takeaways this season, while the Scarlet Knights lead the BIG EAST in pass defense efficiency (104.0) and scoring defense (15.2 ppg).
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ross Krautman • So. • K • Syracuse • Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Krautman scored 13 points, including the game-winning field goal as time expired, to give Syracuse a 37-34 win at Tulane. The gamewinner was Krautman’s third field goal of the game and his second of the fourth quarter as the Orange staved off Tulane’s comeback from a 17-point third-quarter deficit.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Marcus Smith • So. • DE • Louisville • Columbus, Ga.
Had three sacks in a 14-7 loss at North Carolina. Led a defense that had four sacks, eight tackles for loss and held the Tar Heels to 264 yards of offense.
 
Justin Francis • Sr. • DT • Rutgers • Opa-Locka, Fla.
Had eight tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries in a 34-10 win at Pittsburgh.
 
Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 19 of 34 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown in a 37-34 win at Tulane.
 
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 27 of 45 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-16 win against Connecticut.
 
Jewone Snow • Fr. • LB • West Virginia • Canton, Ohio
Had seven tackles, a half-sack for a safety and a pivotal 83-yard fumble return in a 43-16 win against Connecticut.
 
Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (last week: 1)
The Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0) once again got off to a slow start, but a critical turnover turned the tide as they blew out Connecticut at home. If there’s any thing that Dana Holgorsen and his staff may focus on during the bye week it’s those slow starts. Remedy that situation and the Mountaineers will be tough to beat.

This week: Bye

2. Cincinnati (3)
Cincinnati (4-1) was off this week, but now the conference grind begins with the Keg Of Nails battle with Louisville. Zach Collaros has been better at valuing the football this season, but the biggest story has been the defense. The Bearcats have forced 18 turnovers, the second-highest total in the conference.

This week: Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)

3. Rutgers (5)
The Scarlet Knights (4-1, 2-0) make the jump thanks to their impressive second half against Pittsburgh. Gary Nova hit on two touchdown passes while the defense forced four turnovers and sacked Tino Sunseri six times. Rutgers goes out of conference on Homecoming weekend as they host Navy, who’s had some issues on the defensive side of the football.

This week: Navy (2 PM, ESPN3)

4. Pittsburgh (2)
Things did not go well for the Panthers on Saturday as the offense struggled throughout and the defense eventually ran out of gas in the 34-10 loss. Ray Graham’s been the one constant for Todd Graham offensively, but the passing game needs to step up. Tino Sunseri remains the starter, but the offensive line needs to do its part as well.

This week: Utah (Noon, ESPNU)

5. USF (4)
USF had last week off and it couldn’t have come at a better time as the Bulls were gashed by Pittsburgh in front of a national television audience. B.J. Daniels and company were slowed down by the Pitt defense as the game wore on, and the defense could not stop the Panthers. If they have similar issues at UConn there there should be some concern.

This week: at Connecticut (3:30 PM, Big East Network)

Syracuse (6)
The Orange (4-2, 0-1) got off to a good start at Tulane, but the offense slowed down and nearly handed the win over to the Green Wave. If one thing’s become certain with Doug Marrone’s team it’s that things will not come easy. This is a good time for a bye week with West Virginia due to visit on the 21st as the secondary still needs work.

This week: Bye

7. Louisville (8)
One gets the feeling that the Cardinals will alternate with Connecticut at the bottom of this poll for the foreseeable future. The Cardinals struggled mightily offensively once again but the defense kept them in the game at North Carolina. Mike Sanford will return to the staff although what his role will be is unknown. Will that help Teddy Bridgewater and company? That remains to be seen.

This week: at Cincinnati (Noon, Big East Network)

8. Connecticut (7)
The Huskies drop due to what happened after Johnny McEntee’s fumble. While that play was clearly the catalyst for what West Virginia did, the Huskies accounted for just seven yards of offense from that point until late in the fourth quarter. UConn, who was supposed to be able to rely on their rushing attack, averaged just 2.3 yards per rush on Saturday. It’s going to be tough sledding the rest of the way for Paul Pasqualoni’s team.

This week: USF (3:30 PM, Big East Network)

WEEK 5 HONORS ANNOUNCED & POWER POLL

Graham, Beauharnais and Merrell honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ray Graham • Jr. • RB • Pittsburgh • Elizabeth, N.J.
Graham rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and finished with 309 all-purpose yards to lead Pittsburgh to a 44-17 win against No. 16/14 USF. He had four receptions for 42 yards and had 35 yards on kickoff returns as the Panthers keyed an offense that gained 523 yards against the Bulls. Graham, the nation’s third-leading rusher this season (146.8 ypg), was also chosen as the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week.

 
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve Beauharnais • Jr. • LB • Rutgers • Saddle Brook, N.J.
Beauharnais had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception to lead Rutgers to a 19-16 win at Syracuse in double-overtime. Beauharnais’ interception came on Syracuse’s last drive of the fourth quarter and his 44-yard return allowed the Scarlet Knights a chance at the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. Beauharnais anchors a Rutgers defense that leads the nation in takeaways (18) and is fourth nationally in sacks (3.5 per game).
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamal Merrell • So. • LB • Rutgers • Bear, Del.
Merrell blocked two kicks — a field goal attempt and a PAT try — potentially taking four points off the board in a game that went to double-overtime before Rutgers prevailed 19-16 against Syracuse. Merrell also started at linebacker and contributed four tackles and a forced fumble as part of a defense that produced five takeaways against the Orange.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a half-sack in a 27-0 win at Miami (Ohio). Led a defense that held the RedHawks to -3 rushing yards.
 
Johnny McEntee • Jr. • QB • Connecticut • Fullerton, Calif.
Completed 22 of 39 passes for career highs of 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan.
 
Jarred Holley • Jr. • S • Pittsburgh • Easton, Pa.
Had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 44-17 win against No. 16/14 USF.
 
Dustin Garrison • Fr. • RB • West Virginia • Pearland, Texas
Rushed for 291 yards — the most by a Bowl Subdivision player this season — and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a 55-10 win against Bowling Green.
 
Julian Miller • Sr. • DT • West Virginia • Columbus, Ohio
Had seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 55-10 win against Bowling Green.
 
Week 5 Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. West Virginia (4-1, 0-0) Last week: 2nd
Last week: beat Bowling Green 55-10
WVU turned it on after falling behind Bowling Green 10-3 in the first quarter. The Mountaineers scored 52 unanswered points and put up the highest yardage total in their history at Milan Puskar Stadium. Dana Holgorsen’s team looked every bit the preseason favorite in their final tune-up for league play.

This week: Connecticut (Noon, Big East Network)

2. Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0) Last week: 5th
Last week: beat USF 41-17
Ray Graham and company looked outstanding on Thursday night, giving the partisans their first true look at “High Octane Football”. Tino Sunseri was more decisive in his reads both passing and running the football, something that needs to continue if they’re to contend for a Big East title.

This week: at Rutgers (3:30 PM, ESPNU)

3. Cincinnati (4-1, 0-0) Last week: 3rd
Last week: beat Miami (Ohio) 27-0
Butch Jones’ Bearcats notched their first shutout since 2006 in beating the RedHawks in Oxford on Saturday, a good way to go into their bye week. Cincinnati has already forced 18 turnovers this season, a far cry from last season’s pedestrian effort. And if Zach Collaros and company can continue to move the ball on offense they’ll be a factor.

This week: Bye

4. USF (4-1, 0-1) Last week: 1st
Last week: beat USF 41-17
To say the least things got out of hand at Heinz Field for the Bulls, who couldn’t slow down the Pitt offense or continue to move the football on offense. With a bye week to figure things out on both sides of the football, Skip Holtz’s team should be able to bounce back from the big loss. But B.J. Daniels has to be more productive in order for that to happen.

This week: Bye

5. Rutgers (3-1, 1-0) Last week: 6th
Last week: beat Syracuse 19-16 (2OT)
It wasn’t pretty but the fact remains that Rutgers won their league opener and ended a two-game losing streak to Syracuse. But now there’s the question of who will start against Pittsburgh on Saturday: incumbent Chas Dodd (who was ineffective on Saturday) or freshman Gary Nova? Nova didn’t turn the ball over and led the Scarlet Knights back for the win, so practice will ultimately decided who gets the nod.

This week: Pittsburgh (3:30 PM, ESPNU)

6. Syracuse (3-2, 0-1) Last week: 4th
Last week: lost to Rutgers 19-16 (2OT)
Defensively the Orange got off to a good start with Dyshawn Davis forcing a fumble that was returned for a score on Rutgers’ second offensive play of the game. But the offense sputtered with Ryan Nassib throwing three picks and Syracuse as a team turning the ball over five times, blowing some good chances to put away Rutgers. They’re favored to beat Tulane but it will be more difficult than expected if they don’t clean things up.

This week: at Tulane (8 PM, Cox Sports)

7. Connecticut (2-3, 0-0) Last week: 8th
Last week: lost to Western Michigan 38-31
Head coach Paul Pasqualoni cited a lack of pressure on WMU QB Austin Carder in discussing why the Huskies gave up 479 passing yards on Saturday, but quite honestly a secondary without Blidi Wreh-Wilson was torched. Gary Wilburn has to get better in a hurry, and it’s tough to see QB Johnny McEntee putting up a 300-yard, four touchdown performance in back to back weeks. With nothing but league games left, bowl eligibility is in jeopardy.

This week: at West Virginia (Noon, Big East Network)

8. Louisville (2-2, 0-0) Last week: 7th
Last week: lost to Marshall 17-13
The Cardinals took a major step back on Saturday, as their failure to prepare during the bye week and days leading up to Marshall resulted in a loss. A hard lesson for a young team to learn, but it’s probably one that Charlie Strong’s program needs in order to grow. Next up is a very tough matchup for an offensive line that’s been poor thus far: North Carolina, which boasts one of the best defensive lines in the country.

This week: at North Carolina (Noon, ESPN2)

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