Press Release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference formally announced the addition of five prestigious universities to its ranks today, bringing its football membership to 10 and securing a strong core group of FBS schools as it expands into two divisions and works toward its goal of staging an annual conference football championship game.

The University of Central Florida, University of Houston and Southern Methodist University have accepted full membership into the BIG EAST while Boise State University and San Diego State University will compete as members in the sport of football. The BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors, by a unanimous vote of its Presidents, extended the invitations for membership. UCF, Houston and SMU will begin competing in all BIG EAST-sponsored sports in the 2013-14 academic year, while Boise State and San Diego State will start competing in football in the 2013 season.

“Over the last 32 years, the BIG EAST Conference has constantly evolved along with the landscape of college athletics,” said BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto. “The inclusion of these five great Universities, which bring a unique blend of premier academics, top markets, strong athletics brands and outstanding competitive quality, marks the beginning of a new chapter in that evolution. We are proud to welcome these schools to the BIG EAST family.

“Much like the conference as a whole, the BIG EAST name — though derived 32 years ago based on the geography of our founding members — has evolved into a highly respected brand that transcends borders, boundaries or regions. It’s national. Our membership makeup is now reflective of that.”

“Over its history, the BIG EAST has changed and adapted as needed to maintain its place and leadership in the world of college athletics. And it has always done so with great respect and reverence for its heritage and legacy,” said Judy Genshaft, University of South Florida President and Chair of the Conference Board of Directors. “And so it is today. Boise State, Houston, San Diego State, SMU and UCF are all fine schools that will enhance every aspect of the BIG EAST.”

This expansion clearly moves the Conference far beyond its origins in the Northeast. With these five new members, the Conference will continue to have the single largest media footprint in college football, spanning literally from coast to coast and all the major regions in between. In effect, the BIG EAST will be the first truly national college football conference.

The creation of a western division is a bold and innovative step that will provide fans with two distinct divisions in football – East and West – which will produce new rivalries, accommodate further expansion flexibility and, eventually, set the stage for an annual football championship game.

The addition of these five new marketplaces boosts the number of the BIG EAST’s potential TV households by more than six percent and up to 28 million.

Four different time zones will also allow the Conference and its television partner the potential to schedule four games on a given Saturday back-to-back-to-back-to-back without any overlap. It is a powerful model and one that will be unmatched by any other conference.

These expansion efforts will create a very unique synergy within the Conference and allow creative football scheduling for the future given that the league will have schools in four different time zones under its auspices.

Central Florida is the second-largest university in the United States with an enrollment of 58,587. Located in Orlando, Fla., UCF was founded in 1963. The Orlando television market is the nation’s 19th largest. UCF has been named one of the “50 Best Value Public Universities” by USA Today and the Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school as a “Top Up-And-Coming” university for the past three years.

The Knights compete in 16 men’s and women’s sports. The UCF football team has won two conference championships in the last five seasons and played in four bowl games over the last six years. Last year, the Knights won the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and finished No. 25 in the final Bowl Championship Series ranking. Going into the 2011-12 academic year, UCF athletic teams have made 86 NCAA Division I team tournament appearances and 92 NCAA Division I individual championship appearances.

Houston, a university with an enrollment of 39,825, was founded in 1927 in Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the U.S. and the 10th largest television market. The University’s student body is the second most ethnically diverse among major research institutions in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report.

Twenty-two Houston athletes have competed in the Olympics and have combined to win 39 medals, including 20 gold. The men’s basketball program has made five Final Four appearances. The football team has made 20 bowl appearances and won 10 conference championships. This year, the Cougars have enjoyed of their best seasons in history. They finished the regular season with a 12-1 record and a No. 19 ranking in the final BCS standings. One of the top men’s golf programs in the nation, the Cougars have captured 16 NCAA titles.

SMU is the only Division I program in Dallas, Texas, the nation’s ninth largest city and fifth largest television market. The school has an enrollment of 10,981 and was established in 1911. According to U.S. News & World Report, SMU is the best overall undergraduate college in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. SMU is one of only 77 institutions in the U.S. with an endowment of over $1 billion.

SMU sponsors 17 sports. The Mustangs have been ranked as the top school in their conference 11 times in the past 14 years in the Director’s Cup overall athletic standings. The men’s basketball team has won 14 conference championships and made one Final Four appearance. The men’s soccer team has advanced to the NCAA Championship in 16 of the last 18 seasons, including two Final Four appearances. The football team will appear in its third straight bowl game in January at the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

Boise State is the largest university in Idaho with an enrollment of 19,664. The campus is home of 11 Idaho Professor of the Year honorees since 1990 and the 2011 national champion debate and speech team.

The football program has been one of the nation’s best in recent years. Since 2002, the Broncos have won eight conference titles and earned eight top 25 finishes in the national polls, including a top 10 finish in each of the last four seasons. Boise State won the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2010 and 2007. The Broncos, who play in Bronco Stadium with its distinctive blue turf, have finished in the top 10 of the BCS standings for the last three years and are ranked No. 7 this week. Off the field, the football program won the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award. The Bronco football team had a 100 percent graduation rate for members of its student-athlete class of 2004.

San Diego State is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region and fifth largest in California. Founded in 1897, the university has grown to become a nationally ranked research university and has an enrollment of 32,396. Increasingly recognized for innovative research, San Diego State has achieved the prestigious designation of “Research University” with high research activity granted by the Carnegie Foundation. The San Diego market is the 28th largest in the U.S.

The SDSU football program has enjoyed recent success with a 9-4 record in 2010 and a win in the Poinsettia Bowl. This year’s team owns an 8-4 mark and will play in the New Orleans Bowl. The Aztecs play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium, the home of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. San Diego State has had 134 players become NFL Draft picks, including 13 since 2004.

The five new schools join Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers and USF as the teams competing in football in the BIG EAST Conference and UCF, Houston and SMU join DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova in all other sports. With the addition of the five new schools, the BIG EAST will have the largest footprint of any college football conference in the nation, with a coast-to-coast presence spanning eight states in five different regions of the country.

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.

Cincinnati WR Anthony McClung (Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images)

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

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.

Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Photo Credit: Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

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.

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.

Jawan Jamison joined some elite company on Saturday (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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.

By Raphielle Johnson

Many had questions as to how sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux would perform in his first collegiate start as he took over for injured senior Zach Collaros. Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones didn’t think the Bearcats would change much from a strategic standpoint, and Legaux is an outstanding athlete who can give opponents fits in this system. But against one of the best defenses in the Big East Legaux struggled mightily, and Rutgers’ 20-3 win over the Bearcats turn the Big East race into a wide-open sprint to the finish line.

Jawan Jamison joined some elite company on Saturday (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Rutgers (8-3, 4-2) had their own star on the day as running back Jawan Jamison rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. The yardage established a new career high for Jamison, whose efforts made him the third freshman in school history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. The other two are Terrell Willis and Ray Rice, which is high company to keep when discussing the history of Rutgers Football. Jamison’s first score opened the account less than four minutes into the game as Rutgers took advantage of a Cincinnati (7-3, 3-2) fumble.

Tony Miliano’s field goal from 47 yards out late in the first quarter cut the lead to 7-3, but that would be the only points for Cincinnati on the day. Legaux and company simply couldn’t get much of anything going on offense, and Greg Schiano’s defense deserves a lot of the credit. Isaiah Pead was limited to just 28 yards rushing, and without the consistency in the passing game this would prove to be the fatal blow for the Bearcats. Cincinnati finished the game with 225 yards of offense, just 25 more than what Jamison produced on the ground himself.

“I thought the players did an incredible job and the assistant coaches – Bob Fraser and all the guys,” said Schiano. “They put together a great plan and the kids executed it. It is so hard to get 11 guys to do what they are supposed to do. I think the resolve amongst our players today was excellent – the focus.”

Jamison’s score from one yard out halfway through the third quarter made the score 17-3, and given the tone of the contest essentially shut the door on the Bearcats. Cincinnati converted just four of fifteen third downs and averaged 3.8 yards per play on the afternoon. Rutgers now shares first place in the Big East with Louisville, something few people would have expected a month ago. Chas Dodd has made sound decisions with the football, and with the running game rounding into form at just the right time clinching their first-ever Big East title is a more than realistic possibility.

As for Cincinnati, with games against Syracuse and Connecticut remaining there’s the opportunity to work their way back to the top of the standings. But if Saturday’s play was any indication of what’s to come, it’s going to be a lot easier said than done. The Bearcats visit Syracuse while Rutgers visits Connecticut next weekend.

Louisville 34, Connecticut 20

After a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh (partially fueled by the release of the newest “Call of Duty” game, according to head coach Charlie Strong), the Louisville Cardinals rebounded by beating Connecticut 34-20 in East Hartford. Teddy Bridgewater threw for 174 yards and rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Cardinals (6-5, 4-2), who are now one win away from clinching at least a share of the Big East title. Given how they began the season, that’s a remarkable achievement for Strong’s young team, which has for the most part rounded into form in recent weeks.

UConn (4-6, 2-3) now needs wins in its final two games to reach bowl eligibility, but given the way in which they’ve executed offensively it’s more likely that the Huskies spend the holidays at home. Johnny McEntee threw for 253 yards and a touchdown but completed just 18 of 43 passes, but the many drops were also partly to blame. Louisville eliminated the threat of the UConn rushing attack, limiting Lyle McCombs to 33 yards on ten carries, and as a team UConn rushed for just 76 yards on 23 carries. Connecticut’s bright spot on offense was wide receiver Kashif Moore, who caught seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in addition to another score on the ground.

Neither team was particularly good on third down, but Louisville’s play in the red zone proved to be the difference. In their three red zone opportunities the Cardinals came away with three touchdowns, while the Huskies finished two of their opportunities with Dave Teggart field goals. Louisville closes their season with a game at USF on Friday, and UConn plays their final home game against Rutgers on Saturday. UConn will close out their season at Cincinnati on December 3rd.

Miami 6, USF 3

A pitcher’s duel broke out at Raymond James Stadium, with Skip Holtz’s Bulls (5-5, 1-4) losing both the game and quarterback B.J. Daniels. Daniels went down early in the second half with a right shoulder injury, and USF didn’t threaten to score from that point forward. Luckily for the Bulls their defense played well throughout, but ultimately being on the field as much as they were proved costly on the final drive. Jake Wieclaw’s 36-yard field goal as time expired gave the Hurricanes the win, and as a result the Bulls have to wait another week for the chance to reach bowl eligibility.

USF put up just 249 yards of offense on the day, with Darrell Scott’s 57 yards on 15 carries leading the offense along with Daniels’ 98 yards passing. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris completed 27 of 35 passes for 259 yards but he was sacked six times by an aggressive USF defense. Miami finished the game with four drives of eight plays or more, with two of them resulting in points. The Hurricanes would go 61 yards on 15 plays in their final drive to win the game on Wieclaw’s kick. USF on the other hand had just two drives of ten plays, the second of which came in the middle of the second quarter. If Daniels is unable to play on Friday against Louisville, the door could be open for the Cardinals to earn their first-ever win at USF.

Next Week’s Schedule

11am (Friday) Louisville at USF (ESPN2)
7pm (Friday) Pittsburgh at West Virginia (ESPN)
Noon Cincinnati at Syracuse (Big East Network)
Noon Rutgers at Connecticut (ESPN2)

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.

Mohamed Sanu caught 13 passes on Saturday (Photo Credit: Associated Press)

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?

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.

WVU quarterback Geno Smith (Photo Credit: Dan Friend/MSN SportsNet)

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)

By Raphielle Johnson

By the time the Cincinnati Bearcats took the field for pregame warmups at Heinz Field they likely knew what they needed to do based on the results of the two afternoon games. A win over Pittsburgh would put Butch Jones’ team in a very good spot with regards to the Big East title race with a home game against West Virginia (at Paul Brown Stadium) next week, while a loss would drop them into a tie in the loss column with Louisville and Pitt. It wasn’t pretty, as Pittsburgh led by 10 points in the third quarter, but Cincinnati bounced back and got the job done on the road. Thanks in large part to four Tony Miliano field goals and an opportunistic defense the Bearcats (7-1, 3-0) assumed firm control of the Big East race. But Coach Jones won’t allow his players to look that far ahead, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand.

“As we have seen throughout this entire football season, success can be very short-lived,” said Jones. “That’s why we will enjoy this right back to Cincinnati and then all of our focus is playing an extremely talented West Virginia football team next week. Every game is a new season and that’s the way we approach it.”

Tony Miliano made four field goals on Saturday (Photo Credit: AP/Keith Srakocic))

Zach Collaros has had better nights, as completed 19 of 32 passes for 212 yards and a pair of interceptions, but he proved to be valuable on the ground with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Isaiah Pead led the Bearcats with 118 yards rushing as Cincinnati overcame a rough night on third down, converting just two of their 13 opportunities. Pittsburgh wasn’t much better on third down but they did rush for 179 yards, with Tino Sunseri’s 64 yards (and a touchdown) leading the way. Sunseri completed 24 of 38 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown (one interception) with the majority of his yards going to Devin Street, who caught eight passes for 118 yards.

But after taking a 23-13 lead on Sunseri’s 11-yard pass to Hubie Graham the Panthers failed to score again as the tables turned in the battle in the trenches. Defensively the Bearcats ramped up the pressure on Sunseri, forcing poor throws and some questionable decision-making from the redshirt junior. And offensively Cincinnati scored 13 points on three possessions in the third quarter due to improved play from their offensive line and a pair of costly Pitt turnovers. Turnover margin, which killed Cincinnati last season, has been a key factor in the Bearcats’ 7-1 start. If Cincinnati can continue to force turnovers, it’s very possible that the Bearcats will go from no bowl one year to BCS bowl the next.

Louisville 38, #24 West Virginia 35

Louisville made the trip to Morgantown a two-touchdown underdog, thanks in large part to an offense that hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. But the young Cardinals are beginning to figure things out, and the most recent piece of evidence is their first win in Morgantown since 1990. Despite being out-gained by nearly 180 yards on the afternoon the Cardinals (5-4, 3-1) took advantage of special teams to win the field position battle, and Louisville converted all five of their red zone opportunities. Freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed 21 of 27 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, and Dominique Brown led the charge on the ground with 69 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

“If you look at it, [Bridgewater] is getting better and the whole offense is getting better because we are able to run the football,” said Louisville head coach Charlie Strong. “When you are able to run the football, it opens up the passing game. Teddy is doing a good job of managing the game and making the throws. Our running backs are running hard, and our offensive line is blocking well.”

Geno Smith led West Virginia with 410 yards passing and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough on a day that saw the Cardinals keep the Mountaineers off the field by successfully moving the ball on offense. Louisville scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game, with Sinorise Perry’s 13-yard run making the score 14-7 with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter. West Virginia would answer in the second quarter with two touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead, only to see Bridgewater connect with Eli Rogers in the final seconds of the first half to tie the game going into halftime. Louisville scored the only points of the third quarter on a Chris Philpott field goal, and the special teams made a big play early in the fourth quarter.

Louisville blocked a Tyler Bitancurt field goal attempt, and Andrew Johnson’s 82-yard return of the blocked kick made the score 31-21. Shawne Alston’s second rushing touchdown of the day made the score 31-28, but the Cardinals would respond with a drive that took nearly eight minutes and resulted in Dominique Brown’s three-yard touchdown run to push the lead back out to ten. WVU quickly wend down the field for another touchdown as Smith connected with Stedman Bailey, but they were unable to recover the onside kick. As a result West Virginia finds themselves needing a lot of help to climb back into the race, beginning with a win over Cincinnati next week. Louisville may not be in great shape either due to their loss to the Bearcats, but they’re in much better shape than anyone envisioned them being in a couple weeks ago.

Connecticut 28, Syracuse 21

Paul Pasqualoni’s Huskies turned the football an amazing five times in the first half, wasting multiple opportunities to take total control of their game against Syracuse. UConn (4-5, 2-2) was outdone by a Syracuse team that returned the favor, and the Orange’s errors ultimately came back to cost them a much-needed Big East victory. As a result of the loss Syracuse (5-4, 1-3) will go another week needing a win to ensure bowl eligibility and their hopes of remaining in the Big East race are likely shot as well. Lyle McCombs led the way for the Huskies with 152 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it was quarterback Scott McCummings who provided the biggest spark. McCummings rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns in 13 attempts as UConn called on him more in the second half with Johnny McEntee once again struggling.

“Scotty is a big guy when he’s running with the ball. It just felt like the right time to do it–just a gut feeling,” said Pasqualoni of the decision to give McCummings more reps. “We felt like he was prepared for it so we put him in the game and went with it.”

Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns but he was also picked off two times, with UConn capitalizing on his second interception and cashing it in for the game-winning touchdown. Antwon Bailey failed to rush for 100 yards for the second consecutive week but Alec Lemon (9 catches for 157 yards, 1 TD) and Nick Provo (7 for 53 yards, 1 TD) proved to be effective pass-catchers for the Orange. But Syracuse once again didn’t put the ball in the end zone when they needed to as they began three straight drives in the second quarter in Connecticut territory, scoring just seven points. Put up more points there and maybe Syracuse remains a part of the Big East title conversation, but that’s no longer an option.

UConn has now won five straight in the series and Syracuse remains winless all-time at Rentschler Field, but Pasqualoni took no personal satisfaction out of beating his former employer. It was more important for the team to get back on the right track, and while questions remain on both sides of the football UConn kept their bowl hopes alive with the victory. The Huskies have a bye next week while Syracuse hosts a reeling USF team on Friday night.

Rutgers 20, USF 17 (OT)

After a four-yard Demetris Murray touchdown run with 7:38 left in the game Skip Holtz’s Bulls looked to be in very good shape to pick up their first Big East win of the season. But Rutgers would receive a boost from their special teams in the form of a Jeremy Deering 98-yard kickoff return, and from that point forward USF seemed to tighten up. Chas Dodd, who took over for the ineffective Gary Nova in the fourth quarter, led Rutgers (6-3, 3-2) on a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by his 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Coleman with 1:08 left in regulation. Despite controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball USF found themselves looking to escape with a win in the final moments…only to have Maikon Bonani miss a 27-yard field goal as time expired.

Things got even worse for USF in overtime as B.J. Daniels was intercepted by Duron Harmon on the Bulls’ third play of their lone drive, and eventually Rutgers’ San San Te would knock home the game-winner from 37 yards out. USF (4-4, 0-4) has watched the promise shown in their 4-0 start disappear, replaced by the concern that they might not even reach bowl eligibility. Daniels struggled throwing the football, squandering a solid team effort on the ground (221 yards rushing with Darrell Scott going for 100) and five sacks by the defense. Rutgers was brutal running the ball, racking up minus-7 yards on the night when factoring in sack yardage. Jawan Jamison led the Scarlet Knights with a paltry 12 yards on the ground, and combining that with Nova’s struggles it’s amazing that Rutgers had a chance to win the game in the final stanza.

Rutgers goes out of conference next week as they take on Army at Yankee Stadium, and USF heads north to take on Syracuse in a game they have to have in order to stop the negative momentum. Can Skip Holtz’s team rebound from such a tough defeat? We’ll find out on Friday night in the Carrier Dome.

Next Week’s Schedule

USF at Syracuse (8 PM Friday, ESPN2)
West Virginia at Cincinnati (Noon, ABC)
Pittsburgh at Louisville (Noon, Big East Network)
Rutgers vs. Army (3:30 PM, CBS Sports Network)

By Raphielle Johnson

For the first time this season all eight Big East football teams will play on Saturday, and the four matchups will go a long way in determining the path that the title race takes. But the matchup with the most on the line will also be watched for reasons outside of football as Louisville (4-4, 2-1) heads east to take on West Virginia (6-2, 2-1) in a noon matinee (Big East Network). West Virginia was the choice of the Big 12 to be their 10th member with Louisville being the programs generally thought to be the second choice, but that motivation is more for the fans than the players or coaches. All directly involved in Saturday’s game understand what’s on the line: the winner remains in the thick of the Big East race while the loser will need a lot of help to snag the conference’s BCS bowl berth.

Shawne Alston rushed for a career-high 110 yards last week(Photo Credit: All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks)

“You have to tell them that this is what you are going to walk into and this is what you have to be aware of,” Louisville head coach Charlie Strong said of the challenge that awaits in Morgantown. “Know this: they can’t come out of the stands. The game is played on the field and they can say whatever they want.”

That crowd will pose a serious test for freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has been sound from a decision-making standpoint for much of the season. Bridgewater has completed 63.3% of his passes on the season, and while he’s 9th in the Big East in passing yards per game Bridgewater has kept the Cardinals in games. What’s helped Louisville the last two weeks is their improvement running the football, which has taken some of the pressure off of Bridgewater. Backs Jeremy Wright and Victor Anderson have improved their production, and that will have to continue on the road against the West Virginia defense.

But if the Cardinals have to throw the football one would think that tight end Josh Chichester would figure prominently in the game plan. Two weeks ago Syracuse was able to expose the WVU secondary to the tune of four touchdown passes to their tight ends with Nick Provo catching three. That could happen once again given the athletic ability of Chichester, who’s been the second-best tight end in the conference to date. Louisville can also call upon receivers Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker for production, but the most important ally of the Cardinals may end up being the clock. If they can keep possession of the football the West Virginia passing attack won’t be on the field, and that would be a bonus.

“They have a good, experienced quarterback in Geno Smith,” said Strong. “You look at (Tavon) Austin and (Stedman) Bailey, guys who they can get the football to and guys who can make plays with the ball in their hands.”

That’s the challenge for the Louisville defense, which ranks among the best in the Big East as well as the nation. Led by linebacker Dexter Heyman, Louisville is first in the conference in both scoring and total defense, and they’ve performed well against both the pass and the run as well. West Virginia has a few options to turn to on the ground, with the quicker Dustin Garrison giving way to power back Shawne Alston in last week’s win at Rutgers that featured a snowstorm. And the wide receivers need little introduction, with three Mountaineers ranking among the top five in the Big East in receiving yards per game.

Vance Bedford’s defense will have to get after Smith and not allow him time to get comfortable in the pocket. Syracuse was able to get after the junior and as a result he had a long night in the Carrier Dome. If Greg Scruggs and the Louisville front four can win the battle in the trenches this becomes a tough game for West Virginia, who hasn’t always shown themselves to be the most physical team in that department. Dana Holgorsen’s team may be a product of the spread, but they’re going to have to show off the ability to play hard-nosed football against Louisville. Whether or not the Mountaineers can do so will be the deciding factor in the Big East race.

Pick: West Virginia 31-21

Noon (ESPNU): Syracuse (5-3, 1-2) at Connecticut (3-5, 1-2)

Many have referred to this game as the “Paul Pasqualoni Bowl” due to the first-year UConn head coach’s tenure at Syracuse, but that connection means nothing compared to both teams needing a win to retain any hope of getting back into the Big East race. Syracuse followed up their best game of the season with arguably their worst effort in a 27-10 loss at Louisville as the Cardinals won the battle at the point of attack all afternoon. But this could be a bounce-back week for Ryan Nassib and company as UConn’s defense has struggled to carry an offense that’s been poor for much of the year. The Huskies are 7th in the Big East in total defense, and while the rushing defense has been adequate the pass defense has not.

The linebackers were the players exposed in the Huskies’ loss at Pittsburgh, and that could be a problem given how much Syracuse depends on tight end Nick Provo in the passing game. With the wide receivers struggling to play consistent football Provo has been Syracuse’s most consistent threat, and running back Antwon Bailey had four straight games of 100 rushing yards or more before last weekend. Syracuse will move the football provided they take care of it, but will the Huskies? Johnny McEntee hasn’t threatened a defense through the air since their loss to Western Michigan, and it could be getting close to the point where fans get louder in calling for a change at the position.

Running back Lyle McCombs has been UConn’s most consistent offensive performer but the truth is that the redshirt freshman needs help. Whether or not he receives it will play a major role in the outcome not just on Saturday but throughout the remainder of the season. From BCS representative to home for the holidays? That’s a definite possibility given their struggles on offense, and UConn could find themselves needing to win out in order to go bowling after Saturday.

Pick: Syracuse 24-13

7 PM (ESPNU): Cincinnati (6-1, 2-0) at Pittsburgh (4-4, 2-1)

Two years ago at Heinz Field these two programs put on a show for the ages with the Big East title on the line, as Cincinnati won a nail biter in the snow. The stakes aren’t as high this time around but a Pittsburgh win would throw the Big East race into chaos. That became a lot tougher with the loss of running back Ray Graham, who tore his ACL in the Panthers’ win over Connecticut last week. Into his role steps senior Zach Brown, who transferred in from Wisconsin with the expectation being that he’d supplement Graham’s efforts. Brown’s got the experience and ability to get the job done, and head coach Todd Graham has some young backs he can call on as well.

But Pittsburgh’s hopes will ultimately come down to the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri, who has been inconsistent for much of the year. Sunseri set a Heinz Field record for passing yards in the win over UConn while also proving to be a threat on the ground. That will be tougher against an opportunistic Cincinnati defense led by linebacker JK Schaffer and defensive tackle Derek Wolfe, and the Bearcats lead the Big East in rushing defense. But they’re also 7th in the conference in pass defense, so the question on Saturday night could end up being whether or not Sunseri can win the game with his arm.

Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros has struggled at times as well, but he’s still got his star running back in senior Isaiah Pead. Pead is 3rd in the Big East in rushing yards per game, and he’s also a good receiver out of the backfield. The wide receivers are talented and tough to corral in the open field, which could be an issue for a Pitt secondary that sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to defending the pass. Defensive tackles Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein will need to control the interior if Pitt is to slow down a Cincinnati run game that’s tops in the conference in rushing offense, but overall it’s going to be a tough night for the defense. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair.

Pick: Cincinnati 38-31

7 PM (ESPN3): USF (4-3, 0-3) at Rutgers (5-3, 2-2)

Just one team in the Big East is winless in conference play, and the USF Bulls can only blame themselves for that distinction. Skip Holtz’s team has dropped close games to both Cincinnati and Connecticut, and their game at Rutgers looks to be another close contest as well. B.J. Daniels and the rest of the offense had a week off to fine-tune things, and even with Sterling Griffin likely out USF has enough tools to get the job done. But can they avoid shooting themselves in the foot? That’s the question for USF, and it goes for Rutgers as well following their four turnovers in last week’s loss to West Virginia.

The Scarlet Knights went into that game leading the nation in takeaways, only to have a turnover margin of minus-3 in the 41-31 defeat. Freshman quarterback Gary Nova is the player that Rutgers needs to keep track of when it comes to taking care of the football, as he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles in that loss. The play of running backs Jawan Jamison and Savon Huggins could go a long way in that regard, as the more productive they are the less Rutgers has to lean on Nova. This matchup also provides a fun battle between the Rutgers wide receivers, led by Mohamed Sanu, and the USF secondary that some thought could be the best in school history when the season began.

To say the least neither unit has lived up to the preseason hype thus far in spite of occasional moments of brilliance (Sanu notwithstanding), and where the two teams sit in the bowl pecking order once the season ends will be determined by this matchup. Rutgers has been very good at forcing turnovers while USF is fourth in the Big East in turnover margin, and that could be a key in New Brunswick. But if Rutgers can’t run the ball consistently they could be in trouble despite playing at home.

Pick: Rutgers 21-20

By Raphielle Johnson

The never-ending saga that is the long-term stability of the Big East Conference moved a little closer to a solution on Tuesday as the 13 presidents gave commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to invite new members. The goal of the Big East is to get to 12 football members, with a couple of those institutions being “football-only” members. Three are expected to be full members of the conference, and there have been plenty of rumors in recent weeks about which schools are in line for the spots. Following the meeting at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, Commissioner Marinatto issued the following statement:

“We had a very productive meeting and were able to discuss the great progress we have made in the last few weeks regarding conference realignment.

“Our Presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the BIG EAST Conference. I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the BIG EAST. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our Conference is known for.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia yesterday, the Presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the Conference’s 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave. The Conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations.”

Obviously the other key aspect of his statement was the portion on the league’s response to West Virginia filing a lawsuit on Monday, with the hope being that they’ll be allowed to leave the conference for the Big 12 following this academic year as opposed to being subject to the 27-month notification period as written in the conference’s bylaws. The suit can be read here (.PDF file), and a very good explanation of the lawsuit and it’s validity was given by Brian Ewart of VUHoops.com.

The question now likely isn’t when the Mountaineers get to leave but rather how much this will cost them. Whether or not any of the parties involved want this to go to trial is debatable, especially if the Big 12 were to find themselves dragged into the litigation, but this doesn’t look to be a situation that will be solved immediately. It’s also relevant to both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, who cast their lot with the ACC, and could have an idea of what a possible settlement could look like should they attempt to take that route.

ACC commissioner John Swofford stated at the league’s basketball media day in Charlotte that the league is ready for the two schools whenever they can join, be it in 2012 or the expected 2014. But unlike the Big 12 their TV deals are in good shape with their current membership. Since the Big 12 signed their deals with a 10-member league in mind, dropping below that number (should Missouri actually move to the SEC) would cut the value of their contracts (the Big 12 was able to get ESPN and FOX to agree to paying as if the conference were still a 12-member league following the departures of Colorado and Nebraska).

These are definitely interesting times for the Big East, who will more than likely announce new members within the next week or so.