South Florida

TCU LIKELY HEADED TO THE BIG 12

Horned Frogs unlikely to play a game in Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East Conference was hit with another bit of bad news on Thursday morning, as Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas notified Big East commissioner John Marinatto of his intentions to speak with Texas Christian University about joining the Big 12. Neinas took over for the recently dismissed Dan Beebe, and the Big 12 has been a busy league in recent days as a result. Missouri has decided to explore its options, which may include possible membership in the SEC. But whether or not the Tigers have enough votes to make such a move remains to be determined, and they’ve yet to commit either way (stay in the Big 12 or go elsewhere).

With TCU and Missouri the Big 12 would be at 10 total members, and depending on who’s doing the talking the league may either want to move to 12 members or stay at 10. But if the Tigers were to make a move a slot opens, and that’s where things get interesting. BYU was a school brought up in recent weeks, so maybe they’re an option with Louisville and West Virginia also being possible candidates. So in a sense what Missouri decides to do could spell the end of the Big East as a viable BCS AQ conference, although that status is already in trouble with TCU not joining.

Without the Horned Frogs (and Pittsburgh and Syracuse), the Big East will be down to just six football-playing members when the dust settles. And that doesn’t take into consideration who else may be trying to leave. The remaining Big East presidents (which included TCU at Sunday’s meeting at Georgetown) gave Commissioner Marinatto the authority to seek out new members, but what prospective candidates would sign off on joining such an unstable league? Navy AD Chet Gladchuck said as much to Gene Wang of the Washington Post today, stating that the Big East needs to get its house in order.

“As it stands today, the issue is not ours. The issue is theirs. They’ve got to figure out how to right the ship.”

That sounds about right, and even with some possible candidates on the table the currently volatile membership is an extremely difficult sell for the Big East. Connecticut president Susan Herbst released a statement today that read as follows:

“Conference realignment continues to be a very fluid situation as we have seen developments and new rumors nearly every day. It is important that none of us here at UConn become too anxious over this situation. We will continue to monitor the national landscape and be in communication with officials from other schools and leaders from around the country. UConn has always competed at the high level of collegiate athletics and will continue to do so in the future.”

Cynics will ask if the Huskies are committed to the Big East and rightfully so, given the overtures sent out to the Atlantic Coast Conference in the aftermath of Pitt and Syracuse’s move. The remaining football members of the Big East are looking out for their interests first and rightfully so. But the necessity to do so could ultimately result in the end of the conference’s run sponsoring football.

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)

PANTHERS DROP THE HAMMER ON USF

Pittsburgh takes first step in Big East race

By Raphielle Johnson

Through four games this season many Pitt fans were wondering when the “High Octane” attack that first-year head coach Todd Graham talked about constantly would show up on the field. Back-to-back losses to Iowa and Notre Dame left the Panthers almost at a crossroads of sorts heading into Thursday night’s Big East opener against #16/14 USF, and a loss could have sent things further downhill. But fortunately for the Panthers and their partisans, “High Octane Football” made it’s first true appearance in the Steel City.

Behind 226 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Ray Graham the Panthers rolled up more than 500 yards on their way to a convincing 44-17 victory at Heinz Field. Tino Sunseri performed well for Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0), throwing for 216 yards and rushing for another 35 with two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). While the senior didn’t light it up from a yardage standpoint he made quick decisions in getting the ball to the skill position players, something that had been an issue for much of the four games leading up to Thursday’s rout.

“I thought he executed the system well and he did a great job and was tough,” said Todd Graham of his quarterback’s performance. “He had great pocket presence. He was very decisive with the football. He got the ball out and was a commander. I thought he took charge of the team tonight.”

USF (4-1, 0-1) looked like world beaters in their three games following the win at Notre Dame but had no such luck against a Pittsburgh team that did a good job of taking care of the football after fumbling on its first drive. After Darius Patton’s fumble killed the Pitt drive at the USF 48, the Bulls marched right down the field and took a 7-0 lead on B.J. Daniels’ run from 12 yards out. But the Panthers answered immediately, with a Sunseri touchdown run capping a 10-play drive that went 77 yards. A Kevin Harper field goal from 47 yards out late in the first quarter gave Pitt a 10-7 lead, which is how the second quarter began.

After a second Harper field goal USF was able to get back on the scoreboard thanks to a Demetris Murray seven-yard run. But the pace at which the Panthers were able to play offensively took its toll on the USF defense, and Pitt took full advantage on a 14-play, 82-yard drive capped by a Ray Graham touchdown run. USF was able to cut the lead to three (20-17) on a Maikon Bonani field goal with 26 seconds left in the half but those would be their final points on the night. And the halftime break did little for the USF defense when it came to slowing down Pittsburgh, who had it clicking all night long.

“A lot of people have been talking about how it’s coming and how we’ve been getting closer and closer,” remarked Sunseri after the game. “We finally did it and we know what it feels like now.”

The Bulls went three and out on their first possession of the second half, only to see the Panthers go right back down the field for another touchdown. Pitt used tight end Hubie Graham as a tackle-eligible receiver, lining offensive lineman Juantez Hollins up in the right slot. USF failed to cover Graham, who caught the pass from Sunseri and ran straight into the end zone for the 12-yard score. USF would have to punt again and Pittsburgh made them pay with another punishing drive, this time scoring on a two-yard run by Zach Brown. Pittsburgh rushed for 307 yards on the night as their offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and kept Sunseri upright for much of the evening.

“I think there are a lot of fundamental things we have to go back and look at and we lost contain much too much as a defense letting the ball get outside of us tonight,” said USF head coach Skip Holtz. “We made too many mistakes in order be competitive as well as Pitt played tonight.”

USF was able to move the football as well, accounting for 425 yards but the third down conversions (6-for-15) and turnovers (two fumbles lost) did them in against a team that crossed midfield on nearly every one of their possessions. But the Bulls, who have been down this road before, will have plenty of time to fix the issues on both sides of the football since they don’t play again until October 15th at Connecticut. As for the Panthers, the win was quite the building block for a program that is undergoing quite the change in terms of philosophy. For the first time this season, Pittsburgh put together sixty minutes of what all involved with the program expect Pitt football to be.

“We really played a physical football game,” said Coach Graham. “We took care of the football and executed the system. I’m proud of the leadership they are showing. We made great strides tonight because we finally played a complete football game.”

LEAGUE PLAY BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT

Bulls, Panthers meet in the Steel City

By Raphielle Johnson

The final week of September gives Big East fans their first conference games of the season, with a pair of games on tap this weekend. The game that’s arguably more important with regards to the conference title race takes place on Thursday night as #14 USF (4-0) heads north to take on Pittsburgh (2-2) in front of a national audience (8 PM, ESPN). In the preseason media poll these were the two teams expected to challenge favorite West Virginia for the crown, with the Panthers picked to finish 2nd and Bulls 3rd. But while Skip Holtz’s team has looked the part for much of four games the same can’t be said for Todd Graham’s club, which has dropped close games to Iowa and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks.

In both defeats Pittsburgh held leads in the fourth quarter only to watch the opposition come back and snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. What are the reasons for such a tumble? One issue, that’s also plagued Pitt throughout the game, has been the performance of the offense. The “high octane” system has looked anything but for much of the season, with senior quarterback Tino Sunseri being the focal point of the concerns of many.

Sunseri’s completed 65.1% of his passes but only for 823 yards and four touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. Pitt ranks sixth in the Big East in passing offense, a big reason why they’re fifth in total offense despite the play of running back Ray Graham. The offensive line will also need to up its play on Thursday night as Pittsburgh is last in the Big East in sacks allowed with 18. For an offense of this style such a high number is way too high, and while the line may be having issues with the new system they must get better at the basics.

Graham leads the conference in rushing with an average of 127 yards per game, but the majority of that damage was done in wins over Buffalo and Maine as he’s failed to rush for 100 yards in each of the last two weeks. When opponents are comfortable in their ability to shut down Pitt through the air they can focus more on Graham, Zach Brown and the rest of the rushing attack.

USF ranks third in the Big East in rush defense as they allow 82 yards per game on the ground, but this is the best running back they’ve faced to date. Also good against the pass thanks to a talented secondary led by senior Jerrell Young, USF has the talent needed to slow down the Panther offense.

“We have to get ready to play and come out and get those past mistakes corrected,” said Graham earlier this week when discussing his team’s offense. “People ask me what do we need to do and my answer is that we need to execute our system. If we are able to do that and not turn the ball over then we are going to be successful.”

Linebacker Michael Lanaris leads USF with 27 tackles while Julius Forte and Claude Davis have three sacks apiece to lead the way in that category. One thing that USF has done well to this point in the season is force turnovers, as they are tied for second the Big East with 13 takeaways and their turnover margin of +8 is third. And the Bulls aren’t happy to just take the ball away either, as they’ve scored off of a turnover forced on defense or special teams in each of their four games. Pitt, a minus-2 in turnover margin, has to take care of the football for sixty minutes in order to take care of their home field advantage.

Offensively the Bulls have moved the ball well since their season-opening win at Notre Dame with junior quarterback B.J. Daniels leading the way. Daniels has completed 66% of his passes, good for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns (one interception) and he’s well on his way to putting together his best season (by far) at USF from a numbers standpoint. Pittsburgh will also need to be focused on what Daniels can do on the ground as he’s rushed for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

USF has allowed just five sacks this season, a compliment to both the offensive line and Daniels’ ability to escape the pocket when pressured. That likely places some pressure on Brandon Lindsey, Greg Williams and Max Gruder, three Pitt defenders who will have more than enough chances to corral Daniels.

“They’re a big read-zone team and he does a great job with that,” said Graham of Daniels. “He also does a good job with protecting himself and you can tell he is experienced. Our job is to confuse him and keep him in check this Thursday. When Daniels starts to scramble, we need to make sure we match up the routes in our zone and don’t give up any cheap plays.”

Daniels will have ample assistance at the skill positions on Thursday, something that was tough to say last season due to injuries especially at wide receiver. Terrence Mitchell (concussion) isn’t expected to play against Pittsburgh but with players such as Sterling Griffin, A.J. Love and tight end Evan Landi, USF has more than enough options to turn to in the passing game. There’s also the versatile Lindsey Lamar, who will also factor into the return game, and Colorado transfer Darrell Scott adds a dimension at running back. Daniels, Scott and Demetris Murray all rank in the top seven in rushing, and this could be an issue for a Pitt defense that ranks sixth in the Big East in rushing defense (105.5 ypg).

USF leads the Big East in total offense and rank second in scoring offense, pass offense and rushing offense. They’ve been very difficult to stop but Pittsburgh has more defensive talent than Ball State, Florida A&M and UTEP. If Pitt’s offense can produce and keep the defense off the field (Pitt is seventh in the Big East in time of possession but fifth in scoring offense and seventh in third-down conversion percentage) they definitely have a chance to turn things around and win at home. But if not the Bulls will enjoy ample opportunities to not only win but win in convincing fashion. The winner gets a head start on the Big East title race, something that can’t be overstated given how balanced the Big East has been in recent years.

Pick: USF -2.5 (28-20)

Record: 23-7 overall; 14-12 ATS

WEEK 4 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Sanu, Schaffer and O’Donnell honored by Big East

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Sanu set BIG EAST and school records with 16 receptions in the Scarlet Knights’ 38-26 win against previously unbeaten Ohio, shattering the previous mark of 13 catches set in 1993 and held by six players.  He finished with career highs of 176 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in the win, giving him 29 receptions in the last two games. Sanu ranks as the national leader in receptions (12.0 per game) and is eighth nationally in receiving yards (121.0 ypg).

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Schaffer had a team-high nine tackles with an interception to key Cincinnati’s defense in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State. Schaffer’s 16-yard interception return set up a Cincinnati scoring drive and helped the Bearcats take an early 21-0 lead against the Wolfpack. Schaffer is the BIG EAST leader in passes defended (6) on a defense that has 16 takeaways — the most in the nation this season.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pat O’Donnell • Jr. • P • Cincinnati • Lake Worth, Fla.
O’Donnell was pivotal in establishing field position in Cincinnati’s 44-14 win against North Carolina State as he averaged 59.7 yards on three punts, pinning the Wolfpack inside the 20-yard line twice. North Carolina State’s average starting field position in the first half was its own 17-yard line, which helped the Bearcats build a 24-7 halftime lead. O’Donnell is averaging 47.6 yards on nine punts this season.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Isaiah Pead • Sr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and had three receptions for 24 yards and a TD in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State.

B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Completed 15 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and a TD on 15 carries in a 52-24 win against UTEP.

Lindsey Lamar • Jr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Had 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions in a 52-24 win against UTEP. Had four receptions for 85 yards and had 94 kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime win against Toledo.

Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 38 of 65 passes for 463 yards (all school records) and two touchdowns in a 47-21 loss to No. 2 LSU.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (4-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat UTEP 52-24
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday night, but all was not well in Tampa. Head coach Skip Holtz once again voiced his concern with the team’s depth as the second unit didn’t take full advantage of the extra playing time. The good news to come out of the game was that as a team USF rushed for 373 yards. But the bad habits will have to be taken care of with Big East play opening this week.

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

2. West Virginia (3-1; 2nd)

Last week: lost to LSU 47-21
The Mountaineers fought their way back into the game Saturday night, cutting the lead to 27-21. But the combination of poor tackling and poor special teams did them in on the ensuing kickoff return (99 yards to push the LSU lead back out to 13 points), and a minus-4 in turnover margin is not how you beat one of the best teams in America. But Geno Smith and company will bounce back.

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

3. Cincinnati (3-1; 4th)

Last week: beat NC State 44-14
The Bearcats exacted a measure of revenge on the Wolfpack on Thursday night, putting forth their best performance of the season when considering the caliber of the opponent. Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead were two of the offensive stars while the defense got back to the ball-hawking ways that have been evident in each of the team’s wins. Keep an eye on Cincinnati’s ability to force turnovers as the season wears on.

This week: at Miami (Ohio) (1:00 PM, ESPN3)

4. Syracuse (3-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Toledo 33-30 (OT)
Syracuse’s win over the Rockets wasn’t without controversy (Toledo has requested that the game be vacated as a result of a missed PAT being ruled good and upheld by replay) but there were positives to be found. Ryan Nassib was once again accurate and didn’t turn over the football, and backs Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley moved the ball on the ground.

This week: Rutgers (Noon, Big East Network)

5. Pittsburgh (2-2; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Notre Dame 15-12
The issues on offense remain (it should also be noted that Ray Graham hasn’t reached 100 yards rushing in either of the last two games) but there’s also the matter of Pitt giving up leads in the fourth quarter. And there isn’t a great deal of time to solve the issues with USF arriving in town for the league opener on Thursday night. Todd Graham’s team needs to find a way to turn things around, and soon.

This week: USF (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

6. Rutgers (2-1; 6th)

Last week: beat Ohio 38-26
It was the “Mohamed Sanu Show” at High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday as he caught 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. But while he was outstanding Sanu was the lone Scarlet Knight to catch more than one pass. Where’s Brandon Coleman? Mark Harrison and Tim Wright? These three will need to step up if Rutgers is to continue winning games. It was also good to see Jawan Jamison rush for 97 yards, providing a spark to the running game.

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

7. Louisville (2-1; 7th)

Last week: Bye
Will the Cardinals be able to get running backs Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright untracked following the bye week? The good news for the Cardinals is that Dominique Brown played very well in the win over Kentucky, and the bye should allow some of their banged-up players to get healthy (center Mario Benavides sticks out). Louisville will need to have everything clicking against a Marshall team that’s already faced WVU and Virginia Tech.

This week: Marshall (3:30 PM, WHAS)

8. Connecticut (2-2; 8th)

Last week: beat Buffalo 17-3
The Huskies may have found a playmaker on the perimeter in Nick Williams, who’s been used primarily as a kick returner for much of his career. Johnny McEntee had his best game from a numbers standpoint but still needs to get better, especially with opponents keying on the run. Speaking of which, D.J. Shoemate saw limited duty (only a handful of snaps) on Saturday so the question remains whether or not he’s 100%.

This week: Western Michigan (3:30 PM, SNY)

WEEK 4 BIG EAST RECAP: MOUNTAINEERS FALL AT HOME

LSU shows their class in Morgantown

By Raphielle Johnson

Saturday night was a big occasion in Morgantown due to the national media attention that come with playing the number two team in America. But unfortunately for #16 West Virginia (3-1) they found out the hard way what it takes to win such contests, falling to #2 LSU (4-0) 47-21 in front of a sold-out crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium. The differences were simple but costly: special teams, tackling and turnovers. The Mountaineers were able to move the football in the air against one of the country’s best defenses, racking up 463 yards passing on the night.

“They were a smarter football team than we are,” said head coach Dana Holgorsen. “We had four turnovers and they had none. We had twice as many penalties and the special teams were completely one sided, so those three things pretty much got them the victory.”

But they were a minus-4 in turnover margin, with LSU scoring 21 points off of those mistakes. Les Miles’ team set the tone on their first drive, going 58 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 11-yard pass from Jarrett Lee to Rueben Randle. Brandon Taylor would pick off Smith to end WVU’s third possession of the game, and the Tigers would convert that into a touchdown to take a 13-0 lead. One quarter in and Coach Holgorsen’s team was in trouble against a defense littered with ball hawks (Tyrann Mathieu clearly stands out).

But West Virginia would answer early in the second quarter as Smith connected with Stedman Bailey to cut the LSU lead to six. After both teams ended their next drive with a punt LSU moved ahead 20-7 on a 52-yard pass from Lee to Odell Beckham with 6:53 left in the half. The Mountaineers wouldn’t do much with their ensuing drive, and they very nearly shut the door on themselves for good in the final seconds of the half.

Mathieu, coming on a blitz, was able to pick off a Smith pass and return it 16 yards to the Mountaineer 1. LSU would score two plays later on a pass from Lee to Chase Clement to make the score 27-7 at the break. WVU outgained LSU 163-85 in the quarter but because of turnovers and missed assignments they found themselves down three scores at the half. To say the least that won’t get it done against the nation’s best.

After a Drew Alleman missed field goal from 30 yards out West Virginia began to make their run back into the game. Smith led the Mountaineers on a six-play, 80-yard drive to cut the lead to 27-14 on a 12-yard pass to Tyler Urban. The WVU defense would ride the momentum, but every time they got a stop there was LSU punter Brad Wing. Wing averaged 48.7 yards per punt and all six of his punts were inside of the 10-yard line.

Compare that to WVU punter Corey Smith, who averaged 10 fewer yards per punt with the average bolstered by a 50-yarder. That was just one part of the special teams edge for LSU. The other would come just when the Mountaineers and their fans thought they had a chance to win. After another touchdown cut the deficit to six points, LSU’s Morris Claiborne returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to make the lead 34-21.

That six-point margin would be as close at West Virginia would get, as the defense missed tackles and could not get off the field in dealing with such a physical unit. There were also penalties, ten of them to be exact with some coming in key areas of the field (there were two different illegal procedure calls on wide receivers). So while the Mountaineers saw that they have the skill to compete on a higher level, the simple mistakes will need to be eliminated if they’re to become a championship-caliber team. LSU is there, but WVU still has some steps to take.

“We did some good things offensively and defensively, but you can’t beat a good team by doing that,” noted Holgorsen. “You can talk about 500 yards if you want to, but the only thing I’m going to talk about tomorrow is four turnovers.”

Notre Dame 15, Pittsburgh 12

In a matchup of two teams that have found ways in which to beat themselves this season it was Notre Dame that came up with the big drive late. Tommy Rees led the Irish on an 11-play, 85-yard drive in the fourth quarter, connecting with tight end Tyler Eifert for a six-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-12. The two connected again on the subsequent two-point conversion, and with Notre Dame sacking Tino Sunseri twice on the Panthers’ final drive the Irish won 15-12.

“I think Tommy was 8-for-8 in his last drive and Tyler Eifert was huge, he went up in traffic two or three times, got hit and held onto the ball,” said head coach Brian Kelly. [It was] just guys making plays on the last drive is really what stands out.”

Rees and the Notre Dame (2-2) offense went through their fair share of difficulty throughout the game, turning the ball over two more time to push their number to 15 in four games. But the defense came through for the visitors, as they limited Pitt (2-2) to 103 yards rushing and 268 yards of total offense. Ray Graham led Pitt with 89 yards on the ground, but 42 of those came on one carry. Tino Sunseri didn’t turn the ball over but he was sacked five times and threw for just 165 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh was able to capitalize off of a Notre Dame fumble late in the first quarter as Kevin Harper connected on a field goal from 39 yards out. But penalties and missed assignments for both teams turned the game into a defensive struggle following a Jonas Gray 79-yard run to put the Irish up 7-3. Pitt would add another field goal and go into the half down a point, and then put together their best drive of the game to start the second half.

The Panthers went 80 yards in 19 plays, chewing up more than eight minutes on the clock, scoring on a three-yard pass from Sunseri to Hubie Graham to make the score 12-7. Pitt head coach Todd Graham decided to go for two at a point in the game where many would refuse to “chase points” and it came back to bite them. The conversion attempt failed, leaving the door open for the Irish to take the lead on a touchdown and make the margin three with a conversion of their own.

Once again closing the game was an issue for Pittsburgh, who committed nine penalties to offset the eight for Notre Dame. That’s something that will have to get better in a hurry, because league play begins for the Panthers on Thursday night against USF. “That’s the thing that’s so frustrating right now in our locker room,” said Sunseri. “We feel like we are inches away from really busting this open and really being in that uptempo offense and understanding it, and being able to put points on the board.”

Syracuse 33, Toledo 30 (OT)

Syracuse (3-1) found a way to escape against the Rockets at home but not without controversy. Following Ryan Nassib’s touchdown pass to Alec Lemon with 2:07 remaining in regulation kicker Ross Krautman hooked the PAT, only to have the officials rule that he made the kick. The play was reviewed, with the replay official ruling that the play should stand as called. Toledo (1-3) would go down to tie the game on the final play of the fourth quarter, but Syracuse would pick off Austin Dantin on the first play of overtime and go on to win on a Krautman field goal. But while they have a good argument for being robbed, Toledo head coach Tim Beckman did no such thing.

“I don’t know anything other than what they tell me in the [coaches] box,” said Beckman. “They said it was a little bit off to the left. When you come into these games, you learn as a team and coaching staff that it’s us against the world. We have to make sure we don’t give the touchdown up, so they can’t kick that PAT.”

What many thought to be a tricky contest for the Orange (3-1) leading up to the noon kickoff got off to an ominous start, as Toledo went 80 yards on 22 plays to start the game. The Rockets only got a field goal out of the drive but they set the tone early in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse would turn the ball over on their first possession, and three minutes after their first score Toledo made it 10-0 on a Morgan Williams touchdown run.

The Orange rallied in the second quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points beginning with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Nassib to Nick Provo. Krautman made two field goals but Toledo’s Jeremiah Detmer responded with a 52-yarder as time expired. The two would each score a touchdown in the third quarter, setting the stage for an action-packed fourth. Morgan Williams answered a Krautman field goal with his second touchdown of the day, putting Toledo up 27-23 with 10:54 left.

Syracuse would score eight minutes later, beginning the sequence that many will ultimately remember from this game. Defensively the Orange had their issues with All-American Eric Page, who finished with 13 receptions for 158 yards. But Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley combined to rush for 180 yards and Ryan Nassib threw for 213 yards and two scores in the win. Syracuse opens Big East play next week as they host Rutgers.

Rutgers 38, Ohio 26

Ohio showed up in New Brunswick hoping to get off to their best start since 1976. But unfortunately for the Bobcats (3-1), Rutgers had wide receiver Mohamed Sanu who put forth a record-setting performance in the Scarlet Knight victory. Sanu caught 16 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, with the receptions setting both Rutgers (2-1) and Big East records.

Chas Dodd completed 21 of 32 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns for Rutgers, but the bigger development came at running back. With many expected Savon Huggins to take over following the bye week (and transfer of De’Antwan Williams), it was actually Jawan Jamison who led the team on the ground. Jamison rushed for 97 yards on 29 carries as head coach Greg Schiano stuck with the hot hand.

“I think it will be a good mix but I thought Jawan ran it really well today,” said Schiano. “There were a couple plays that were negative plays that he made a guy miss in the backfield. Those are the plays that don’t get a lot of notoriety but they are key.”

Tyler Tettleton was outstanding for Ohio in a losing effort, throwing for 339 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But Ohio lost four of five fumbles, which gave Rutgers the boost they needed at critical junctures in the game. Marcus Cooper’s 4-yard fumble return late in the first half gave Rutgers a 21-7 lead, and while the Bobcats would close to within four (21-17) they couldn’t get over the hump. Next up for Rutgers is a trip north to take on Syracuse in the league opener for both.

Connecticut 17, Buffalo 3

It wasn’t pretty from an offensive standpoint for either team, but the Huskies (2-2) found a way to get out of Buffalo with a much-needed win. And they may have found themselves a playmaker on offense as well. Nick Williams, known for his abilities in the return game, turned two slants into huge gains for UConn. A 64-yard connection with Johnny McEntee went for 64 yards, setting up UConn’s first score on a pass from McEntee to Mark Hinkley. Williams’ second reception was a 49-yard touchdown that shut the door on the Bulls (1-3).

McEntee once again received the majority of the snaps at quarterback, and while he didn’t put forth a legendary performance he was good enough. McEntee completed 12 of 21 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Huskies win despite a disappointing showing on the ground (42 attempts for 80 yards). And despite the absence of safety Jerome Junior (violation of team rules) and the loss for Blidi Wreh-Wilson due to injury, the UConn defense survived giving up a couple big plays through the air.

Next week the Huskies host a tough Western Michigan team in their final non-conference game, and there are a couple questions to answer offensively. Is McEntee the man head coach Paul Pasqualoni will go with for the long haul? With Michael Nebrich attempting just one pass that may be the case. And how healthy is D.J. Shoemate? Shoemate caught a pass but didn’t get any carries, so maybe the ankle is still a concern for the coaching staff. But to say the least, UConn needs good answers to these questions sooner rather than later.

#18 USF 52, UTEP 24

USF (4-0) had a field day on the ground, rushing for 373 yards (four yards short of the school record) and four touchdowns in their blowout win over the Miners. B.J. Daniels, who also threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns, kicked off the scoring with a 71-yard run three minutes into the game. But the Miners (2-1) were able to answer almost immediately, getting a good kickoff return and going 33 yards in less than two minutes to tie the game. USF was good against the run, but once Quenton Washington was lost the pass defense struggled.

“Defensively I thought our run defense was good, they were stout,” said head coach Skip Holtz. “Our front seven played well. I thought our pass defense was poor. I thought it was very poor tonight. I think you know all of a sudden we were down a starter in Q [Quentin Washington] and I say it all the time, you’re only as strong as your weakest link.”

The Bulls would score two more rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, and they would lead 31-17 at the intermission. The first of two Lindsey Lamar touchdown receptions (54 yards) made the score 38-17 with just under nine minutes left in the third quarter. The Miners were able to come back with Carson Meger connecting with Kevin Perry on a 25-yard scoring strike, but that would be their final points of the night.

Daniels connected with Lamar for a second touchdown pass with 6:46 left in the game, and just 14 seconds later Sam Barrington’s 30-yard pick six closed the scoring. USF has scored directly off of a turnover in each of their four games this season but there’s still plenty of work to be done going into Thursday’s conference opener at Pittsburgh, especially from a depth standpoint.

“I think some guys are coming along and some guys are emerging, but we’re not where we need to be right now,” said Holtz of his reserves. “We are a work in progress and we got to get better than what we are right now.”

WEEK 4 BIG EAST SATURDAY PREVIEW

Mountaineers look to make a statement

By Raphielle Johnson

It’s been a tough week for the Big East Conference due in large part to the expansion talk that’s taken over the entire nation it seems. But the conference got off to a good start to this week as Cincinnati blew out NC State 44-14 on Thursday night. But Saturday offers the marquee opportunity for the league to make a national statement, as #16 West Virginia (3-0) hosts #2 LSU (3-0) in front of a national audience (8 PM, ABC).

The ESPN show “College Gameday” makes its first-ever trip to Morgantown, and what’s normally a frenzied environment should be even more excited for this contest. But this is a steep challenge for the Mountaineers, who lost in Baton Rouge last season 20-14. There may not be any grass for the superstitious Les Miles to munch on (WVU’s field is FieldTurf) but he’s got one of the nation’s best defenses to rely upon.

The Tigers are second in the SEC in total defense, allowing 207 yards per game, second in rush defense and third against the pass. The defensive line is deep and talented, and in sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu the Tigers have one of the nation’s best. The key for the Mountaineers on offense will be to get something of consequence going on the ground in order to slow down that front four. WVU is sixth in the Big East in rushing with an average of 78.7 yards per game, so that will be easier said than done.

“They are wherever the ball is,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen about the LSU defense. “They get there really fast, and they’re pretty impressive once they get there. You can study their personnel all you want to, but they’re all capable of making plays.”

So how will the Mountaineers move the football against the talented LSU defense? They’ll need a big night from quarterback Geno Smith and his receiving corps, led by Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Ivan McCartney. This trio has caught five of Smith’s seven touchdown passes, and Austin is also dangerous in the return game. Last year’s meeting turned on a Patrick Peterson punt return for a touchdown, so both teams will need to be at their best on special teams.

Offensively LSU is led by quarterback Jarrett Lee, who has been entrusted to simply not make mistakes with Jordan Jefferson serving a suspension. Lee will also have the services of a key weapon in receiver Russell Shepard, who was suspended for the first three games of the season. Along with Rueben Randle the Tigers will have a tandem that can test the WVU secondary, but Lee won’t be a gunslinger.

“It’s a physical nature,” said Holgorsen of the LSU offense. “They’re going to put in a fullback and a tight end and they’re going to get after you. If you put too many people in there, then they’re going to one-on-one you on the outsides with their talented receivers.”

The Tigers are a very physical offensive team, with an experienced offensive line opening holes for a committee of running backs who can move the ball down the field. Spencer Ware and Michael Ford combine to average 148 yards per game and have scored a combined seven touchdowns. The battle up front is one that Julian Miller, Bruce Irvin and the Mountaineers have to win if they’re going to have any chance.

To be frank, this is the contest where we’ll see how much Irvin has progressed. Considered to strictly be a “sack master” last season, the personnel losses forced Irvin to step into a larger role in Jeff Casteel’s scheme. If the front three can do their jobs players such as leading tackler Najee Goode will have the opportunity to run and make plays. But if not it could be a long night against an LSU team that’s won their last 35 regular season non-conference games.

Few are giving West Virginia a chance of winning this game, due to the disparity in conference pedigree and the fact that LSU posted one of the most impressive performances thus far in their win over Oregon. The crowd could be a factor, but the Tigers have played (and won) in front of hostile environments many times before. If the Mountaineers can stand up to the physical test they’ll run into in the trenches they’ve got a shot to pick up a huge victory.

Pick: West Virginia +5.5 (27-24)

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (Noon, ABC)

Pittsburgh (2-1) looks to rebound from a stunning fourth quarter collapse, and recapture the local fans’ attention who seem more interested in the Week 3 NFL Odds at this point, in their loss at Iowa last week, but that will be tough to do with Notre Dame (1-2) coming to town. The Fighting Irish may have picked up their first win of the season last week but don’t be fooled by the record. Brian Kelly’s team could very well be 3-0, but the reason they aren’t is a simple one: turnovers. The Irish have turned the ball over 13 times in three games and are a minus-8 in turnover margin, with five turnovers in each of their losses.

“We try to correct everything that occurs as we move forward,” said Kelly of how the Irish deal with their 1-2 start. “So we don’t go back to those things relative to what happened in the past, other than we try to correct those mistakes and then move forward.”

Tommy Rees, who took over for the ineffective Dayne Crist in the loss to USF, has completed 69.7% of his passes despite throwing five interceptions. Rees has six touchdown passes on the year, and there’s no mistaking who the top target is. Michael Floyd, one of the best receivers in the country, has caught 31 passes for 397 yards and two touchdowns in three games and slowing him down will be the priority for the Pitt defense.

But Floyd’s not the only weapon that Notre Dame looks to. Running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray will both see action, with Wood being the primary ball-carrier (299 yards, 4 TDs). Pitt can look to their defensive line led by Chas Alexcih, Myles Caragein and Brandon Lindsey in slowing down the run as they’ve allowed just 80 yards per game on the ground. But the Panthers have given up 336 yards per game through the air, by far the worst in the Big East. If they can’t get to Rees up front it could be a long afternoon for that secondary.

“One thing that has hurt us is we have given up a lot of big plays on pressures and were not a team who has done a lot of that in the past,” said head coach Todd Graham earlier this week. “We are too loose in a lot of situations especially when we lost the momentum against Iowa. We had moments where blitzes were called and guys just didn’t go and execute.”

While Pitt needs to clean that up on defense, the bigger concern remains the play of quarterback Tino Sunseri. While the senior has completed 62.5% of his passes he’s thrown four interceptions to just three touchdowns. The speed at which Sunseri makes his progressions in an offense that’s supposed to specialize in quickly getting rid of the football has been an issue.

If Pitt can get things going in that area they’ll be a tough team to stop thanks to running back Ray Graham. Graham has rushed for 419 yards and six touchdowns in three games, and his versatility makes him a difficult matchup for just about anyone. Manti Te’o and company will look to slow him down and make Sunseri beat them. The question now is whether or not the senior can get the job done.

Pick: Pittsburgh +7 (Notre Dame 31-28)

Toledo at Syracuse (Noon, Big East Network)

On the heels of their first defeat of the season, Syracuse (2-1) returns home to take on a tough Toledo squad. The Rockets (1-2) have already taken Ohio State down to the wire, but they came back to earth last week as Boise State blew them out 40-15. Tim Beckman’s group will pose quite the challenge for a team that struggled at home to beat Wake Forest and Rhode Island, and the combo of running back Adonis Thomas and receiver Eric Page is a big reason why.

“They have an excellent player in [Eric] Page, who’s one of the best players in the country and an All-American candidate,” said Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone. “There is a lot of experience on the football team that is coming in here, and we’re going to have to play extremely well to beat them.”

Thomas is averaging 75.7 yards per game and is second on the team in receptions per game to Page, who catches 8.3 passes for 91.3 yards per game. Page’s ability could be an issue for the Syracuse secondary, which has struggled at times this season. The Rockets will play two quarterbacks, with Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens, with Dantin getting the start and Owens coming in off the bench.

Offensively Syracuse could be in good shape thanks in large part to quarterback Ryan Nassib, who played well in defeat last weekend. Receivers Van Chew and Alec Lemon were productive against USC and in tight end Nick Provo the Orange have one of the best in the Big East. But Syracuse needs to get their running game going, as it ranks 109th nationally.

Antwon Bailey gets the majority of the carries but he’s been under 50 yards in each of the last two games. If Syracuse can get their running game in order they’ll be that much better offensively. But that’s a big “if”, and combined with the Rockets’ not being afraid of the competition could spell trouble. Don’t be surprised if this game is close late.

Pick: Syracuse -2 (28-24)

Ohio at Rutgers (2 PM, ESPN3)

Rutgers (1-1) returns to the field following a bye week and they’ll be short a running back as De’Antwan Williams has decided to transfer. Freshman Savon Huggins was expected to see more reps beginning with this contest against Ohio (3-0), but there will also be carries for Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering. The Bobcats, who are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1976, rank at or near the top of the MAC in a number of statistical categories including total defense (lead the conference).

Ohio ranks 2nd in the MAC in rushing defense, which should make things tougher for the Scarlet Knights on the ground. That could put more on the shoulders of quarterback Chas Dodd and his receiving corps, as they’ll take on a defense that’s 6th in the MAC against the pass. Nose guard Neal Huynh leads Ohio with 20 tackles, and linebacker Noah Keller is solid at the middle linebacker spot.

Offensively the Bobcats list three possibilities to start at quarterback, and Tyler Tettleton has started all three games to date. In fact he’s gotten so many more chances to both throw and run with the football that it’s tough to say that it’s an “either or” situation at the position. Donte Harden and Ryan Boykin have been the leaders on the ground yardage-wise but it’s Tettleton who has rushed for three scores.

Ohio may not throw a great deal but LaVon Brazill is one player Rutgers will need to keep track of in the passing game. Defensively the Scarlet Knights have been good; despite giving up 24 points at North Carolina they did force five turnovers. They may not reach that number against Ohio, a team that’s disciplined and takes care of the football. Given the optimism surrounding the Bobcats it would not be a surprise if Rutgers were to lose. In order to avoid the upset however, they must get something from the ground attack.

Pick: Ohio +4 (Rutgers 21-20)

Connecticut at Buffalo (6 PM, Big East Network)

The focus goes from the hunt for an ACC invite to a trip to Buffalo for UConn (1-2), and they could very well head back to Storrs 1-3 if they don’t get improved play from the quarterback position. Johnny McEntee has seen the majority of the snaps but he’s completing just 44.9% of his passes, and the position as a whole has a completion percentage of 44.2%. Regardless of what Lyle McCombs and D.J. Shoemate can get done on the ground it’s difficult to move the football when you’re one-dimensional.

And the lack of offense could prove to be a problem as the Bulls (1-2) have moved the ball well behind Cincinnati transfer Chazz Anderson. Anderson’s done a solid job of running the offense, having already connected with ten different receivers in the first three games. Running back Branden Oliver has rushed for 358 yards and five touchdowns, but despite Buffalo’s talent on offense the UConn defense hasn’t been the problem despite some big-play breakdowns.

Wide receiver Isiah Moore played well in the loss to Iowa State, and if the quarterbacks can get the ball to Moore and his fellow receivers in positions where they can go on to make plays the Huskies will move the football. But as it’s been seen in three games that’s easier said than done for this group. The Huskies can’t afford to turn the ball over (eight giveaways) especially early. Look for them to narrowly avoid Buffalo’s upset bid.

Pick: Buffalo +9.5 (Connecticut 27-20)

UTEP at USF (7 PM, ESPN3)

One final tune-up for the start of conference play for USF (3-0), who has arguably been the most impressive team in the conference. B.J. Daniels tied the school record for passing yards in a game last week and could very well break it this week. UTEP (2-1) struggled last week in their win over New Mexico State, and it goes without saying that the Miners can’t afford to have their quarterback complete just 9 of 28 passes.

The Miners will likely go with freshman Jay Hall again this week, which could prove to be problematic given how well the USF defense has played. Offensively the Bulls can look to Daniels and running back Darrell Scott, who played the best game of his young USF career last week. UTEP could make things interesting for a half or so, but by the fourth quarter look for a few USF players getting some extra rest for next week’s meeting with Pittsburgh on a short week.

Pick: USF -29 (48-17)

RECORD TO DATE: 18-6 overall, 12-8 ATS

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BIG EAST?

Pac-12 news gives league a reprieve

By Raphielle Johnson

In the immediate aftermath of the Atlantic Coast Conference expanding to 14 teams by grabbing Pittsburgh and Syracuse things looked dire for the Big East. A charter member (Syracuse) and a member who had been a part of the league for nearly 30 years were both moving on to a situation that both find to be more stable. The result was a football conference that, already suffering from perception problems nationally, was short on the number required to be a recognized FBS conference (eight teams). The seven remaining football-playing members met on Tuesday night in New York City and while the message coming out of the meeting was one of unity, is that really the case?

“The fact that all of our schools, on less than 24 hours notice, made this meeting shows they’re committed to moving forward together,” said commissioner John Marinatto. Also of note is that Marinatto will hold Pitt and Syracuse to the 27-month notice portion of the Big East bylaws on leaving the conference. According to the rules each school will also have to pay $5 million.

What also came out of that meeting was Marinatto stating that all seven schools pledged their allegiance to the Big East, committing to moving forward and aggressively seeking out new members. But that may not be completely true, as officials from the University of Connecticut said that both UConn and Rutgers did not make such a pledge. Those two schools, according to many reports over the last few days, have been on the phone with the ACC and will keep their options open. Obviously the hope would be to going the caravan to the ACC, and remaining in a reconfigured Big East seems to be a last resort for both.

That’s where the Pac-12’s decision to remain a 12-team league instead of moving to 16 (adding Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech) comes into play. With the Pac-12 presidents deciding that they would not allow commissioner Larry Scott to go ahead and invite the Sooners and Longhorns (the other two would tag along to avoid political issues in each state), the “need” to move to 16 is delayed. That also rules out a proposed merger between the remaining Big East and Big 12 schools, a union made out of necessity more than anything. With Oklahoma not moving (cynics wonder if the Pac-12 watched the Big 12 circus and decided they wanted no part of it) the meeting that was supposed to take place in Chicago was scrapped.

To figure out what happens with the Big East also means figuring out what the nine (Texas A&M joins the SEC after this school year) remaining Big 12 members can do. And there’s an awful lot of work to do, with egos bruised and many upset about the path that has led to three schools moving on. Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel voiced his displeasure with the events of the last two years in the Big 12, and the fact that a lot of concerns regarding revenue sharing (there’s also the matter of the Longhorn Network) still haven’t been addressed has Oklahoma stating the commissioner Dan Beebe needs to be replaced. Obviously the Big 12 will look to add schools at some point in the near future, but how many schools they get and the caliber of those institutions will depend on the leadership in the conference.

So where does this leave the Big East? With the statement that all remaining football schools are unified in committing to the league coming under question it’s best to simply say that schools are evaluating their options. UConn’s made no secret about what they’d like to do, but the most recent strike against a possible move to the ACC may have come on Wednesday night. ACC commissioner John Swofford stated on “The Tony Barnhart Show” that he doesn’t see 16-team super-conferences as being “inevitable”. And with recent events it’s tough to see the ACC taking a step in that direction…unless there’s a sudden change of heart at Notre Dame about placing their football in a conference (no chance of this right now). Connecticut and Rutgers may be on a possible list, but there’s no need for the ACC to make such a move right now.

West Virginia was rumored to have been turned down by both the ACC and SEC, meaning that they’re likely in the reconfigured Big East. But the prospects for both the Mountaineers and Louisville could change if the Big 12 were to come calling, but the issues noted earlier in this post need to be rectified in order for the conference to make moves. Unfortunately for Cincinnati and USF they find themselves in positions where they have to watch this all unfold, with the hope likely being that the Big East remains a viable football conference by adding new schools. The two names that have come up in the aftermath of Tuesday’s meeting are Navy and Air Force, with both joining the league as football-only members.

Navy (a football independent) plays their other sports in the Patriot League and Air Force is an all-sports member of the Mountain West. And according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com Navy could have very well become a member of the Big East by now, but the move of Pitt and Syracuse put that on hold. And East Carolina announced today that they have applied for membership as an all-sports member, so there’s another possibility to look at but it may not be a realistic one for the Pirates. But at this stage the Big East may find itself in the same position it was in back in 2003: looking to Conference USA for replacements.

Related Links

- USF athletic director Doug Woolard sent out an email to USF supporters.

- Cincinnati interim athletic director Bob Arkeilpane remains optimistic that the Big East will be able to navigate the troubled waters. The same can be said for school president Dr. Gregory Williams, who released a statement today.

- In addition to the service academies UCF and Temple have been mentioned as expansion possibilities.

- With College Gameday headed to Morgantown for Saturday’s game against LSU this should be a happy time for West Virginia. But there’s too much worry in the air to completely focus on the Tigers for administrators or fans. WVU athletic director Oliver Luck released a statement on Wednesday as well.

- Could Rutgers have avoided their current situation had they won more games? That’s the argument presented here.

- The gentlemen over at the Big East Coast Bias have done well in keeping track of all of this. Be sure to check them out.

WEEK 3 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Smith, Heyman and Bitancurt receive honors

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Smith set a school record by completing 36 passes on 49 attempts for 388 yards — all career highs — to lead West Virginia to a 37-31 win at Maryland. He registered his second 300-yard game of the season and the fourth of his career, and saw three separate receivers finish with at least 100 yards for the first time in school history.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dexter Heyman • Sr. • LB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Heyman was named the Howard Schnellenberger MVP of the annual Governor’s Cup matchup between Louisville and Kentucky after he had 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the Cardinals’ 24-17 win in Lexington. Heyman keyed a Louisville defense that limited Kentucky to just 35 rushing yards.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Bitancurt • Jr. • K • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Bitancurt scored 13 points, making field goals of 21, 34 and 35 yards and going 4-for-4 on PATs, in West Virginia’s 37-31 win at Maryland. Bitancurt leads all BIG EAST players in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game, and ranks fifth on West Virginia’s career scoring chart (186 points).

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had two sacks and forced a fumble that was returned 54 yards for a touchdown in a 59-14 win against Akron.

Andre Davis • Fr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Blocked a punt and scored a touchdown on the ensuing 11-yard return as part of a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Also had three receptions for 39 yards and another touchdown.

Darrell Scott • Jr. • RB • USF • Ventura, Calif.
Rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries and had an 84-yard touchdown reception in a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Finished with 230 all-purpose yards.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 23 of 37 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in a 38-17 loss at Southern California. Had a streak of 22 consecutive completions spanning two games.

Terence Garvin • Jr. • S • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Had nine tackles, an assisted tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 37-31 win at Maryland.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (3-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat FAMU 70-17
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday in beating Florida A&M. B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe for the most passing yards in a game in school history, Darrell Scott went off and USF scored off of a turnover for the third straight game.

This week: UTEP (7 PM, ESPN3)

2. West Virginia (3-0; 2nd)

Last week: beat Maryland 37-31
The Mountaineers were well on their way to an impressive beating of Maryland as they led 34-10 in the second half. But they allowed the Terrapins back into the game, not locking things down until Eain Smith picked off Danny O’Brien late in the fourth quarter.

This week: LSU (8 PM, ABC)

3. Pittsburgh (2-1; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Iowa 31-27
Talk about giving one away. The Panthers led at Iowa by three scores early in the fourth quarter, only to see the offense sputter and the defense run out of gas. Tino Sunseri still has a way to go with regards to how quickly he gets through his progressions, and whether or not Pitt can win the conference depends on his development.

This week: Notre Dame (Noon, ABC)

4. Cincinnati (2-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Akron 59-14
Cincinnati took advantage of a hapless opponent on Saturday, especially from a defensive standpoint. The Bearcats scored three times on defense…in the first half. In two wins UC has forced ten turnovers, but failed to force any against their one credible opponent to date (Tennessee). There’s still a lot of work to be done on both sides of the ball.

This week: NC State (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

5. Syracuse (2-1; 4th)

Last week: lost to USC 38-17
Don’t be fooled by the final score: the Orange did some good things out in Los Angeles. QB Ryan Nassib performed well in the face of a tough pass rush, not turning the ball over and pass-catchers such as Alec Lemon and Nick Provo were productive as well. But the running game struggled, and that’s the main concern that comes out of that game for Syracuse.

This week: Toledo (Noon, Big East Network)

6. Rutgers (1-1; 6th)

Last week: Bye
The Scarlet Knights had a bye week but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t busy. De’Antwan Williams has decided to transfer, meaning that Rutgers is down to three backs (all possibilities to start): Savon Huggins, Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering. Rutgers will also shake some things up on the offensive line in hopes of getting the running game going.

This week: Ohio (2 PM, ESPN3)

7. Louisville (2-1; 8th)

Last week: beat Kentucky 24-17
Starting quarterback Will Stein went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter, and that could have been a good time for the Cardinals to fold. But they didn’t thanks to Teddy Bridgewater and Dominique Brown, who led the way in the win over Kentucky. Look for Brown’s role as a runner to expand as his performance (14 carries, 91 yards) was the first time this year Louisville truly got going on the ground.

This week: Bye

8. Connecticut (1-2; 7th)

Last week: lost to Iowa State 24-20
Once again the quarterback position underwhelmed, with Johnny McEntee getting the majority of the snaps. Scott McCummings was able to move the ball some in his designated packages, but Paul Pasqualoni and his staff have to figure the position out before the season tumbles downhill. The defense has had a few breakdowns but has performed well; how much longer before they truly crack from having to carry the offense?

This week: at Buffalo (3:30 PM, ESPN3)

PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE MAKE MOVE TO ACC OFFICIAL

Charter member, Panthers leaving Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

The news became official early Sunday morning, with Pittsburgh and Syracuse being unanimously approved as new members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was essentially a formality due to the idea that schools don’t apply to join a conference without knowing that they’ll have the votes necessary for inclusion. The ACC now sits at 14 members, but while commissioner John Swofford stated during the teleconference that his job is to focus on making this new union work no one closed the door on moving to 16 members at some point.

That’s a big deal for Big East commissioner John Marinatto, who must now attempt to pick up the pieces of a league once again fractured by the rival ACC. But how can that be done when no one knows what the future may hold for them. According to the Hampton Pilot, Connecticut and Rutgers could be on the ACC’s radar if (or when) they decide to move to 16 schools. And with just seven football-playing schools the Big East is not a viable BCS conference (according to BCS rules you need eight teams in a league), which has everyone one concerned and rightfully so.

Connecticut president Susan Herbst released a statement on Sunday, and while she did say that the school remains committed to the Big East they will keep their options open. That would essentially sum up what the other football-playing schools are thinking at this time. There’s talk of a possible union between the Big East’s remainders and those of the Big 12 (should Oklahoma and friends head west to the Pac-12), but it’s pretty obvious that the “strategy” of waiting to see what happens (also, waiting to negotiate a new TV deal) is a really bad idea.

But what can the league really do in this case? Obviously an unstable entity (a keyword used by administrators of both Pitt and Syracuse during their teleconference to announce their acceptance into the ACC was “stability”), the Big East really doesn’t have a lot that it can do at this time. Media outlets in both Connecticut and New Jersey have come to the same conclusion: that neither UConn nor Rutgers can afford to not act quickly on finding the best possible situation for their athletic departments.

The next critical decisions will likely be made by Oklahoma and Texas, who both have Board of Regents meetings scheduled for tomorrow with conference affiliation being on the agenda for both. Texas was rumored to be a possibility for ACC membership, but that may have been squashed with the ACC holding their equal revenue sharing plan in high value. The Longhorn Network, which upset Texas A&M to the point of leaving to the SEC (a move being held up by litigation led by Baylor), would likely have to be reconstructed in some form for Texas to fit into either the Pac-12 or ACC.

So this all likely means that the Big East and its football members will be rooting for the same thing (the Pac-12 moves to 16, including Texas) but for possibly different reasons. On one hand that would be the conference’s best path to survival, but on the other there would be two open spots should the ACC decide to go to 16 at some point as opposed to one or zero (if Texas were to succeed in bringing Texas Tech along). The ACC struck first in a move that surprised many, confirming the fact that we know nothing when it comes to realignment. But this much is certain: John Marinatto and company had better roll up their sleeves. No longer can the Big East afford to simply sit and watch the landscape of college athletics change, hoping that they avoid the “bullets” that will fly.

Oh yeah, the Big East played football yesterday. The league won four of its six games, with the two defeats (interestingly enough) being suffered by Pittsburgh and Syracuse. And the ESPN show College Gameday will be in Morgantown next week for West Virginia’s huge contest with LSU. Possible audition for the SEC? Who knows, but it wouldn’t hurt Oliver Luck’s program if the football team and fans treated the day as such.

Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 27

Leading 24-3 at one point, Pittsburgh’s offense went flat in the fourth quarter and the defense ran out of steam in Iowa City as the Hawkeyes came back to win. Slow progressions in the passing game were once again an issue for QB Tino Sunseri, and while it may be too early to call for Trey Anderson to take over the job one can’t blame Pitt fans for thinking such today. But with the news of the day, Saturday was a day of mixed emotions for those around the school.

West Virginia 37, Maryland 31

The Mountaineers jumped out to a big lead but had to hang on to win in College Park. After giving up three straight touchdown drives to make a 34-10 lead 34-31, the WVU defense stood its ground and gained a critical turnover in the fourth quarter. Eain Smith’s interception in the final minutes deep in Mountaineer territory gave the ball back to the WVU offense, which drove down the field for the game-sealing field goal.

Cincinnati 59, Akron 14

The Bearcats got out of the gates quickly in taking care of the Zips, who can make a case for being one of the worst teams at the FBS level. After failing to force a turnover in their loss at Tennessee last week, Cincinnati forced five in the first half alone (returning three for touchdowns) in taking a 49-0 halftime lead.

Louisville 24, Kentucky 17

Senior quarterback Will Stein was knocked out of the game in the first half with a shoulder injury, opening the door for freshman Teddy Bridgewater. The Miami native got the job done for the Cardinals, who snapped their four-game losing streak in the series. Louisville’s defense shouldn’t be overlooked however, as they limited the Wildcats to 35 yards rushing on 32 carries and sacked Morgan Newton six times. The Cardinals were also able to get their running game going, rushing for 181 yards on 40 attempts and Dominique Brown supplying the spark.

USF 70, Florida A&M 17

USF took full advantage of the Rattlers in Tampa, rewriting parts of the school record book in the beating. The Bulls established new marks for total yards (745, which is now also a Big East record), and quarterback B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe’s school record with 382 passing yards. Darrell Scott scored on a 56-yard run and an 84-yard reception…in the same quarter. It was that kind of night for USF, who moves to 3-0 with UTEP visiting next week.

USC 38, Syracuse 17

While the final score may be taken by some as a picture that things got out of hand in Los Angeles, there were positives to be taken out of the game for the Orange. Most notably the play of quarterback Ryan Nassib, who is now up to seven touchdowns and one interception on the season. The problem for Syracuse was that they couldn’t slow down Matt Barkley, who threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns in leading the Trojans to the win.

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