South Florida continues to fall as Rutgers continues to rise. Cincinnati holds strong, while Louisville finds the bottom of the Big East basement. Here’s how it all breaks down:
No. 1 West Virginia
(Last week: 1)
Record: 5-1 (1-0 Big East)
Previous Game: BYE
Next Game: 10/21 @SYRACUSE
The Mountaineers had the week off to prep for a Friday night showdown with the Orange. The Bearcats are ready to pounce on the No. 1 spot should West Virginia trip up at the Dome.
No. 2 Cincinnati
(Last week: 2)
Record: 5-1 (1-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Cincinnati 25, Louisville 16
Next Game: 10/22 @SOUTH FLORIDA
Cincinnati got it going in the second half against struggling Louisville. Up next, a South Florida team that has dropped two straight conference games.
No. 3 Rutgers
(Last week: 4)
Record: 5-1 (2-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Rutgers 21, Navy 20
Next Game: 10/21 @LOUISVILLE
The Scarlet Knights sneaked by Navy. They should make it 3-0 in Big East play with a trip to Louisville on Friday night.
No. 4 USF
(Last week: 4)
Record: 4-2 (0-2 Big East)
Previous Game: LOSS – USF 10, UCONN 16
Next Game: 10/22 VS. CINCINNATI
The Bulls had two weeks to prepare for the Huskies and their offense came out flat. South Florida has dropped two straight conference games and it won’t get any easier with QB Zach Collaros and Cincinnati coming to town this weekend.
No. 5 Syracuse
(Last week: 6)
Record: 4-2 (0-1 Big East)
Previous Game: BYE
Next Game: 10/21 VS. NO. 13 WEST VIRGINIA
Some times a week off has its benefits. The Orange move up a spot thanks to the Panthers fourth loss in five games. We’ll see how much benefit the bye week really had when Syracuse hosts No. 13 West Virginia on Friday night.
No. 6 Pittsburgh
(Last week: 5)
Record: 3-4 (1-1 Big East)
Previous Game: LOSS – PITT 14, Utah 26
Next Game: 10/26 VS. UCONN
The Panthers have lost four of their last five games. That win over then-ranked and undefeated South Florida seems so long ago and the Panthers look less impressive with each passing week. Pittsburgh better use the bye week to regroup.
No. 7 Connecticut
(Last week: 8 )
Record: 3-4 (1-1 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – UCONN 16, South Florida 10
Next Game: 10/26 @PITTSBURGH
The Huskies have moved out of the Big East basement with a win over South Florida. Is Connecticut finally putting things together or is the Big East just one big mess?
No. 8 Louisville
(Last week: 7)
Record: 2-4 (0-1 Big East)
Previous Game: LOSS – Louisville 16, Cincinnati 25
Next Game: 10/21 VS. RUTGERS
The Cardinals dropped their third straight game and find themselves at the bottom of the barrel. Their reward? A Friday night showdown against a Rutgers club who is undefeated in Big East play.