Big East Power Rankings – Week 1

We’re just a day away from the start of the Big East College Football season. So before the season starts, let’s look at the Big East Power Rankings. West Virginia starts off the first week in the top slot, as the Mountaineers hope quarterback Geno Smith can build upon the 2,763 yards and 24 touchdowns he threw in 2010.

wvaNo. 1 West Virginia
(Last week: 1)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/04/2011, Marshall, Morgantown, W.Va., 3:30 PM

Can first-year head coach Dana Holgorsen live up to the pre-season hype?

pittNo. 2 Pittsburgh
(Last week: 2)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/03/2011, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Pa., 6:00 PM

Can Todd Graham replicate the success he had at Tulsa with three 10-win seasons in four years?

usfNo. 3 USF
(Last week: 3)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/03/2011, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., 3:30 PM

Head coach Skip Holtz and the Bulls face a tough first week matchup against the Irish.

cuseNo. 4 Syracuse
(Last week: 4)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/01/2011, Wake Forest, Syracuse, N.Y., 8:00 PM

The Orange won’t surprise anyone in the Big East this year.

cinnNo. 5 Cincinnati
(Last week: 5)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/03/2011, Austin Peay, Cincinnati, Ohio, 7:00 PM

Bearcats return quarterback Zach Collaros, who threw for 2,902 yards and 26 touchdowns last year.

connNo. 6 Connecticut
(Last week: 6)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/01/2011, Fordham, East Hartford, Conn, 7:30 PM

How will coach Paul Pasqualoni fare in his return to the Big East?

louisvilleNo. 7 Louisville
(Last week: 7)
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/01/2011, Murray State, Louisville, Ky., 6:00 PM

The Cardinals have the honor of kicking off the Big East football season.

rutgersNo. 8 Rutgers
(Last week: 8 )
Record: 0-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: N/A
Next Game: 9/01/2011, North Carolina Central, Piscataway, N.J., 7:30 PM

Greg Schiano starts the season on the hot seat.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.