Week 1 of Big East football is in the record books. For the most part, everything in the Power Rankings looks the same heading into week 2. The exception is USF rising to No. 2 following its upset of No. 16 Notre Dame, 23-20. Skip Holtz’s return to Notre Dame—where his father Lou Holtz won the 1988 National Championship—proved to be a memorable one, as the Bulls survived two stoppages in play because of the weather and a furious rally by the Fighting Irish.
No. 1 West Virginia
(Last week: 1)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – West Virginia 34, Marshall 13
Next Game: 9/10/2011, Norfolk St., Morgantown, W.Va., 1:00 PM
Dana Holgorsen won his first game in West Virginia despite two weather delays.
No. 2 USF
(Last week: 3)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – USF 23, Notre Dame 20
Next Game: 9/10/2011, Ball St., Tampa, Fla., 7:00 PM
The Bulls’ defense forced five turnovers, including three inside the 5-yard line in their upset.
No. 3 Pittsburgh
(Last week: 2)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Pitt 35, Buffalo 16
Next Game: 9/10/2011, Maine, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1:00 PM
Todd Graham’s spread offense produced just 179 yards through the passing game.
No. 4 Syracuse
(Last week: 4)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – SU 36, Wake Forest 29
Next Game: 09/10/2011, Rhode Island, Syracuse, N.Y. , 4:30 PM
Orange faithful can only hope the real Syracuse team was the team that played in the fourth quarter.
No. 5 Cincinnati
(Last week: 5)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Cincinnati 72, Austin Peay 10
Next Game: 9/10/2011, Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., 3:30 PM
The Volunteers will be a good barometer for the Bearcat defense.
No. 6 Connecticut
(Last week: 6)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Conn 35, Fordham 3
Next Game: 9/10/2011, Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn., 7:30 PM
Plenty of questions remain as Connecticut used all three of their quarterbacks in its win.
No. 7 Louisville
(Last week: 7)
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Louisville 21, Murray State 9
Next Game: 9/09/2011, Florida International, Louisville, Ky., 7:00 PM
The Cardinals’ inexperience was on display, as Louisville had three fumbles in a sloppy win.
No. 8 Rutgers
(Last week: 8 )
Record: 1-0 (0-0 Big East)
Previous Game: WIN – Rutgers 48, North Carolina Central 0
Next Game: 9/10/2011, North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., 12:30 PM
Highly touted freshman Savon Huggins ran for two touchdowns in the win.
