[shortsleeve47]

When the inevitable Big East bashing begins later this season, league supporters should point to this past weekend.

South Florida's overtime win at Auburn was probably the biggest Big East non-conference win since the league reconfigured. Even though Auburn doesn't look like the strongest team in the world, a road victory deep in the heart of SEC country is a pretty strong statement.

The Bulls just missed cracking the AP top 25, checking in at No. 26. If they get in next week, it could be the first time four Big East teams have been ranked under the league's current makeup and the first time since 2002.

And don't forget Thursday's 34-3 win by Cincinnati over Oregon State. The same Oregon State team that beat Southern Cal last season. Hmmm ... I seem to remember somebody touting UC this summer as a sleeper team. Now, who could that have been?

The Bearcats have a plus-9 turnover ratio, including eight interceptions. They were minus-6 a year ago.


All told, the Big East is 14-2 this young season. Both losses have been hung on Syracuse, which was immobile offensively again Saturday, losing 35-0 at Iowa. The Orange had 1 yard of offense and no first downs at halftime. You read that right. It was the 18th time in 25 games under Greg Robinson that Syracuse has scored fewer than 18 points. The 'Cuse was just awful, writes Bud Poliquin.

Pittsburgh started a redshirt freshman at quarterback and got three TDs from a true freshman running back. But that was against Grambling State. Next up is the real test: at Michigan State.

West Virginia's offense just got scarier with the emergence of freshman Noel Devine.

[Lefty Noob]

Jesse Palmer on ESPN College Football Live yesterday ranked the Big East as the best conference in the NCAA right now. Not sure I'd go that far, but he justified ranking them over the SEC and Pac-10 because of those head-to-head victories by Cincy and USF. Sounds good to me. The emergence of those two clubs makes the Big East at least five, probably six deep with Pitt. It's going to be a good year for the conference.

[EmpireWF]

We have to do something with Syracuse, lol.

Big East did an amazing job in the Bowls last year and they started 2007 where they left off.