1. Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0 Big East): The Bearcats have had to sweat out their last two games at home, but they were also playing teams desperate for a win for bowl eligibility (UConn) and to stay alive in the conference title mix (West Virginia). Cincinnati can use this bye week to heal up some players and take a break from the mental pressure of trying to stay unbeaten
2. Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0): This is nearly a 1 and 1A situation between the Panthers and Bearcats. And each week, it becomes more and more baffling how Pitt could have lost at NC State.
3. Rutgers (7-2, 2-2): Welcome back to the upper echelon of the power rankings, Scarlet Knights. Of course, I had them at the top before the 47-15 opening thrashing by Cincinnati. Since then, Rutgers' only loss was by a touchdown to Pitt, and it finally got a signature win with a 31-0 blowout of South Florida. The Scarlet Knights are also ranked in the Associated Press poll this week for the first time since Oct. 21, 2007.
4. West Virginia (7-3, 3-2): You get the feeling that this team can beat anybody when it's clicking on all cylinders. Yet, the Mountaineers' best win is over a 4-5 UConn team. They have one of the weakest résumés, so far, in recent West Virginia history.
5. Connecticut (4-5, 1-4): Forget the record. The Huskies have been far more competitive against Cincinnati (lost by two), Pitt (lost by three) and Rutgers (lost by four) than the No. 6 team on this list.
6. South Florida (6-3, 2-3): The Bulls have lost to Cincinnati by 17, Pitt by 27 and Rutgers by 31. Just when you think this program is getting closer to contending for a Big East title, it goes out and proves that it's actually getting farther away.
7. Louisville (4-6, 1-4): The Cardinals won the Big East Basement Bowl over Syracuse thanks to a missed Orange extra point, a touchdown with 1:24 left and an interception in the final minute. The fight for seventh has never been fiercer.
8. Syracuse (3-7, 0-5): Go ahead and get comfortable here, Orange. You could be living in the basement for a while.
2. Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0): This is nearly a 1 and 1A situation between the Panthers and Bearcats. And each week, it becomes more and more baffling how Pitt could have lost at NC State.
3. Rutgers (7-2, 2-2): Welcome back to the upper echelon of the power rankings, Scarlet Knights. Of course, I had them at the top before the 47-15 opening thrashing by Cincinnati. Since then, Rutgers' only loss was by a touchdown to Pitt, and it finally got a signature win with a 31-0 blowout of South Florida. The Scarlet Knights are also ranked in the Associated Press poll this week for the first time since Oct. 21, 2007.
4. West Virginia (7-3, 3-2): You get the feeling that this team can beat anybody when it's clicking on all cylinders. Yet, the Mountaineers' best win is over a 4-5 UConn team. They have one of the weakest résumés, so far, in recent West Virginia history.
5. Connecticut (4-5, 1-4): Forget the record. The Huskies have been far more competitive against Cincinnati (lost by two), Pitt (lost by three) and Rutgers (lost by four) than the No. 6 team on this list.
6. South Florida (6-3, 2-3): The Bulls have lost to Cincinnati by 17, Pitt by 27 and Rutgers by 31. Just when you think this program is getting closer to contending for a Big East title, it goes out and proves that it's actually getting farther away.
7. Louisville (4-6, 1-4): The Cardinals won the Big East Basement Bowl over Syracuse thanks to a missed Orange extra point, a touchdown with 1:24 left and an interception in the final minute. The fight for seventh has never been fiercer.
8. Syracuse (3-7, 0-5): Go ahead and get comfortable here, Orange. You could be living in the basement for a while.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
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