Louisville, Rutgers Perfect Through Four
There are 17 teams nationally that have gone unbeaten through four games this season and two can be found in the BIG EAST. Louisville – the overwhelming favorite in the league’s preseason media poll – improved to 4-0 after a 28-21 win at Florida International last Saturday. Rutgers, which was picked third in the preseason poll, is the only team in the nation with three road wins this season as the Scarlet Knights stand at 4-0 after a 35-26 win at Arkansas. The No. 19/17 Cardinals play the second of three consecutive road games Saturday at Southern Mississippi (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network), while Rutgers, ranked No. 23 and 25 in the national polls, plays four of its next five at home, beginning with an Oct. 6 matchup against Connecticut.
BIG EAST Is Strong Behind Center
The BIG EAST has become known in recent years for its pipeline of defensive linemen who have become NFL stalwarts. This year, the league appears to be the home of some of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Six of the eight starting signal-callers in the conference are ranked among the top 50 nationally in pass efficiency, while five are among the national leaders in passing yards. Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib ranks second nationally with 1,367 yards, while Pittsburgh’s Tino Sunseri is ninth (1,144) and USF’s B.J. Daniels is 10th (1,142). Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater has been mentioned in some early Heisman Trophy conversations, while Cincinnati’s Munchie Legaux is the only BIG EAST player to pass for 200 yards and rush for 100 in a game this season.
BIG EAST Staffs Coach to Cure MD This Week
BIG EAST coaching staffs will be wearing Coach to Cure MD patches this week to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Distrophy research. Fans may donate online at www.CoachToCureMD.org or may donate five dollars by texting CURE to 90999.
Two BIG EAST-ACC Matchups Highlight Saturday’s Slate
BIG EAST teams will face two of the ACC’s perennially stronger programs Saturday as Cincinnati takes on Virginia Tech in Landover, Md. (3:30 p.m., ESPNU), while USF hosts No. 4/4 Florida State (6 p.m., ESPN). Cincinnati at Virginia Tech last met in the 2009 Orange Bowl, with the Hokies taking a 20-7 win, while USF and Florida State meet for the first time since the Bulls’ 17-7 victory in Tallahassee, Fla., in 2009.
