BIG EAST Doubleheader On ESPN2 Saturday
Two games that pit BIG EAST teams against top-25 opponents are lined up for prime-time viewing Saturday on ESPN2. For starters, Cincinnati faces No. 8 Oklahoma at 6 p.m. ET at Paul Brown Stadium – the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bearcats have had some time to regroup after playing their first three games in a 12-day span and face a Sooner squad that is 3-0. The nightcap has No. 22 West Virginia heading to Baton Rouge, La., for a 9 p.m. kickoff against No. 15 LSU. Both teams take 3-0 records into that game.
Young Quarterbacks Key BIG EAST Offenses
With every BIG EAST team returning its leading rusher from last year, it would have been easy to overlook the conference’s collection of quarterbacks – particularly when none of the Opening Day signal-callers had as much as a full season’s worth of starting experience. But a pair of sophomores who had not started a game prior to this season rank first and second in the BIG EAST in passing. West Virginia’s Geno Smith threw four touchdown passes in the Mountaineers’ win against Maryland last week, while Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib set a school record with five TD passes in a win against Maine.
BIG EAST Makes (Radio) Waves This Week
While BIG EAST teams shouldn’t be hard to find on television this weekend, the conference also has a strong national radio presence. Tonight’s game between Pittsburgh and Miami (Fla.) will be broadcast nationally on the BIG EAST/ISP Radio Network with John Rooke and Peter Brock on the call. Saturday’s Cincinnati/Oklahoma game, meanwhile, can be heard nationally on the Westwood One Radio Network. John Tautges and Terry Donahue call the action.
Connecticut Hosts First BIG EAST Network Game of the Week
Saturday’s schedule begins at noon as Connecticut hosts Buffalo in the first BIG EAST Network Game of the Week of the 2010 season. The Game of the Week package remains one of the largest regional college football networks in the nation, with a reach into more than 43 million homes in at least 25 states. Connecticut is led by running back Jordan Todman, who ranks fourth nationally in rushing at 149.3 yards per game.
