A look at the rest of the Big East football schedules and where each team may or may not stand:
CINCINNATI
Thu., Aug. 28 Eastern Kentucky
Sat., Sept. 6 at Oklahoma
Sat., Sept. 20 Miami (Ohio)
Sat., Sept. 27 at Akron
Fri., Oct. 3 at Marshall (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 11 RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 25 at CONNECTICUT
Thu., Oct. 30 USF (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 8 at WEST VIRGINIA
Fri., Nov. 14 at LOUISVILLE (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 22 PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 29 SYRACUSE
Sat., Dec. 6 at Hawaii
At Oklahoma September 6th? Yikers. With the loss of Ben Mauk and the bad omen of a horrible recruiting class, Cincy's best move may have been scheduling Hawaii as the last game of the season. It may very well end up being their de facto bowl game.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 6-7
CONNECTICUT
Thu., Aug. 28 Hofstra
Sat., Sept. 6 at Temple
Sat., Sept. 13 Virginia
Fri., Sept. 19 Baylor (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 27 at LOUISVILLE
Sat., Oct. 4 at North Carolina
Sat., Oct. 18 at RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 25 CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 1 WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 15 at SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 22 at USF
Sat., Dec. 6 PITTSBURGH (ESPN/ESPN2)
After starting off the season with another juggernaut schedule of Hofstra and Temple (try to beat them fairly this time guys...), the Huskies line up three non-conference games (Virginia, Baylor and North Carolina) that look better on paper than they will actually be since only one of those teams is remotely good. In other words, look for the Huskies to jump out to another deceivingly good record early only to be embarrassed when they take on WVU/USF/Pitt late in the season.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 4-8
LOUISVILLE
Sat., Aug. 30 Kentucky
Sat., Sept. 6 Tennessee Tech
Wed., Sept. 17 Kansas State (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 27 CONNECTICUT
Fri., Oct. 10 at Memphis (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 Middle Tennessee State
Sat., Oct. 25 USF
Sat., Nov. 1 at SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 8 at PITTSBURGH
Fri., Nov. 14 CINCINNATI (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 22 WEST VIRGINIA
Thu., Dec. 4 at RUTGERS (ESPN)
We'll know exactly where the Cardinals stand after they open the season against Kentucky in a (presumably) national game. Otherwise it's a fairly soft early schedule. If Louisville is able to regain their old swagger, they could be 5-1 to start the season.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 7-5
PITTSBURGH
Sat., Aug. 30 Bowling Green
Sat., Sept. 6 Buffalo
Sat., Sept. 20 Iowa
Sat., Sept. 27 at SYRACUSE
Thu., Oct. 2 at USF (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 at Navy
Sat., Oct. 25 RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 1 at Notre Dame
Sat., Nov. 8 LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 22 at CINCINNATI
Fri., Nov. 28 WEST VIRGINIA (ABC)
Sat., Dec. 6 at CONNECTICUT (ESPN/ESPN2)
The Panthers seem to be the trendy pick this year. Schedule-wise, they certainly have some advantages. They won't be tested until Iowa and they get Rutgers and West Virginia at home. Assuming their talent is up to their hype, they've got a good shot at making some noise this year.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 9-3
RUTGERS
Sat., Aug. 30 Howard
Thu., Sept. 11 North Carolina (ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 20 at Navy
Sat., Sept. 27 TBA
Sat., Oct. 4 at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 11 at CINCINNATI
Sat., Oct. 18 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Oct. 25 at PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 8 SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 15 at USF
Sat., Nov. 22 Army
Thu., Dec. 4 LOUISVILLE (ESPN)
Howard? Is that the school or just some guy? Would it make a difference? Another suspect non-conference schedule for the Scarlet Knights will give them a boost. They get West Virginia, Cincy and UConn early as well so they won't skate by for too long. Oh and TBA is a helluva team, I'd look out for them.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 7-5
SYRACUSE
Sat., Aug. 30 at Northwestern
Sat., Sept. 6 Akron
Sat., Sept. 13 Penn State
Sat., Sept. 20 Northeastern
Sat., Sept. 27 PITTSBURGH
Sat., Oct. 11 at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 18 at USF
Sat., Nov. 1 LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 8 at RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 15 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Nov. 22 at Notre Dame
Sat., Nov. 29 at Cincinnati
Note, the only Big East school not playing any games on an ABC/ESPN Network. Awesome.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 5-7
USF
Sat., Aug. 30 Tennessee-Martin
Fri., Sept. 5 at Central Florida (7 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 13 Kansas
Sat., Sept. 20 at Florida International
Sat., Sept. 27 at North Carolina State
Thu., Oct. 2 PITTSBURGH (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 SYRACUSE
Sat., Oct. 25 at LOUISVILLE
Thu., Oct. 30 at CINCINNATI (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 15 RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 22 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Dec. 6 at WEST VIRGINIA (ESPN/ESPN2)
Man, I bet that Kansas game looked more appealing a year ago. Still, that's a great national match-up for the Bulls who are looking to capitalize on their early success from last season (while trying to make everyone forget how they faded down the stretch). Their match-up with West Virginia on December 6th could very well be a conference=champion decider.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 9-3
WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Aug. 30 Villanova
Sat., Sept. 6 at East Carolina
Thu., Sept. 18 at Colorado (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 27 Marshall
Sat., Oct. 4 RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 11 SYRACUSE
Thu., Oct. 23 Auburn (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 1 at CONNECTICUT
Sat., Nov. 8 CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 22 at LOUISVILLE
Fri., Nov. 28 at PITTSBURGH (ABC)
Sat., Dec. 6 USF (ESPN/ESPN2)
If the Mountaineers are going to take a step back this season, it probably won't be until the middle of the year. The early non-conference schedule is soft as usual barring a much-improved Colorado team shows up. The October 23rd match-up with Auburn will be a must win for the team and for the conference. No reason to think even if they don't compete for the national title that they won't compete for the Big East title.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 10-2
CINCINNATI
Thu., Aug. 28 Eastern Kentucky
Sat., Sept. 6 at Oklahoma
Sat., Sept. 20 Miami (Ohio)
Sat., Sept. 27 at Akron
Fri., Oct. 3 at Marshall (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 11 RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 25 at CONNECTICUT
Thu., Oct. 30 USF (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 8 at WEST VIRGINIA
Fri., Nov. 14 at LOUISVILLE (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 22 PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 29 SYRACUSE
Sat., Dec. 6 at Hawaii
At Oklahoma September 6th? Yikers. With the loss of Ben Mauk and the bad omen of a horrible recruiting class, Cincy's best move may have been scheduling Hawaii as the last game of the season. It may very well end up being their de facto bowl game.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 6-7
CONNECTICUT
Thu., Aug. 28 Hofstra
Sat., Sept. 6 at Temple
Sat., Sept. 13 Virginia
Fri., Sept. 19 Baylor (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 27 at LOUISVILLE
Sat., Oct. 4 at North Carolina
Sat., Oct. 18 at RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 25 CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 1 WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Nov. 15 at SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 22 at USF
Sat., Dec. 6 PITTSBURGH (ESPN/ESPN2)
After starting off the season with another juggernaut schedule of Hofstra and Temple (try to beat them fairly this time guys...), the Huskies line up three non-conference games (Virginia, Baylor and North Carolina) that look better on paper than they will actually be since only one of those teams is remotely good. In other words, look for the Huskies to jump out to another deceivingly good record early only to be embarrassed when they take on WVU/USF/Pitt late in the season.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 4-8
LOUISVILLE
Sat., Aug. 30 Kentucky
Sat., Sept. 6 Tennessee Tech
Wed., Sept. 17 Kansas State (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 27 CONNECTICUT
Fri., Oct. 10 at Memphis (8 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 Middle Tennessee State
Sat., Oct. 25 USF
Sat., Nov. 1 at SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 8 at PITTSBURGH
Fri., Nov. 14 CINCINNATI (8 p.m., ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 22 WEST VIRGINIA
Thu., Dec. 4 at RUTGERS (ESPN)
We'll know exactly where the Cardinals stand after they open the season against Kentucky in a (presumably) national game. Otherwise it's a fairly soft early schedule. If Louisville is able to regain their old swagger, they could be 5-1 to start the season.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 7-5
PITTSBURGH
Sat., Aug. 30 Bowling Green
Sat., Sept. 6 Buffalo
Sat., Sept. 20 Iowa
Sat., Sept. 27 at SYRACUSE
Thu., Oct. 2 at USF (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 at Navy
Sat., Oct. 25 RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 1 at Notre Dame
Sat., Nov. 8 LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 22 at CINCINNATI
Fri., Nov. 28 WEST VIRGINIA (ABC)
Sat., Dec. 6 at CONNECTICUT (ESPN/ESPN2)
The Panthers seem to be the trendy pick this year. Schedule-wise, they certainly have some advantages. They won't be tested until Iowa and they get Rutgers and West Virginia at home. Assuming their talent is up to their hype, they've got a good shot at making some noise this year.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 9-3
RUTGERS
Sat., Aug. 30 Howard
Thu., Sept. 11 North Carolina (ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 20 at Navy
Sat., Sept. 27 TBA
Sat., Oct. 4 at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 11 at CINCINNATI
Sat., Oct. 18 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Oct. 25 at PITTSBURGH
Sat., Nov. 8 SYRACUSE
Sat., Nov. 15 at USF
Sat., Nov. 22 Army
Thu., Dec. 4 LOUISVILLE (ESPN)
Howard? Is that the school or just some guy? Would it make a difference? Another suspect non-conference schedule for the Scarlet Knights will give them a boost. They get West Virginia, Cincy and UConn early as well so they won't skate by for too long. Oh and TBA is a helluva team, I'd look out for them.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 7-5
SYRACUSE
Sat., Aug. 30 at Northwestern
Sat., Sept. 6 Akron
Sat., Sept. 13 Penn State
Sat., Sept. 20 Northeastern
Sat., Sept. 27 PITTSBURGH
Sat., Oct. 11 at WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Oct. 18 at USF
Sat., Nov. 1 LOUISVILLE
Sat., Nov. 8 at RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 15 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Nov. 22 at Notre Dame
Sat., Nov. 29 at Cincinnati
Note, the only Big East school not playing any games on an ABC/ESPN Network. Awesome.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 5-7
USF
Sat., Aug. 30 Tennessee-Martin
Fri., Sept. 5 at Central Florida (7 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 13 Kansas
Sat., Sept. 20 at Florida International
Sat., Sept. 27 at North Carolina State
Thu., Oct. 2 PITTSBURGH (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18 SYRACUSE
Sat., Oct. 25 at LOUISVILLE
Thu., Oct. 30 at CINCINNATI (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 15 RUTGERS
Sat., Nov. 22 CONNECTICUT
Sat., Dec. 6 at WEST VIRGINIA (ESPN/ESPN2)
Man, I bet that Kansas game looked more appealing a year ago. Still, that's a great national match-up for the Bulls who are looking to capitalize on their early success from last season (while trying to make everyone forget how they faded down the stretch). Their match-up with West Virginia on December 6th could very well be a conference=champion decider.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 9-3
WEST VIRGINIA
Sat., Aug. 30 Villanova
Sat., Sept. 6 at East Carolina
Thu., Sept. 18 at Colorado (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Sat., Sept. 27 Marshall
Sat., Oct. 4 RUTGERS
Sat., Oct. 11 SYRACUSE
Thu., Oct. 23 Auburn (ESPN)
Sat., Nov. 1 at CONNECTICUT
Sat., Nov. 8 CINCINNATI
Sat., Nov. 22 at LOUISVILLE
Fri., Nov. 28 at PITTSBURGH (ABC)
Sat., Dec. 6 USF (ESPN/ESPN2)
If the Mountaineers are going to take a step back this season, it probably won't be until the middle of the year. The early non-conference schedule is soft as usual barring a much-improved Colorado team shows up. The October 23rd match-up with Auburn will be a must win for the team and for the conference. No reason to think even if they don't compete for the national title that they won't compete for the Big East title.
Ridiculously-early record prediction based on very little fact: 10-2