College Football: The Rise of the Big East

When Boston College, Virgina Tech, and Miami left the Big East conference for the ACC, most experts believed that the Big East was finished as BCS-worthy conference. Making matters worse, Pittsburgh's loss to Utah in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl seemed to be the nail in the coffin for Big East respect across the country. There was even serious talk of the Mountain West and Big East having to share its BCS bid.

2006 saw those critics seeing red, or should be say Scarlet.

The calendar year started great for the Big East due to West Virgina 's upset win in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia (from the mighty SEC). Still, critics continued to rip the Big East as a two-team conference--Louisville and West Virgina. The team won their annual battle was guaranteed the the BCS bid. November 9th, 2006 changed that mindset. A week after Louisville defeated West Virgina in a nationally televised Thursday night battle, the Big East again hosted a battle of unbeatens.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights, only a couple of years removed from being the laughing stock of college football, had shocked the college football world by starting 8-0. Rutgers had used its potent running game, led by Ray Rice and Brian Leonard, and its aggressive defense to generate excitement on the Banks of the Raritan. Never before had a ranked Rutgers hosted another ranked opponent But surely their Cinderella ride would end when they faced off against the #3 team in America. Trailing by 18, it looked like the experts were indeed correct, but the Scarlet Knights and their 44,111 fans would not surrender. Led by their tenacious defense, Rutgers rallied to tie the game at 25 with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter with a Jeremy Ito 46 yard field goal. After yet another defensive stop, the Scarlet Knights took possession with 5:28 left in the game, ready to make history. Driving across the field with the use a Leonard catch and a couple of Rice runs, Rutgers was ready for another Ito field goal to decide the game. On his second chance (due to an offsides penalty), Ito's attempt was successful. The Big East was no longer a two team conference. Going a nation's best 5-0 in their bowl games, the Big East made another strong case for legitimacy.

Fast forward to early 2007 and the Big East is again flexing its muscles. The entire conference stands at 2-0 except for Syracuse. These wins have included upsets by Cincinnati and South Florida. The Bearcats helped the Big East's cause by comfortably beating Oregon State 34-3. Furthering the cause, South Florida defeated Auburn 26-23 at the home of the SEC power. Somewhere Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese must be smiling--The Big East has arrived.