Guest Post: 2012 Big East College Football Preview

With West Virginia leaving this year and Boise State joining next year, the Big East is in a state of transition. While depleted, the reports of the league's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Cincinnati

Will the Bearcats be able to regain the consistent quarterback play they lost with the injury of Zach Collaros? Their star is gone, but replacement QB Munchie Legaux showed flashes of potential as he guided the Bearcats to two victories in their final 3 regular season games. With perennial Big East title contender West Virginia off to the Big 12, Cincy has the chance to become the conference's top program if they can move forward from the loss of Collaros.

Connecticut

Will UConn be able to overcome inconsistent quarterback play to become bowl eligible? Given last year's mediocre 5-7 ledger, the likelihood of the Huskies winning the Big East is unlikely. John McEntee--last year's starting QB--was spotty, and there are 4 other players who might win the starting spot from him. If the defense can make up for some of the offense's mistakes, the Huskies might find their way back to bowl eligibility and more.

Louisville

Will third year coach Charlie Strong be able to get his team back to prominence? Previous head coach Steve Kragthorpe ran the program into the ground, but last year's shared Big East title has the Cards dreaming big again. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is no longer a freshman, and 16 other starters from last year's team return on both sides of the ball. With a little growth at the QB position, the Cardinals should challenge Cincy for the top spot in the Mountaineerless Big East.

Pittsburgh

Will first year head coach Paul Chryst be able to bring some much-needed stability to the Panthers? Chryst is Pitt's third head coach in 4 years, so this year's seniors--including quarterback Tino Sunseri--will once again be learning different playbooks. While Chryst's offense worked well at Wisconsin, whether or not it will work well at Pitt remains to be seen. Perhaps this will be the year that the Panthers put the dark period that began with Dave Wannstedt's firing behind them.

Rutgers

Will new head coach Kyle Flood be able to transition to the position from that of offensive line coach? Pitt is not the only Big East team with new head coach questions; Flood was tapped to succeed previous successful head coach Greg Schiano after Schiano left Rutgers for the head coaching position at Tampa Bay. Quarterback is another uncertain position, making the Scarlet Knights one of those teams that is hard to judge in the preseason.

South Florida

Will the Bulls' quarterback find redemption in his senior season? B.J. Daniels can be a great playmaker when he is executing well, but his decision-making skills were often poor last season at the worst of times. Head coach Skip Holtz is going into his third season with the Bulls, and a failure to make a bowl this year will not sit well with fans.

Syracuse

Will the Syracuse Orange be able to regain the focus they had at the beginning of last season while dumping the ineptitude that they often showed during the second half of the season? After destroying perennial Big East power West Virginia by 26 points, Cuse inexplicably imploded and lost all five of its remaining games. Many of their veteran players are returning, but whether those veterans will be the guys that tore the Mountaineers to pieces or the guys who could not beat UConn remains to be seen.

Temple

Will the Owls be able to reach bowl eligibility in its first year of reintroduction to the Big East? The Owls left the league in 2004 but have returned as part of the Big East's bid for survival. Most people do not expect the Owls to fare well this season; at least Boise State does not join the Big East until next year.
By Don Phan - Just another sports enthusiast.