SPOTLIGHT ON . . .THE BIG EAST

Surely you remember the conference that Miami and Virginia Tech left not all that long ago? In the preseason, not one of its teams was ranked. That has changed.

Cincinnati (5-0), which lost to Virginia Tech in January's Orange Bowl, has risen all the way to eighth. Before this, it had never been higher than 12th. South Florida (5-0), meanwhile, checks in at No. 23.

And Pitt (5-1) leads those also receiving votes.

Tonight, Cincy visits South Florida. Maybe it's not Texas-Oklahoma. Still, it obviously will impact who gets one of those automatic BCS bowl bids.

And if, say, Cincy somehow finishes undefeated? You never can tell.

The Bearcats had one 10-win season before coach Brian Kelly arrived from Central Michigan 3 years ago. That was in 1951. Now they have three. He won Division II titles at Grand Valley State in 2002 and '03.

Senior Tony Pike, who's 6-6, was once the fifth-string quarterback. He has a touchdown pass in 15 consecutive games in the no-huddle attack, which is averaging 42 points (fourth nationally). He leads the Big East in total offense, at a little more than 300 yards a week. Did we mention that the defense had to replace 10 starters?

Cincy's biggest win was at Oregon State. Ask Southern California how tough that can be.

South Florida won at Florida State, which, of course, has since been devalued. Otherwise, it's been mostly Woffords and Charleston Southerns. The Bulls are using a freshman quarterback, B.J. Daniels, who has thrown for more than 200 yards in two starts since replacing the injured Matt Grothe. It doesn't hurt that the defense is allowing 9.4 points per (ninth in the land).

Cincy, by the way, will play at Ohio State in 2012 and '14. They last met in 2006. *

- Mike Kern