This week's polls have been released. Here's how the Big East fared, from the top of the polls to the bottom, and what it means.
(AP/Coaches)ORV/23. West Virginia
West Virginia had Week 12 off, but things still went the Mountaineers' way over the weekend. With Cincinnati's loss to Rutgers, it ensures the opportunity for a 2-loss Big East team to earn a share of the title. The next challenge for West Virginia will be winning out and getting one Louisville loss to avoid missing a BCS bowl game based on a tiebreaker. Unfortunately none of the Big East tiebreakers involve rankings, much less in the Coaches' Poll, so this love from the voters does little for their big picture goals.Others receiving votes: Rutgers finds themselves right on the edge of the rankings once again after knocking Cincinnati from the top spot in the conference standings. Seems as though the national voters are not as thrilled with the excitement down the stretch in the Big East.
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Happy to see the Hokies getting some national attention in their current six-game tear, but their body of work makes the Top 5 seem a little high. Virginia Tech could be the next top five team to fall, as they have to travel to Charlottesville and beat Virginia to earn a bid to Charlotte to defend their ACC Championship. But while the ranking may seem a tad high, there is good reason for their newfound respect from the voters. Outside of the 14-10 win at Duke, Virginia Tech has been rolling through their conference schedule. Logan Thomas continues to improve at quarterback as the season winds down, and David Wilson has been raising eyebrows with his ACC-leading 131.1 yards per game on the ground.
With an opening in the BCS top ten thanks to the upsets, Clemson really dropped the ball (literally) in their loss to NC State. The Tigers turned the ball over four times, and slept-walk through most of the first half against the Wolfpack. With superstar freshman Sammy Watkins (shoulder) on the sideline in sweats, Tajh Boyd looked elsewhere for big plays to mount a comeback. Unfortunately he looked to the other team, throwing two red zone interceptions during the second half before being replaced by Cole Stoudt. Clemson has trailed in the first half of their last three games, losing two. The Tigers face South Carolina this weekend before taking on either Virginia or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game.
The biggest surprise of the season has to be Virginia's performance in their second under Mike London. The Cavaliers were projected to finish at 4th or worst in the ACC Coastal Division, and after the gritty 14-13 upset of Florida State they are just one win away from making their first appearance in the ACC Championship Game. It was the first time Virginia has ever won in Tallahassee, and it gives Virginia a shot at their first 9-win season since 2007.
Like so many teams in the ACC, Yellow Jackets narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of Duke on Saturday. The Blue Devils caused a stir by jumping out to an early lead, falling behind, and then rallying again; but a late Sean Renfree interception and big plays from Tevin Washington kept Georgia Tech alive in their march for 10 wins. With the ACC Coastal out of reach, double-digit wins has become to new goal for the 8-3 Yellow Jackets. Next up is the annual meeting with SEC East champion Georgia, played this year at home in Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The Seminoles find themselves back in the polls after putting away in-state rival Miami for their fifth straight win. The return of quarterback EJ Manuel to the starting lineup has made everyone on the offense better, and the defense is giving up only 11.6 points per game in the winning streak. Florida State's goals of returning to the ACC Championship Game have already become unattainable, but there is plenty left for second-year head coach Jimbo Fisher to build on with the rest of this season.
The Bearcats maintain their lead in the Big East and status as one of the conference's biggest surprises, after overcoming a 10-point third quarter deficit to defeat Pittsburgh 26-23 at Heinz Field on Saturday. Even when quarterback Zach Collaros got back to the INT-happy ways of 2010, and the Bearcats converted on only 2 of 13 third downs, Butch Jones' squad found a way to win. The defense forced two second-half turnovers that were turned into points, showing why Cincinnati ranks third nationally in turnover margin. There are still four games left on the schedule, but a win against West Virginia would put the Bearcats in a terrific position to lock up the Big East title down the stretch.