I like what the Big East has been doing since they were “robbed” of all their football powers by the ACC.  To me, this is a very exciting conference.  There are some good offenses and good defenses.  As far as I can tell, I don’t see a clear-cut dominant team in the conference.  I love that fact.  The level of competition is very respectable across the board. 

This is the fifth installment of my grades for out-of-conference (OOC) schedules.  Links to the other four are here:  ACC, Big XII, Big 10(+1), PAC-10, SEC.  There are eight teams in the Big East and they all play each other every year.  That leaves five open dates for OOC games.  Right off the bat, I am going to cut them a little slack because they have to schedule an extra game.  The criteria I am basing my grades upon are as follows:  FCS teams (Div=1AA), BCS conference teams, current successes of scheduled teams, and the recent success of the Big East team.

West Virginia – Villanova, East Carolina, Colorado, Marshall, Auburn.  This is a very good schedule.  With the exception of Villanova, all of these teams are pretty good.  Going to Colorado is never taken lightly.  The ball bounces really funny in Boulder.  You are taking your fate in your own hands when you go out there.  The Auburn game is late in the season and will be a marquee match-up.  I don’t think there are but a handful of teams that would be so bold as to have both these teams on the OOC schedule.  The ECU game is on the road.  What I have noticed about ECU is that when they have a national audience, they give as good a fight as anyone.  The Marshall game is a bit of a rivalry game and those are always scary.  Grade: A+ (I’m going to ignore the Villanova game)

Connecticut – Hofstra, Temple, Virginia, Baylor, North Carolina.  I really like this schedule for UCONN.  Sure Hofstra is a stinker, but the rest is very respectable.  They have a tune-up game with Temple.  In years past, this may have been a hard fought game, but unless Temple has vastly improved from last year, this is a tune-up for UCONN.  The rest are all BCS conference teams.  The Virginia game will be tough for UCONN, but they have a probable win with Baylor.  By far, going to North Carolina will be the toughest OOC test for the Huskies.  They have the chance to play the spoiler to a Tar Heel team that many think will have a break-out year.  For UCONN, this is a very respectable schedule.  Grade: A (I’m going to ignore the Hofstra game)

Cincinnati – Eastern Kentucky, Oklahoma, Miami (OH), Akron, Marshall.  Cincy has the honor of scheduling a BCS giant in Oklahoma.  There is no team in the land that would schedule Oklahoma in Norman and think that they have a better than 50% chance in winning.  In years past, Cincy may have had less than a 5% chance in winning.  Recently, Cincys stock has been rising.  They have a quality team that has handled some decent teams recently.  I am giving the Bearcats a chance, not a big one, but they do have a chance to be in a position to win that game late.  Cincy had no problem at all with Marshall or Miami (OH) last year, so there is no reason to think differently this year.  The Akron game is a tune-up.  Grade: A (I’m ignoring the Eastern Kentucky game)

Syracuse – Northwestern, Akron, Penn State, Northeastern, Notre Dame.  Syracuse has not been the same since McNabb.  So, they get a little slack on the OOC schedule.  They don’t really need any though.  Penn State is a monster who will be dining on Orange dudes that day.  Northwestern is another BCS conference team.  I like that game as well as the Akron game.  It really is too bad that Notre Dame is doing so badly.  It is not the fault of the teams that have them scheduled, and usually the Domers will be pretty good.  I didn’t even know Northeastern had a football team.  Grade: B+

Rutgers – Fresno State, North Carolina, Navy, Morgan State, Army.  Ok, I give them credit for the North Carolina and Fresno State games.  Those are two quality OOC games.  If you listen to the pundits, they will tell you the both those teams are ready to explode.  As for the rest of the schedule, you can’t get on Rutgers too much because they always play Army and Navy.  It’s a rivalry thing.  I can’t be too harsh on those.  So, that leaves Morgan State.  I’m not paying any attention to that one.  Grade: B

South Florida – Tennessee-Martin, Central Florida, Kansas, Florida International, North Carolina State.  South Florida is not going to sneak up on anyone this year.  The biggest test on the OOC schedule is going to be Kansas.  Was KU a one year wonder?  This game will probably tell us volumes on each of these two teams.  NC State is a good scheduled game for the Bulls.  CFU and FIU are a couple in-state rivalries.  (if that is even possible with such a young team.)  CFU may put up a fight, but FIU is bad.  I’m ignoring the TN-Martin game.  Grade: B-

Pittsburgh – Bowling Green, Buffalo, Iowa, Navy, Notre Dame.  There is one redeeming quality from this OOC schedule…All FBS (Div-1) teams.  This is the only team in the Big East that has done this.  For that, I cannot fail them.  The FBS teams that are scheduled are the bottom of the barrel.  Iowa and Notre Dame are the toughest teams on the schedule.  Navy and Bowling Green have a small chance in beating Pittsburgh this year.  That leaves Buffalo.  With the way Pittsburgh has played recently, except for the WVU game last year, I am going to give them a break.  Grade C+

Louisville – Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State.  How disappointing was Louisville last year?  Very.  My first thought of this schedule was that it was very disappointing from Louisville.  Then, I remembered that Louisville was just as disappointing.  According to my grading criteria, I must take that into account.  The Kentucky game is an in-state rivalry.  That may be a good game if Kentucky can keep up the level of play from last year.  The Kansas State game may be a good test for this Louisville team.  KSU has a ton of JUCO transfers coming in.  By the time the Wildcats play Louisville, those JUCOs should have their feet under them.  Memphis is a decent team and will certainly put up a fight.  Who can forget that Louisville/Middle Tennessee State game from last year?  What a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.  Should get good.  Grade: C