The 2009 Big East football season was an NCAA football season that was played from September 5, 2009, to January 2, 2010. The Big East Conference consists of 8 football members: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, and West Virginia. Cincinnati won the Big East Championship for the second consecutive year and was invited to the Allstate Sugar Bowl where they lost to Florida 51–24. Overall, the Big East went 4–2 in Bowl Games.
Previous season Cincinnati (11–3) was the Big East champions and got the conference's automatic bid into the BCS and went to the FedEx Orange Bowl, losing to ACC champion Virginia Tech 20–7.
Five other Big East teams went to bowl games in 2008, finishing bowl play with a record of 4–2 as a conference. Connecticut (8–5) beat Buffalo 38–20 in the International Bowl. Pittsburgh (9–4) lost to Oregon State 3–0 in the Brut Sun Bowl. Rutgers (8–5) beat North Carolina State 29–23 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. South Florida (8–5) beat Memphis 41–14 in the magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl. And West Virginia (9–4) beat North Carolina 31–30 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The only two teams not to go to a bowl game were Louisville (5–7) and Syracuse (3–9).
Preseason
Preseason poll The 2009 Big East preseason poll was announced at the Big East Media Day in Newport, RI on August 4. Pittsburgh was chosen as the favorite to win the conference.
Big East Media Poll Pittsburgh – 161 (8) West Virginia – 151 (5) Cincinnati – 144 (8) South Florida – 130 (3) Rutgers – 126 Connecticut – 74 Louisville – 51 Syracuse – 27
Award watch lists Award School Player Bronko Nagurski Trophy South Florida Jerome Murphy South Florida George Selvie Syracuse Arthur Jones Dave Rimington Trophy Rutgers Ryan Blaszczyk Syracuse Jim McKenzie Lombardi AwardPittsburghNate ByhamRutgersAnthony DavisSouth FloridaGeorge SelvieSyracuseArthur JonesWest VirginiaScooter BerryWest VirginiaChris NeildWest VirginiaJ.T. ThomasWest VirginiaReed Williams Manning AwardCincinnatiTony PikeSouth FloridaMatt Grothe Maxwell AwardCincinnatiMardy GilyardCincinnatiTony PikeSouth FloridaMatt GrotheWest VirginiaNoel Devine Lou Groza AwardCincinnatiJake RogersUConnDave Teggart Outland TrophyRutgersAnthony DavisSyracuseArthur Jones Fred Biletnikoff AwardCincinnatiMardy GilyardLouisvilleDoug Beaumont Walter Camp AwardCincinnatiMardy GilyardSouth FloridaGeorge Selvie Jim Thorpe AwardPittsburghAaron Berry Bednarik AwardUconnScott Lutrus PittsburghGreg RomeusRutgersRyan D'Imperio South FloridaGeorge Selvie Syracuse Arthur JonesWest VirginiaReed Williams Doak Walker AwardUConnAndre DixonUconnJordan TodmanWest VirginiaNoel Devine Davey O'Brien AwardWest VirginiaJarrett BrownSouth FloridaMatt GrotheCincinnatiTony Pike
Regular season Index to colors and formattingBig East member wonBig East member lostBig East teams in bold All times Eastern time.
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS rankings will be used.
Week One Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceSeptember 512:00 p.m.MinnesotaSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYESPN2L 23–20 in OT48,617 September 512:00 p.m.LibertyWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVW 33–2057,950September 51:00 p.m.PittsburghHeinz Field • Pittsburgh, PA W 38–348,497September 57:00 p.m.UConnOhioPeden Stadium • Athens, OHW 23–1624,617September 57:00 p.m.WoffordSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLW 40–740,360September 57:30 p.m.LouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYW 30–1039,344September 71:00 p.m.CincinnatiRutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJESPNCIN 47–1553,737 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204789575 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTony PikeCincinnatiLindsey Witten UConnTyler Bitancurt West Virginia
Week Two Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceSeptember 1212:00 p.m.#19 North CarolinaUConnRentschler Field • East Hartford, CTESPNUL 12–1038,087September 1212:00 p.m.PittsburghBuffaloUniversity at Buffalo Stadium • Amherst, NYESPN2W 54–2721,870September 1212:00 p.m.Syracuse#5 Penn StateBeaver Stadium • University Park, PABig Ten NetworkL 28–7106,387 September 123:30 p.m.HowardRutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJW 45–743,722September 123:30 p.m.East CarolinaWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVW 35–2059,216September 127:30 p.m.Southeast Missouri State #23 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHFSN-Ohio W 70–3 30,421 September 127:30 p.m.South FloridaWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYW 35–1320,568 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204793625 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamJarrett BrownWest VirginiaAdam Gunn PittsburghMardy GilyardCincinnati
Week Three Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceSeptember 1912:00 p.m.LouisvilleKentuckyCommonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KYESPNUL 31–2770,988September 195:00 p.m.UConnBaylorFloyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TXW 30–2240,147September 195:00 p.m.Florida International RutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJW 23–15 45,273September 196:00 p.m.NavyPittsburgh Heinz Field • Pittsburgh, PA W 27–14 55,064September 196:45 p.m.#21 Cincinnati#24 Oregon StateReser Stadium • Corvallis, ORFSNW 28–18 41,909September 197:00 p.m.Charleston SouthernSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLW 59–038,798 September 197:00 p.m.NorthwesternSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYW 37–3440,251 September 197:45 p.m.West VirginiaAuburnJordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, ALESPN2L 41–3087,451 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204798408 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamMike WilliamsSyracuseDan MasonPittsburghRyan LichtensteinSyracuse
Week Four Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance September 2612:00 p.m.Fresno State#15 Cincinnati Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHW 28–2032,910September 2612:00 p.m.Rhode IslandUConnRentschler Field • East Hartford, CTW 52–1038,620September 2612:00 p.m.South Florida#25 Florida StateDoak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLESPNUW 17–783,542September 263:30 p.m.RutgersMarylandByrd Stadium • College Park, MDW 34–1343,848September 263:30 p.m.PittsburghNorth Carolina StateCarter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, NCESPNUL 38–3157,583September 267:00 p.m.MaineSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYW 41–2435,632September 267:30 p.m.LouisvilleUtahRice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UTCBS College SportsL 30–1445,588 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204803081# Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamMardy GilyardCincinnatiJason Pierre-PaulSouth FloridaTeddy DellagannaRutgers
Week Five Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceOctober 17:30 p.m.ColoradoWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVESPNW 35–2460,055October 28:00 p.m.PittsburghLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYESPN2PITT 35–1039,948October 312:00 p.m.#23 South FloridaSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYBig East NetworkUSF 34–20 40,147October 31:00 p.m.#11 CincinnatiMiami (OH)Yager Stadium • Oxford, OHW 37–1323,493 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204807463 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamBill StullPittsburghNate AllenSouth FloridaScott KozlowskiWest Virginia
Week Six Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceOctober 1012:00 p.m.West VirginiaSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYBig East NetworkWVU 34–1340,144October 103:30 p.m.UConnPittsburghHeinz Field • Pittsburgh, PAABCPITT 24–2144,839October 103:30 p.m.Texas SouthernRutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJW 42–050,169October 107:30 p.m.Southern MississippiLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYESPNUW 25–2337,268 Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamNoel DevineWest VirginiaRobert VaughnUConnDan HutchinsPittsburgh
Week Seven Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceOctober 157:30 p.m.#9 Cincinnati#21 South FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPNCIN 34–1763,976October 168:00 p.m.PittsburghRutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJESPNPITT 24–1750,296October 1712:00 p.m.LouisvilleUConnRentschler Field • East Hartford, CTBig East NetworkUCONN 38–2540,000October 173:30 p.m.MarshallWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVBig East NetworkW 24–754,432
On October 18, UConn cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death during a fight at an on campus dance. Howard had a career-high 11 tackles and forced a 3rd-quarter fumble to earn the game ball just hours before his death.
Players of the week: Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamDion LewisPittsburghLawrence WilsonUConnJacob RogersCincinnati
Week Eight Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceOctober 238:00 p.m.RutgersArmyMichie Stadium • West Point, NYESPN2W 27–1024,098October 2412:00 p.m.UConn#23 West VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVESPNUWVU 28–2458,106October 2412:00 p.m.South Florida#20 PittsburghHeinz Field • Pittsburgh, PABig East NetworkPITT 41–1450,019 October 243:30 p.m.Louisville#5 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPNUCIN 41–1035,099October 243:30 p.m.AkronSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYW 28–1436,991
Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204821154 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamNoel DevineWest VirginiaDom DeCiccoPittsburghTavon AustinWest Virginia
Week Nine Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceOctober 308:00 p.m.#21 West VirginiaSouth FloridaRaymond James Stadium • Tampa, FLESPN2USF 30–1956,328October 3112:00 p.m.#8 CincinnatiSyracuseCarrier Dome • Syracuse, NYESPNUCIN 28–733,802 October 3112:00 p.m.RutgersUConnRentschler Field • East Hartford, CTBig East NetworkRUTG 28–2437,045 October 313:30 p.m.Arkansas StateLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYW 21–1321,497 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204825804 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamTim BrownRutgersKion WilsonSouth FloridaDevin McCourtyRutgers
Week Ten Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance November 712:00 p.m.LouisvilleWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVBig East NetworkWVU 17–9 55,334November 712:00 p.m.Syracuse#13 PittsburghHeinz Field • Pittsburgh, PAESPNUPITT 37–1046,855November 78:00 p.m.UConn#5 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHABCCIN 47–4535,100 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204829855 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamZach CollarosCincinnatiJulian MillerWest VirginiaJacob RogersCincinnati
Week Eleven Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result AttendanceNovember 127:30 p.m.#24 South FloridaRutgersRutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJESPNRUTG 31–048,057November 138:00 p.m.#25 West Virginia#5 CincinnatiNippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OHESPN2 CIN 24–2135,105 November 1412:00 p.m.SyracuseLouisvillePapa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KYBig East NetworkLOU 10–933,223November 148:00 p.m.Notre Dame#12 PittsburghHeinz Field • Pittsburgh, PAABCW 27–2265,374 Players of the week:http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92485&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204834545 Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player TeamJonathan BaldwinPittsburghChris CampaLouisvilleDevin McCourtyRutgers