Pacific-10, Big East Titles Up for Grabs

Heading into the season, most observers figured Southern California would contend for the Bowl Championship Series title, and that another Pacific-10 crown was a foregone conclusion for the Trojans. Coming off a monumental victory over Oklahoma in last season's Fiesta Bowl, West Virginia entertained some national championship chatter, as well. The Big East, it was thought, was the Mountaineers' for the taking.

But as the final weeks of the regular season approach, neither team has control of its own destiny, much less a lock on its conference title. Instead, two unlikely squads have assumed control of the Pacific-10 and Big East. Oregon State and Cincinnati entered the Associated Press top 25 yesterday, and both hold considerable power in two conferences whose champions receive automatic BCS bids.

That No. 23 Oregon State shockingly remains in the lead for a Rose Bowl berth nearly two months after upsetting USC is a testament to the Beavers' resiliency, as well as the low expectations set upon them at the beginning of the season. Oregon State was picked to finish sixth in the Pacific-10, while USC received all but one first-place vote in the conference's preseason poll.

Thanks in large part to a dynamic passing attack, the Beavers have exceeded most predictions. Oregon State takes on California (6-3, 4-2) on Saturday before closing out its conference slate against Arizona (6-3, 4-2) and Oregon (7-3, 5-2). Win those three games, and the Beavers -- not the sixth-ranked Trojans -- will represent the Pacific-10 in the BCS.

Meantime, No. 22 Cincinnati nudged its way into a crowded driver's seat in the Big East after dispatching West Virginia, 26-23, in overtime Saturday night. The Bearcats reside in a three-way tie atop the Big East, along with Pittsburgh and the Mountaineers. Should Cincinnati win its three remaining conference games -- which includes a Nov. 22 date against Pittsburgh -- the Bearcats will head to a BCS bowl.

"I think we were picked to finish fifth [in the Big East] in the preseason, so clearly we hadn't impressed anybody going into this year," Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly said in a phone interview yesterday evening. "But I think now we're starting to get some attention that we're here to stay. We're starting to gain some credibility with our consistent play."

The Bearcats have been beset by a slew of quarterback injuries this season, which makes their consistency all the more noteworthy. Cincinnati has employed four signal callers since week one. Quarterback Tony Pike is 3-0 since recovering from a broken left forearm and may start even after Dustin Grutza comes back from a broken right leg he suffered two months ago. Kelly said Grutza is "a week or so away" from returning.

Cincinnati's offense has not been spectacular under Pike -- the Bearcats were outgained 317-260 against West Virginia and tallied just three first downs after halftime -- but it has done enough to put the program in position to earn its first BCS bid.

"The word for us is we've been resilient," Kelly said. "We've made the best of our opportunities."