Yes, like it or not, this conference still gets an automatic Bowl Championship Series berth. But there should not be any doubt it deserves one if Louisville is anywhere near as good as last season. The Cardinals nearly toppled Miami, losing 41-38 in their only loss of the season. Louisville had too steep a climb to garner a BCS berth as a member of Conference USA.

Coach Bobby Petrino, who is 20-5 in two seasons, turns over the offense to sophomore quarterback Brian Brohm, the former national high school player of the year who played extensively last season. Offense will not be an issue for the squad that led the country in scoring last season. Potential problems lurk on defense, which returns only five starters, and with the schedule, which includes seven schools that played in bowl games last year. And yet an undefeated regular season is still possible.

Pittsburgh is the second-best team in the Big East, but the Panthers qualify as a long shot for two reasons: Louisville is clearly the best in the league, and no one else is strong enough to be considered. West Virginia is dangerous, particularly at home, but the Mountaineers have holes at several key positions, including quarterback and wide receiver.

New Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt, the former coach of the Miami Dolphins, will install more of a running game at his alma mater, which is not short on offensive options. Wannstedt also inherits two all-conference kickers. The schedule is not kind, however, as the Panthers visit Louisville and West Virginia in November.

If Tyler Palko duplicates the performance he had the latter portion of last season, he will be among the more entertaining quarterbacks to watch. The Pittsburgh quarterback threw only three interceptions in his final 10 games and helped the Panthers edge Notre Dame and West Virginia in consecutive late-season contests en route to an unlikely BCS berth. Eight starters are back on offense, including wide receiver Greg Lee, who caught 10 touchdown passes last season.

Rutgers inexplicably knocked off Michigan State to open last season, causing some to speculate about a possible bowl berth, considering the ease of its remaining schedule. The Scarlet Knights hadn't been to a bowl since 1978, and their attempt to make one last season derailed the following game, in which they were soundly beaten by Division I-AA New Hampshire. Coach Greg Schiano is 12-34 in four years; the end could be near.

Pittsburgh at Louisville, Nov. 3: The Thursday night nationally televised matchup should determine which team earns the Big East's BCS berth. That is, if Louisville can eke out a victory at West Virginia on Oct. 15. The Cardinals won't get a warm reception in Morgantown.

1. Louisville
2. Pittsburgh
3. West Virginia
4. Connecticut
5. Syracuse
6. Rutgers
7. South Florida
8. Cincinnati