The 2010 Big East football season was the NCAA football season of the Big East Conference. Conference members began regular-season play on September 2, but did not begin conference play until October 8; the regular season continued through December 4. Following the regular season, six conference teams played in bowl games; although the bowl season concluded with the BCS National Championship Game on January 10, 2011, the last date on which a Big East team played was January 8, when Pittsburgh defeated Kentucky in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama.
The conference consists of 8 football members: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, and West Virginia.
The Big East title race came down to the last minute of the final game of the season on December 4 between UConn and South Florida. West Virginia and Pitt had claimed shares of the conference title with wins earlier that day. A UConn win would leave the Huskies tied with WVU and Pitt for the title, but UConn would claim the automatic Big East BCS berth by virtue of victories over both schools. A field goal in the last minute gave the Huskies a 19–16 win and their first-ever trip to a BCS game.
Previous season
Cincinnati (12–1) was the Big East champions and received the conference's automatic bid into the BCS and went to the Sugar Bowl, losing to SEC runner-up Florida, 51–24.
Five other Big East teams went to bowl games in 2010, finishing bowl play with a record of 4–2 as a conference. Rutgers (9–4) beat Central Florida 45–24 in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Pittsburgh (10–3) defeated North Carolina 19–17 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. West Virginia (9–4) lost to Florida State 33–21 in the Konica-Minolta Gator Bowl. South Florida (8–5) beat Northern Illinois 27–3 in the International Bowl. And, Connecticut (8–5) beat South Carolina 20–7 in the Papajohns.com Bowl. The only two teams not to go to a bowl game were Louisville (4–8) and Syracuse (4–8).
Preseason
Coaching changes
Three teams have new head coaches for the 2010 season. Charlie Strong replaces Steve Kragthorpe at Louisville, Butch Jones replaces Brian Kelly at Cincinnati, and Skip Holtz replaces Jim Leavitt at South Florida.
Preseason poll
The 2010 Big East preseason poll was announced at the Big East Media Day in Newport, RI on August 3. Pittsburgh was chosen as the favorite to win the conference.
Big East media poll
Pittsburgh – 190 (22) West Virginia – 142 (1) Cincinnati – 142 Connecticut – 131 (1) Rutgers – 99 South Florida – 79 Syracuse – 41 Louisville – 40
Award watch lists
The following Big East players listed below have been named to the preseason award watch lists.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: Zach Frazer, Connecticut
Lombardi Award: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh J.T. Thomas, West Virginia
Outland Trophy: Zach Hurd, Connecticut Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh Art Forst, Rutgers
Rimington Trophy: Moe Petrus, Connecticut Mario Benevides, Louisville Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse
Bednarik Award: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh Derrell Smith, Syracuse Robert Sands, West Virginia
Maxwell Award: Zach Collaros, Cincinnati Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati Jordan Todman, Connecticut Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh Tom Savage, Rutgers Noel Devine, West Virginia
Walter Camp Award: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh Noel Devine, West Virginia
Davey O'Brien Award: Zach Collaros, Cincinnati Tom Savage, Rutgers
Biletnikoff Award: Armon Binns, Cincinnati Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh
Butkus Award: Greg Lloyd, Connecticut Scott Lutrus, Connecticut Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut Doug Hogue, Syracuse Derrell Smith, Syracuse
Lou Groza Award: Dan Hutchins, Pittsburgh Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia
John Mackey Award: Ben Guidulgi, Cincinnati Ryan Griffin, Connecticut Cameron Graham, Louisville D.C. Jefferson, Rutgers
Doak Walker Award: Jordan Todman, Connecticut Victor Anderson, Louisville Bilal Powell, Louisville Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh Noel Devine, West Virginia
Jim Thorpe Award: Johnny Patrick, Louisville Dom DeCicco, Pittsburgh Brandon Hogan, West Virginia Robert Sands, West Virginia
Regular season
All times Eastern time.
Rankings reflect that of the AP poll for that week until week eight when the BCS rankings will be used.
Week One
Players of the week:
Week Two
Players of the week:
Week Three
Week off: Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida
Players of the week:
Week Four
Week off: Louisville
Players of the week: