This is fourth in a series of conference profiles as part of BCS Know How’s season preview. Today’s conference is the Big East.

Conference: Big East Conference (Big East)

Active Since: 1979

Current Member Schools: Cincinnati Bearcats, Connecticut Huskies, Louisville Cardinals, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, South Florida Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers. (8)

Bowl Affiliations: BCS Bowl Bid, St. Petersburg Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Car Care Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, Liberty Bowl. (7)

2009 Results:
Conference Champion – Cincinnati
Conference Runner-up – West Virginia/Pittsburgh
BCS Bowl Results: 2010 Sugar Bowl – Florida 51 vs. Cincinnati 24
Overall Bowl Record: 4-2
Heisman Vote Recipients: Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard (9th Overall)

2010 Outlook: The smallest of the six BCS conferences had been the domain of Cincinnati and coach Brian Kelly for the past two seasons of Big East play, but this year looks to shape up a bit differently.

Gone are Kelly, QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard, opening up the Big East once again for a free-for-all type of season we’ve come to expect from a conference which has been unpredictable since Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech all left during the middle of last decade.

However, while Cincinnati was completing an undefeated season and nearly making the BCS National Championship Game, other teams showed signs of life and potential for seasons ahead. Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Connecticut all showed flashes of brilliance that could translate into success this season.

Heisman hopefuls Noel Devine (West Virginia) and Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh) will key two of the Big East’s best hopes, while Connecticut will feature a balanced attack led by QB Zach Frazier and RB Jordan Todman along with recent USC transfer DJ Shoemate and a mostly returning defense.

One of these teams will likely step up to claim the conferences’ BCS bowl bid, but in a conference with no true front runner, its hard to tell just who it might be.

2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis, West Virginia RB Noel Devine

BCS Know How’s 2010 Predictions:
Conference Champion – Connecticut Huskies
Conference Runner-up – Pittsburgh Panthers
BCS bids – One: Connecticut – Orange Bowl
Heisman Finalists – Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis

This is third in a series of conference profiles as part of BCS Know How’s season preview. Today’s conference is the Big 12.

Conference: Big 12 Conference (Big 12)

Active Since: 1996

Current Member Schools: Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas State Wildcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Kansas Jayhawks, Missouri Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Baylor Bears, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns. (12)

Bowl Affiliations: Fiesta Bowl (BCS), Insight Bowl, Texas Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Dallas Football Classic Bowl, AT&T Cotton Bowl. (8)

2009 Results:
Conference Champion – Texas
Conference Runner-up – Nebraska
BCS Bowl Results: 2010 BCS National Championship Game – Alabama 37 vs. Texas 21
Overall Bowl Record: 4-4
Heisman Vote Recipients: Texas QB Colt McCoy (3rd Overall); Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh (4th Overall)

2010 Outlook: Sam Bradford. Colt McCoy. Ndamukong Suh. Gerald McCoy.

These were the names that reigned over the Big 12 the past few seasons. They, along with a bumper crop of Big 12 NFL recruits are all gone now, and the conference is looking to its youngsters to take the reigns from one of the most talent-laden conferences in BCS history.

Could it be that Colt and Sam’s replacements will battle it out for that crown, not to mention the Big 12 South Title, Big 12 Title and possibly the Heisman? Its too soon to tell, but QBs Landry Jones (Oklahoma) and Garrett Gilbert (Texas) will certainly be surrounded by talented squads in Austin and Norman.

That’s not to say that the rest of the South is lacking, either. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State look to improve upon good 2009 campaigns and could end up testing the top of the conference severely.

The Big 12 North, seemingly second fiddle to the South and the Red River rivalry, is reinvigorated after Nebraska nearly knocked off Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game. The ‘Huskers are joined by Missouri and even maybe Kansas State with legitimate shots at making the Championship Game.

2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Oklahoma QB Landry Jones; Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter.

BCS Know How’s 2010 Predictions:
Conference Champion – Oklahoma Sooners
Conference Runner-up – Nebraska Cornhuskers
BCS bids – Two: Oklahoma – Fiesta Bowl; Texas – Sugar Bowl
Heisman Finalists – None

This is second in a series of conference profiles as part of BCS Know How’s season preview. Today’s conference is the Big 10.

Conference: Big 10 Conference (Big 10)

Active Since: 1896

Current Member Schools: Illinois Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Purdue Boilermakers, Wisconsin Badgers. (11)

Bowl Affiliations: Rose Bowl (BCS), Little Caesars Bowl, Insight Bowl, Texas Bowl, Dallas Football Classic Bowl, Outback Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Gator Bowl. (8)

2009 Results:
Conference Champion – Ohio State
Conference Runner-up – Iowa/Penn State
BCS Bowl Results: 2010 Rose Bowl – Ohio State 26 vs. Oregon 17; 2010 Orange Bowl – Iowa 24 vs. Georgia Tech 14
Overall Bowl Record: 4-3
Heisman Vote Recipients: None

2010 Outlook: The Big 10 is on the way up — other conferences be warned.

Viewed as a second tier BCS conference for the past few years, the Big 10 is back, and looking stronger than they have top to bottom in years.

Of course at the top is perennial power Ohio State. Led by the underachieving Terrelle Pryor for the past few seasons, Ohio State has fallen just short on multiple occasions, but if the Buckeyes’ last game is any indication, Pryor is finally ready to step into the spotlight that has been waiting for him for years. Add the fact that this year’s edition of the Buckeye defense looks up to usual standards and you might just have a national title favorite waiting in Columbus.

Not that the Buckeyes are the only reason the Big 10 is up this year.

Iowa too received a BCS bowl bid last season, and handily topped Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, setting expectations high for the Hawkeyes. Iowa returns core players but will have to fill important holes all over the field, especially on the offensive line and linebacker positions.

Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State all seem poised to post big seasons, with 10 wins a possibility for all four.

2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor, Penn State Evan Royster

BCS Know How’s 2010 Predictions:
Conference Champion – Ohio State Buckeyes
Conference Runner-up – Iowa Hawkeyes
BCS bids – Two: Ohio State – BCS National Championship Game; Iowa – Rose Bowl
Heisman Finalists – Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor

Big 10

Conference Leader: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) have clinched the Big 10 regular season title and will head to the Rose Bowl.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Nebraska (North Division; 9-3, 6-2)  and Texas (South Division; 12-0, 8-0) have clinched their respective divisions and will face each other in the Big 12 Title Game for a chance at a BCS bowl bid.

Game of Last Week: Oklahoma 27 vs. Oklahoma State 0. Oklahoama State was looking to make it to a possible BCS bowl this season, but a down Sooner team looking at the possibility of a .500 season instead took it to the Cowboys and ended their hopes of a BCS bowl.

Game of Next Week: Nebraska vs. Texas. For the Big 12′s automatic bowl bid.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa State Cyclones, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M Aggies.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1)

Game of Last Week: West Virginia 19 vs. Pittsburgh 16. The Mountaineers shocked the Panthers in the Backyard Brawl, payback for a couple years ago when the Panthers did just the same to a top-ranked WVU team. A field goal as time expired from Tyler Bitancurt sent the Mountaineers to victory.

Game of Next Week: Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati. Although the Panthers lost last week, a victory over the Bearcats would still get them the Big East crown in this de facto Big East Championship Game.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers, South Florida Bulls, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Connecticut Huskies.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) have clinched the Big 10 regular season title and will head to the Rose Bowl.

Game of Last Week: Northwestern 33 vs. Wisconsin 31. An upset of the Badgers likely allows the Wildcats a chance at a New Year’s Day or Eve bowl.

Game of Next Week: The Big 10 regular season is completed.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Nebraska (North Division; 8-3, 5-2) and Texas (South Division; 11-0, 7-0) have both clinched their respective division titles and will meet for the Big 12 Championship Game on December 5th.

Game of Last Week: Nebraska 17 vs. Kansas State 3. Jockeying for the Big 12 North title all season, these two teams met to finally decide the victor. In convincing fashion, the stingy Cornhusker defense kept the Wildcats at bay and clinched a trip to the Big 12 Title Game.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma. Oklahoma would love to end its season with a big upset after a disappointing ’09 campaign. The Cowboys are looking to get a BCS at-large bid.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa State Cyclones, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M Aggies.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0)

Game of Last Week: Connecticut 33 vs. Notre Dame. With limited conference action, this overtime thriller was by far the best of the weekend for the Big East, and put the Huskies closer to being bowl eligible.

Game of Next Week: Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia. The Backyard Brawl is always a good one, and a victory here for Pitt would give the Big East, which has no conference championship game, a virtual conference championship game the following week as Cincinnati and Pittsburgh would go at it for the Big East crown.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers, South Florida Bulls, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Big 10

Conference Leader: Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) has clinched at least a share of the Big 10 title and has the tiebreaker, clinching the conference’s BCS bowl bid.

Game of Last Week: Ohio State 27 vs. Iowa 24. Ohio State’s backup kicker, Devon Barclay kicked a game winning field goal in overtime to give the Buckeyes a Rose Bowl bid.

Game of Next Week: Ohio State vs. Michigan. Bowl eligibility rides on this one for the Wolverines, although no reason is necessary for this game to be the game of the week in the conference.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Nebraska (North Division; 7-3, 4-2); Texas (South Division; 10-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Kansas State (North Division; 6-5, 4-3)

Game of Last Week: Oklahoma State 24 vs. Texas Tech 17. Needing to win in order to keep hope alive of a Big 12 title, the Cowboys delivered, doing just enough to beat the Red Raiders.

Game of Next Week: Kansas State vs. Nebraska. For the lead in the Big 12 North.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa State Cyclones, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0)

Game of Last Week: Cincinnati 24 vs. West Virginia 21. Tony Pike was the designated TD thrower, and the Bearcats kept hopes for a perfect season alive, barely escaping with the victory over the Mountaineers.

Game of Next Week: Louisville vs. South Florida. The Big East schedule is rather sparse next week, but Louisville can still become bowl eligible with victories in the next two weeks. They’ll need to beat South Florida to keep that hope alive.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Iowa (9-1, 5-1)

Lurking: Ohio State (8-2, 5-1)

Game of Last Week: Northwestern 17 vs. Iowa 10. Week after week, Iowa looked on the edge of a loss, and this week they finally were unable to make a late comeback, losing to the Wildcats.

Game of Next Week: Iowa vs. Ohio State. This one will likely be for the Big 10 title, and for the chance to play in the Rose Bowl

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Kansas State (North Division; 6-4, 4-2), Texas (South Division; 9-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Nebraska (North Division; 6-3, 3-2)

Game of Last Week: Colorado 35 vs. Texas A&M 34. With just 2:04 left, the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown in a back and forth game between the Big 12 foes.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech. Two teams with bowl aspirations and winning records face off in an important Big 12 matchup.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Corn Huskers.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (8-1, 5-0)

Game of Last Week: Cincinnati 47 vs. Connecticut 45. With the help of their replacement QB Zach Collaros, the Bearcats scored nine points in 21 seconds, and the Bearcats stayed undefeated.

Game of Next Week: Cincinnati vs. West Virginia. With a win, West Virginia would reinsert itself into Big East title contention, with Pittsburgh up next in the Backyard Brawl.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Iowa (9-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Penn State (8-1, 4-1)

Game of Last Week: Iowa 42 vs. Indiana 24. Down in the fourth quarter again, the Iowa Hawkeyes made another late-game comeback, scoring 28 unanswered in the final period to stay unbeaten.

Game of Next Week: Ohio State vs. Penn State. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are gunning for second place in the Big 10, this will be their chance to stake their claim.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Kansas State (North Division; 5-4, 3-2), Texas (South Division; 8-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Nebraska (North Division; 5-3, 2-2)

Game of Last Week: Oklahoma 42 vs. Kansas State 30. Landry Jones continues to be a capable replacement for Sam Bradford, leading the Sooners to their fifth victory.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma vs. Nebraska. Two teams stuck in second place in their divisions look to make big statements late in the season.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (8-0, 4-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0)

Game of Last Week: Rutgers 28 vs. Connecticut 24. In their first game at home since the tragic death of one of their own, the Huskies were once again shocked in the final minutes, this time on a reception by Scarlet Knight Tim Brown with 22 seconds left.

Game of Next Week: Cincinnati vs. Connecticut. Looking to remain undefeated before their match up with Big East power West Virginia the following week, the Bearcats welcome the Huskies to Cincinnati in what could be a shootout.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Iowa (8-0, 4-0)

Lurking: Ohio State (6-2, 4-1)

Game of Last Week: Iowa 15 vs. Michigan State 13. Ricky Stanzi’s pass with no time remaining on the clock went for a touchdown after three incompletions left the Hawkeyes with a 4th and goal to go for the last second victory.

Game of Next Week: Penn State vs. Northwestern. Two teams lurking under the Big 10 radar can make big statements with victories here.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Kansas State (North Division; 5-3, 3-1), Texas (South Division; 7-0, 4-0)

Lurking: Oklahoma State (South Division; 6-1, 3-0)

Game of Last Week: Iowa State 9 vs. Nebraska 7. Nebraska committed an incredible eight turnovers, including four inside their own five-yard line, gift wrapping the victory for the Cyclones.

Game of Next Week: Texas vs. Oklahoma State. For the South Division lead, and likely a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns

Big East

Conference Leader: Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0)

Lurking: Cincinnati (7-0, 3-0)

Game of Last Week: West Virginia 28 vs. Connecticut 24. West Virginia prevailed over the heavy-hearted Huskies with a last minute touchdown run from Noel Devine to give the Mountaineers the much needed victory.

Game of Next Week: South Florida vs. West Virginia. Two teams with Big East aspirations early this year will need to win out to have a chance, this game will be integral in both team’s BCS hopes.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Pittsburgh Panthers, Cincinnati Bearcats.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Iowa (7-0, 3-0)

Lurking: Michigan State (4-3, 3-1)

Game of Last Week: Michigan State 24 vs. Northwestern 14. The Spartans and quarterback Kirk Cousins have emerged as a legitimate Big 10 contender, and trailing at half to the Wildcats, were able to make the comeback and sneak into a tie for second place in the conference

Game of Next Week: Michigan vs. Iowa. Two of the leaders of this year’s Big 10 resurgence which has come mostly without the help of Ohio State, the only Big 10 team to play in the BCS National Championship game.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Kansas State (North Division; 4-3, 2-1), Texas (South Division; 6-0, 3-0)

Lurking: Oklahoma State (South Division; 5-1, 2-0)

Game of Last Week: Texas 16 vs. Oklahoma 13. The Red River Shootout lived up to its hype, and although Sam Bradford was knocked out early in the game, the teams played close, and a game-saving tackle by Colt McCoy on his own interception likely preserved the Longhorn’s season and national title hopes.

Game of Next Week: Texas vs. Missouri. Although Missouri is winless in conference play as of yet, they look to matchup well with the Longhorns, and the recent struggle of the Texas offense may hold the key for a Tigers upset bid.

Bowl Eligible Teams: None yet.

Big East

Conference Leader: Pittsburgh (6-1, 3-0)

Lurking: Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0)

Game of Last Week: Cincinnati 34 vs. South Florida 17. A matchup of the class of the Big East turned into a national coming out party for the strong Cincinnati offense, and although Tony Pike was injured in the contest, a statement was made about the legitimacy of the Big East teams.

Game of Next Week: South Florida vs. Pittsburgh. Now looking to avenge the loss to Cincinnati, the Bulls will now have to travel to Pittsburgh to try their luck against the Panthers, who lead the Big East conference.

Bowl Eligible Teams: None yet.