STOCK UP

Munchie Legaux

Cincinnati Quarterback

Junior threw for a career-high 376 yards and three TDs, including a 39-yarder to WR Damon Julian with 13 seconds left in a 27-24 victory over Virginia Tech at FedEx Field. Bearcats took possession at their own 15-yard line with 1:49 left and no timeouts. He threw for 166 yards and two TDs in fourth quarter.

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MORE COVERAGE OF RUTGERS FOOTBALL



• Rutgers' nose tackle Ike Holmes out for season with wrist injury

• Big East notebook: Watch out for the Cincinnati Bearcats

• Rutgers still struggling to accept last year's loss to Connecticut

• Rutgers football free mobile app from NJ.com

• Rutgers Football stories and columns

• Rutgers Football photos

• Rutgers Football videos



Jory Johnson

Connecticut Linebacker

Senior had a career-high 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss, in a 24-17 victory over visiting Buffalo. Fellow LB Yawin Smallwood added 11 tackles and leads the Big East in total tackles (53) and TFL (10), and is second in sacks (four).

Maalik Bomar

Cincinnati Linebacker

Senior had a career-high 16 tackles with a pass breakup in a 27-24 victory over Virginia Tech. Led a unit that held the Hokies to just 4-of-13 on third down.

STOCK DOWN

Connecticut offense

Huskies built a 24-7 lead in the third quarter but had to hold on in a 24-17 victory over Buffalo. Unit ranks last in the Big East is scoring offense (23.2 ppg) and next-to-last in total offense (323.8 ypg).

Skip Holtz

South Florida coach

Made bonehead call in 30-17 loss to third-ranked Florida State at home. On the final play of the third quarter, he inserts backup QB Matt Floyd for one play for dinged-up B.J. Daniels and called a pass play deep in Bulls’ territory. Floyd was sacked, fumbled and the ball was returned 12 yards for a dagger TD that puts FSU ahead 30-10.

Chris Dunkley

South Florida Wide receiver

Sophomore was suspended indefinitely following an arrest on a misdemeanor count of domestic violence Saturday night. According to the police report, a verbal altercation with his girlfriend on Sept. 21 escalated, with him allegedly punching her, grabbing her hair, forcing her into a closet and hitting her on the back of her thighs with a computer cable.

LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK 6

Pittsburgh at Syracuse -- Friday, 7 p.m.

The skinny: The heat will intensify for Orange coach Doug Marrone if his team has a poor showing at home vs. Panthers. Both teams have explosive offenses – ranking first and second in the Big East – and this could be a shootout.

Connecticut at Rutgers -- Saturday, noon

The skinny: On paper, this looks like a defensive tug-of-war. If so, Rutgers has the edge because of its suddenly prolific offense. Scarlet Knights are looking for revenge after Huskies kept them from share of Big East title in by winning the season finale a season ago and rubbed it in with postgame comments.

South Florida at Temple -- Saturday, noon

The skinny: Owls are playing their first Big East game since 2004, and have a good chance to knock off the reeling Bulls.

Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati -- Saturday, 7 p.m.



The skinny: Bearcats have won six straight overall, and 22 straight home games against nonconference opponents. Redhawks (3-2, 2-0 in MAC) were blown out by Ohio State (56-10) and Boise State (39-12).

BYE WEEK

Louisville

Next game: Oct. 13 at Pittsburgh

POWER RANKINGS

1. Louisville (5-0, 0-0 Big East)

The 19th-ranked Cardinals keep the top spot after escaping Hattiesburg, Miss. with a 21-17 victory over Southern Mississippi in a deluge that included standing water on the field throughout the game. Cardinals have won 10 of their past 11 regular season games and are 5-0 for first time since 2006.

2. Rutgers (4-0, 1-0)

Ranked No. 22 in the nation, the Scarlet Knights enjoyed a well-deserved bye. A few more offensive explosions like the one vs. Arkansas and a dominating defense could equal first Big East title. Freshman K Kyle Federico must straighten out, though.

3. Cincinnati (3-0, 1-0)

Watch out for the Bearcats, who have victories over Virginia Tech and Pitt. Junior QB Munchie Legaux, who had four turnovers vs. FCS opponent Delaware St. on Sept. 15, may have come of age in rallying his team to a last-second touchdown in a win over the Hokies. Defense has always been solid.

4. Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1)

Panthers had a bye after winning two straight to right a season that appeared to be going terribly wrong. Ranks second in Big East in scoring offense (29.2 ppg) and total offense (486.8 ypg).

5. Connecticut (3-2, 0-0)

QB Chandler Whitmer is showing signs of life, competing 15 of 22 passes for 227 yards, one TD and no INTs vs. Buffalo. Huskies ranks sixth in the nation in total defense (242.6 ypg).

6. Syracuse (1-3, 0-0)

Orange, who are coming off a bye, have lost eight of their past nine games under coach Doug Marrone.

7. South Florida (3-2, 0-1)

Bulls played Florida State tough before 69,383 at Raymond James Stadium but they’ve lost three straight and 10 of their last 13. Even worse, they’ve lost eight of their past nine Big East games, dating back to 2010.

8. Temple (1-2, 0-0)

Owls, who had a bye, played eight true freshmen and seven redshirt freshmen in 24-13 loss to Penn State on Sept. 22.