2012 Big East Football Standings: Rutgers, Louisville set for de facto title game

If Rutgers and Louisville hold serve next week, they'll play head-to-head with a chance to win the Big East Championship and represent the conference in a BCS bowl.

With a 10-3 win Saturday against Cincinnati, the Scarlet Knights remained undefeated in conference play with only two games left. Next, they take on Pittsburgh, who only has one win against Big East opposition. Meanwhile, Louisville, who had the week off, can move to 5-1 in conference with a win over UConn, who also has only one win against Big East opposition. Both will be expected to win.

That sets up a Nov. 29 showdown between the two schools. If they both win next week, Rutgers will have a chance to take the conference outright with a win, while Louisville can get a share of the conference title - and, by virtue of winning the head-to-head, the BCS bowl berth.

Syracuse has really turned its season around by reeling off four wins in five games, including Louisville's first loss of the year and a win on the road against Missouri this past week, but they'd need Rutgers and Louisville to both lose this week, coupled with a win by Louisville over Rutgers in the Week 14 game in order to take a share of the title. Cincinnati needs the same scenario, but they've already lost to both Louisville and Rutgers, and therefore have no shot of winning a potential BCS bowl berth even if they do get a share of the championship.

Here's a look at the full conference standings after Week 12: