2012 Big East Football Standings: Rutgers and Cincinnati leading the way

The Big East has provided some great football through the first month of the 2012 college campaign.

While the Louisville Cardinals are the highest ranked team sitting at No. 19, they rank third in the conference behind the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Cincinnati Bearcats.

Rutgers is the biggest surprise of them all, winning on the right arm of Gary Nova. The talented quarterback has propelled the Scarlet Knights to a 4-0 mark with impressive wins on the road over the Arkansas Razorbacks and South Florida Bulls.

Cincinnati is 3-0 largely due to a balanced offense and stifling defense. The Bearcats rank 16th in the nation in regard to points allowed with just over 13 per game. The group is also coming off its biggest win of the season with a 27-24 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Cardinals are 5-0 but yet to play a conference foe, thus putting them third in the standings. Louisville has been both excellent and shaky at times, but yet keeps winning.

On the opposite end of the spectrum of the Temple Owls, who have dropped their last two contests. Temple started well with a win against intercity rival Villanova but has since lost to the Maryland Terrapins and Penn State Nittany Lions. The Owls will have their first Big East showdown on Saturday at home against South Florida.

Here's a full look at the Big East standings:

1. Rutgers 4-0 (1-0)
   
2. Cincinnati 3-0 (1-0)
   
3. Louisville 5-0 (0-0)
   
4. Connecticut 3-2 (0-0)
   
5. Temple 1-2 (0-0)
   
6. Syracuse 1-3 (0-0)
   
7. Pittsburgh 2-2 (0-1)
   
8. South Florida 2-3 (0-1)