The Scarlet Knights and Syracuse Orange are carrying the local flag into bowl season.

If they stay the course, the Rutgers-Louisville game could decide the Big East champion and BCS possibilities.

The Louisville Cardinals lost their first game of the season, but the Rutgers Scarlet Knights couldn't overtake them to become the highest ranked team in the conference. Kansas State and Oregon are ranked at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

With Alabama losing for the first time, Oregon assumes the top spot in the latest USA Today Coaches' Poll, followed by fellow undefeated teams Kansas St. and Notre Dame. Rutgers remained in the rankings after improving to 8-1.

Rutgers improved to 8-1 on Saturday, but it didn't come easy against Army.

Louisville heads to Syracuse while Rutgers, who's also at the top of the Big East standings, hosts Army.

Rutgers cracked the BlogPoll once again after a week out of the top 25, moving back in at the No. 24 spot thanks to losses by other teams.

Rutgers will wear patriotic-themed helmets on Saturday.

The most recent bowl predictions have No. 23 Rutgers facing Virginia Tech in the 2012 Belk Bowl. Syracuse is still two wins away from postseason eligibility with three games left to play.