Syracuse football wins share of Big East Conference title

The Syracuse Orange may not be BCS bowling, but in their final season as a Big East Conference member they will share a piece of the league's regular-season crown.

Thanks to the Louisville Cardinals defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 20-17, Thursday at High Point Solutions Stadium, the Orange (7-5, 5-2 Big East) are guaranteed a share of the Big East title with Rutgers (9-3, 5-2), Louisville (9-3, 5-2) and possibly the Cincinnati Bearcats (8-3, 4-2), who play the South Florida Bulls on Saturday.

Syracuse won its last three games of the regular-season schedule, including a blowout victory, 45-26, over Louisville and another league win against the Temple Owls, 38-20, to claim a sliver of the Big East championship. The Orange will more than likely not earn the Big East's automatic BCS berth because Louisville will be ranked higher in the upcoming BCS rankings - which is the tiebreaker in a possible three- or four-way tie a top of the league standings.

This is the first time Syracuse has earned a share of the Big East championship since 2004 when the team went 4-2 in league play.

The Orange are still awaiting a bowl invitation, which should come Sunday or early next week when the Big East regular season and other conference championship games are complete.

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