2012 Big East Conference football season

The 2012 Big East football season is the NCAA football season of the Big East Conference. The conference consists of eight football members: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse and Temple. The Big East settled a lawsuit with West Virginia that will allow them to move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season.

Conference members will begin regular-season play on August 30 when Temple hosts Villanova, Conference play will start September 6 when Cincinnati hosts Pitt. The regular season will conclude on December 1.

Previous season
West Virginia, Cincinnati and Louisville were co-Big East Champions with a conference record of 5-2. West Virginia received the conference's automatic bid into the BCS bid by way of tie-breaker. The Mountaineers went to the Orange Bowl and defeated Clemson 70-33 in the game, West Virginia tied or broke eight separate team and individual bowl game records, while the combined 69 points West Virginia and Clemson scored in the first half set another new record.

Four other Big East teams went to bowl games in 2011, finishing bowl play with a record of 3–2 as a conference. Louisville 10-3 (7-6) lost to NC State in the Belk Bowl. Rutgers (9–4) beat Iowa State 27-17 in New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Cincinnati (10–3) defeated Vanderbilt in the Autozone Liberty Bowl, and Pittsburgh lost to SMU 28-6 in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The three teams not to go to a bowl game were Connecticut (5–7), South Florida (5–7), and Syracuse (5–7).

Coaching changes
Two teams have new head coaches for the 2012 season. Paul Chryst replaces Todd Graham at Pittsburgh, Kyle Flood replaces Greg Schiano at Rutgers.

===Preseason Poll === The 2012 Big East Preseason Poll was announced at the Big East Media Day in Newport, RI on July 31, 2012


 * 1) Louisville – 219 (24 first place votes)
 * 2) South Florida – 176 (4)
 * 3) Rutgers – 155
 * 4) Cincinnati – 139
 * 5) Pittsburgh – 131
 * 6) Connecticut – 77
 * 7) Syracuse – 70
 * 8) Temple – 41

Regular season
All times Eastern time.

Rankings reflect that of the AP poll for that week until week eight when the BCS rankings will be used.

Week 1
Week off: Cincinnati

Players of the Week

Week 2
Players of the Week

Week 3
Week off: Temple

Players of the Week

Week 4
Week off: Cincinnati

Players of the Week

Week 5
Week off: Pittsburgh, Temple, Rutgers, Syracuse

Players of the Week

Week 6
Week off: Louisville

Players of the Week

Week 7
Week off: South Florida

Players of the Week

Week 8
Players of the Week

Week 9
Week off: Connecticut

Players of the Week

Week 10
Week off: Rutgers

Players of the Week

Week 11
Week off: South Florida

Players of the Week

Week 12
Week off: Louisville, Pittsburgh

Players of the Week

Week 13
Players of the Week

Week 14
Week off: Temple, Syracuse

Players of the Week