Despite finishing with a two-game losing streak, USF still expects to receive its first invitation to play in a bowl game.
No. 16 Louisville 30,
Connecticut 20
At East Hartford, Connecticut, Michael Bush rushed for three touchdowns in his first appearance since missing two games with a sprained foot and Hunter Cantwell threw for another score to lead Louisville over Connecticut.
The Big East rushing leader finished with 121 yards to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. It was his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season and his 23 touchdowns rushing this year set a single-season school record.
The Cardinals (9-2, 5-2) were without Big East passing leader Brian Brohm, who went down for the season with a knee injury last week. But they didn't miss a beat.
Cantwell, making his first start, threw for 271 yards, completing 16 of 25 attempts.
Florida St. 27,
No. 5 Virginia Tech 22
At Jacksonville, Florida, Willie Reid returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, the defense continually harassed Marcus Vick and Florida State upset Virginia Tech.
The Seminoles (8-4) snapped a three-game losing streak -- the program's first since 1983 -- and won the league title for the 12th time in 14 years. They turned around a disappointing season and earned a Bowl Championship Series berth in the Orange Bowl, where they likely will face No. 4 Penn State.
Few could have envisioned that matchup. Not after Florida State was outscored 89-36 in losses to North Carolina State, Clemson and Florida.
Boosters and fans were calling for coach Bobby Bowden to fire his son and offensive coordinator, Jeff Bowden.
Some were even talking about the elder Bowden stepping down after 19 losses in the last five seasons. Others were already looking ahead and guessing how many in a row the team would lose; Florida State hasn't lost four in a row since 1975, the year before Bowden arrived.
Vick led the Hokies (10-2) to consecutive touchdowns in the fourth quarter -- a 29-yard pass to Josh Morgan and then a 4-yard run -- that cut the lead to 27-15. He capped a 93-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run with 1:45 to play that made it 27-22.
But Tech, without any timeouts, failed to recover the onside kick. The Seminoles ran out the clock from there -- and celebrated another ACC title.
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