Oct. 4, 2011

Match-ups set for final Big East-Big Ten Challenge

The fourth and final Big East-Big Ten Challenge will be held the first weekend of the 2012 season, Feb. 17-19, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Sports Commission.

The series will cease after this season due to the changes in conference memberships.

There will be 10 games each day of the Challenge. There are nine Big East participants: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, St. John’s, USF and West Virginia. The 10 Big Ten participants include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue.

With the uneven number of teams, Pittsburgh will play twice on Friday, Seton Hall will have two games on Saturday and West Virginia will take the field twice on Sunday.

Five venues will be used for the Challenge: Al Lang Stadium and Walter Fuller Complex in St. Petersburg, Bright House Field and Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, and Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin.

The Big East owns a 40-38 edge over the Big Ten in the three years of the event. The Big Ten posted a 15-9 advantage in the inaugural Challenge in 2009. The Big East rebounded to go 17-13 in 2010 and 14-10 in 2011.

2012 Big East-Big Ten Challenge

(All times Eastern, visiting team listed first)

Friday, Feb. 17
10:00 a.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla. - West Virginia vs. Northwestern
10:00 a.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Louisville vs. Minnesota
10:00 a.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - USF vs. Ohio State
1:00 p.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Pittsburgh vs. Iowa
1:00 p.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Cincinnati vs. Purdue
1:00 p.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Notre Dame vs. Illinois
4:00 p.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Connecticut vs. Indiana
4:00 p.m. Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, Fla. - St. John’s vs. Michigan St.
4:00 p.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Seton Hall vs. Penn State
7:30 p.m. Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, Fla. - Pittsburgh vs. Michigan

Saturday, Feb. 18
10:00 a.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Indiana vs. Cincinnati
10:00 a.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Notre Dame vs. Iowa
10:00 a.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Connecticut vs. Purdue
1:00 p.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Seton Hall vs. Michigan
1:00 p.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Michigan State vs. USF
1:00 p.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Minnesota vs. St. John’s
4:00 p.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Louisville vs. Illinois
4:00 p.m. Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla.  - West Virginia vs. Penn State
4:00 p.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Northwestern vs. Pittsburgh
7:30 p.m. Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla. - Ohio State vs. Seton Hall

Sunday, Feb. 19
10:00 a.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Purdue vs. Notre Dame
10:00 a.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Illinois vs. St. John’s
10:00 a.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Michigan vs. West Virginia
10:00 a.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Penn State vs. Cincinnati
10:00 a.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Michigan State vs. Louisville
1:00 p.m. Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.  - Minnesota vs. USF
1:00 p.m. Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla. - Ohio State vs. Connecticut
1:00 p.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Iowa vs. West Virginia
1:00 p.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Indiana vs. Pittsburgh
1:00 p.m. Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Fla. - Northwestern vs. Seton Hall

(photo courtesy of UConn Media Relations Office)