The Pittsburgh Panthers, last seen losing 3-0 in a bowl game, a team that lost its stud to the NFL and has no discernible difference-maker at quarterback, is the preseason favorite to win the Big East.

The Panthers received eight of a possible 24 first-place votes to finish with 161 points in the poll of media representatives from each of the eight BIG EAST markets. Pittsburgh returns 14 starters from last year’s squad, which was one of the most improved teams in the nation, with a particularly veteran presence on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition, Dave Wannstedt’s squad returns a pair of veteran quarterbacks in Bill Stull and Pat Bostick and boasts a potential breakout star in wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin.

West Virginia, which has won the BIG EAST title twice in the last four years, was a close second in the poll with 151 points and five first-place votes.