MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Geno Smith threw for a career-high 352 yards, Ryan Clarke had three short touchdown runs and No. 23 West Virginia overcame turnover problems to beat Rutgers 35-14 on Saturday and clinch at least a share of the Big East title.
The Mountaineers (9-3, 5-2) were awaiting the outcome of the Connecticut-South Florida game later Saturday that would determine the conference’s Bowl Championship Series representative.
Connecticut would earn the berth with a win and hand it to West Virginia with a loss.
Smith completed 23 of 28 passes, including 11 straight at one point. Fellow sophomore Tavon Austin had six receptions for 121 yards, catching a TD pass and running for another score.
Chas Dodd threw two TD passes for Rutgers (4-8, 1-6), which lost its sixth straight game.
