As good as the Big East has been recently, it may be even better this season. One could say that the league, which loses Miami and Virginia Tech to the ACC after this season, has saved its best for last.

Nothing has changed at the very top. Miami, winners of a record 24 consecutive conference games, rules the roost. The Hurricanes lost four No. 1 draft choices for the third straight year, but have talent to spare and are favored to win the Big East for the fourth straight season.

The real shift has occurred below Miami. In years past, no more than one team -- usually Virginia Tech -- provided real competition inside the conference for the Hurricanes.

That's changed. The Hokies, with the return of running back Kevin Jones and nine defensive starters, remain the best bet to unseat Miami.

But Pittsburgh, which may have its best team since Dan Marino beat Georgia in the 1982 Sugar Bowl, is a legitimate contender for its first Big East title. The Panthers have the conference's best player in wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and host to both Virginia Tech (Nov. 8) and Miami (Nov. 29) at Heinz Field.

West Virginia, among the nation's most-improved teams last season with a six-win swing over 2001, also has gained entry into the Big East's upper echelon after finishing second to Miami last year with road wins against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh.

With Boston College, whose nine victories in 2002 were its most in nine seasons, the Big East has unprecedented quality depth in its lineup.

That doesn't even count Syracuse. The Orangemen suffered through their first losing season since 1986, but won 10 games as late as two years ago.

The Big East teams chasing Miami have more than talent on their side. The Hurricanes looked vulnerable last season, sidestepping disaster against West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers before finally losing to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. With several new faces on offense, a new set of kickers and road games at Boston College, Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh, the Hurricanes could be ripe for a fall.

Or so Miami's opponents hope.

Game of the Year
With the Big East as competitive as its ever been, there are several important games dotting the schedule. But none is bigger than the regular-season finale between Miami and Pittsburgh on Nov. 29, which pits the teams selected to finish 1-2 in the conference. The storyline will be particularly interesting if the conference title rides on the outcome. Miami is leaving the Big East for the ACC. The Panthers are staying. Wonder which way Mike Tranghese will be leaning?

Offensive Player of the Year
Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech. Even though he shared the tailback position with Lee Suggs and missed one game with an injury, Jones still managed to rush for 871 yards and nine touchdowns last season. With Suggs gone, Jones could double his output and make a run at Willis McGahee's one-year-old conference rushing record of 1,753 yards.

Defensive Player of the Year
Claude Harriott, Pittsburgh. The senior defensive end blitzed his way onto the scene last year, piling up 21 tackles for lost yardage and 9.5 sacks. He also forced seven fumbles, a total that ranked second nationally, and finished the year by being named the defensive MVP of the Insight Bowl after compiling four tackles for losses and two sacks against Oregon State.

Jorge Milian covers the Big East for the Palm Beach Post.