Cincinnati perhaps lost out on their third Big East title in four years when quarterback Zach Collaros suffered a broken ankle in a 24-21 loss to West Virginia last month. Although the Bearcats finished in a three-way tie with WVU and Louisville for first place in the Big East, the Mountaineers got the BCS bid based on having the highest BCS ranking.
You never want to speculate too much, but it could have been a different game had Collaros not gotten hurt.
In any case, Callaros had to miss the remainder of the regular season, but Butch Jones says the senior could be back in time for the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl against Vanderbilt.
“He’s taken tremendous strides,” Bearcats head coach Jones said Tueday via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s walking already. He’s off the crutches. We’re hoping as soon as next week he will start throwing, doing his drops, and participating in practice. There’s a tremendous opportunity that he may be able to participate in the Liberty Bowl.”
Collaros was the rock of the Bearcats’ offense this year, passing for 1854 years and recording 22 total touchdowns.