Tampa, FL

The West Virginia Mountaineers made a number of mistakes that helped the Bulls stay close early but took advantage of South Florida's late breakdown to claim a 30-27 victory, their first win in Tampa since 2005 and a portion of the conference title for the second straight year.

The win not only secured the No. 22 West Virginia a share of the Big East title, but kept its BCS hopes alive.

Louisville earned its share of the Big East crown by beating USF last week. In the event the race ends in a two-way tie, the Cardinals hold the tiebreaker over West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have done their part in securing a spot in the Bowl Championship Series, and will need help from Cincinnati to create a three-way tie atop the Big East.

With the tiebreaker going to the team with the highest ranking in the final BCS standings next Sunday, WVU will likely receive the coveted BCS berth if Cincinnati beats UConn at home to force a three-way deadlock.

West Virginia (9-3, 5-2) concluded the regular season on a three-game winning streak, but had to rely on its special teams and defense that accounted for the two Mountaineers TDs late in the fourth quarter to preserved that run.

The Mountaineers' vaunted high-powered offense was kept in check for most of the game, with WVU still striving to score a TD halfway through the fourth stanza.

As West Virginia struggled with its tentativeness, the Bulls also committed crucial mental lapses that included offside penalties and a complete lack of tackling.

B.J. Daniels, who started for USF after injuring his throwing shoulder in the previous game against Miami, made it a tied affair at 20-20 following a one-yard TD run early in the fourth.

The Bulls rattled 17 straight points to take a 27-20 lead in the fourth frame before WVU running back Dustin Garrison tied it after eventually finding his way into the end zone on a five-yard TD run with 5:09 left in the contest.

After a USF fumble, Geno Smith set up Tyler Bitancurt for the game-winner with a 26-yard strike to Stedman Bailey on 4th-and-10, thanks to the Bulls defense that allowed Bailey to get past double coverage for a huge gain.

Smith completed 23 of 35 passes for 237 yards with two interceptions. Garrison registered 87 yards rushing on 16 attempts for the victors.

Daniels threw for 226 yards, a TD and an interception for USF (5-7, 1-6), which also concluded its season. The Bulls, who needed a win to become bowl eligible, finished their campaign on a three-game losing streak.

USF failed to qualify for a bowl bid for the first time in seven years.

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