With the Big East expanding in football for the 2013 season, the conference has decided to institute divisions. And for the first time, there will be a Big East Championship Game.

Our UConn Huskies football team will be playing in the East where they'll be joined by Central Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers and South Florida. The West will consist of Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU and Temple.

Everyone will play each team in their division along with three from the other division. So it's quite possible UConn could be seeing blue (Boise State has blue turf) next season.

Here's the full release from the Big East:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – BIG EAST Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco, emphasizing his conference’s national scope, announced that East and West divisions of six teams each in football will begin play in the 2013 season, culminating in a new BIG EAST Championship Game.

“This new alignment gives the Conference and its fans the best of both worlds – national exposure that is a result of the BIG EAST being in six of the top 10 U.S. media markets – with a schedule that focuses on spirited regional rivalries,” said Aresco.

The BIG EAST Football Championship Game will be played between the East and West champions at the home field of one of the participating teams, not at a neutral site, promising an exciting fan experience.

“This unique combination of nationwide scope and regional flavor reflects our commitment to innovation in response to the changing landscape in college football,” Aresco said, “while honoring a tradition of success on the field and in the classroom.”

Aresco continued: “Combined with the extension through 2026 of our historic relationship with Madison Square Garden for the BIG EAST Basketball Championship, the new BIG EAST Football Championship Game will provide two signature events of national significance in college sports.”

The new divisions will be:

East Division: UCF, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, USF

West Division: Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU, Temple

Aresco noted that this alignment will likely be revisited after the 2014 season, when the U.S. Naval Academy and possibly other schools begin play in the BIG EAST. In this new structure, each team will play eight Conference games per season, of which five will be against divisional rivals. The home and away opponents for each school will be announced after the BIG EAST athletic directors’ annual meeting in New York on Dec. 3.

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UConn Huskies senior wide receiver Nick Williams has been named a finalist for the Pop Warner Award.

Here's the release:

LANGHORNE, Pa. – University of Connecticut senior wide receiver and returner Nick Williams (East Windsor, N.J.) has been named one of four finalists for the third annual Pop Warner National College Football Award.

The award, established in 2010, recognizes a Pop Warner alumnus who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community. It is presented to a student-athlete who has taken the ideals of Pop Warner to the next level and serves as a role model to Pop Warner’s young scholar athletes.

Williams played Pop Warner football in Highstown, N.J., in sixth, seventh and eighth grade.

Williams is UConn’s all-time leader in return yardage (punt and kickoff) with 2,389 yards and this past week was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week – the second time this year he has earned that honor.

He is an economics major who will graduate this December and was a member of the 2011 BIG EAST All-Academic team.

The 2012 finalists also include Duke quarterback Sean Renfree, Miami (Fla.) running back Mike James and Michigan offensive guard Patrick Omameh.

The Pop Warner National College Football Award is presented during the annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The inaugural award was presented to former Nebraska and current New York Giants’ defensive back Prince Amukamara. In 2011, the award was presented to former Virginia and current Washington Redskins' cornerback Chase Minnifield.

“To play Pop Warner football, we require our young athletes to perform in the classroom and ask that they represent their community in a positive light,” said Jon Butler, executive director of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “We created the Pop Warner National College Football Award to honor a student-athlete who has continued to demonstrate those values at the next level, and who serves as a positive example for our young athletes both on and off the field. We considered hundreds of tremendous athletes this year, and found an exceptional group of finalists in Sean Renfree, Mike James, Patrick Omameh and Nick Williams.”

The winner of the Pop Warner National College Football Award will be announced on December 5 during the 56th annual Pop Warner Super Bowl.

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photo credit: patrick raycraft – hartford courant

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they'll host the Vermont Catamounts tonight at 7 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion.

The game will be broadcast locally here in Connecticut on SNY. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men's Basketball links

UConn Ranked? It’s News To Huskies [dom amore – hartford courant]

Right Back To Work: Notes and Quotes from UConn Practice [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn Relying on Leadership to Avoid Post-Germany Letdown [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Nov. 12: “If you’re satisfied with being No. 23, you shouldn’t be playing a sport.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Two different perspectives (Napier, Evans) on UConn's ranking, plus video [gavin keefe – the day]

Game preview: Vermont at UConn men [lee lewis – republican-american]

Huskies back home; no ‘mustache guy’ [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Focused on Vermont [john silver – sny.com]

Andre Drummond Dunks on Hasheem Thabeet [uconn huskies basketball]

#23 Huskies Host Vermont In Home Opener [uconnhuskies.com]

Huskies shift focus to Vermont [ct post]

Before Ollie Gets Extension, Let's See Him Extend Winning Ways [hartford courant]

No. 23 UConn Has Everybody's Attention Now [hartford courant]

Back in the U.S.A., Huskies face Vermont [new haven register]

Travel-weary UConn men get right back to work tonight [the day]

UConn enters top 25 [espn.com]

A win-win situation for Huskies, Spartans [andy katz – espn.com]

UConn Football links

Big East gets access for future playoff [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East to approve two-division format [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn’s Nick Williams Among Finalists For Pop Warner National College Football Award [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Sean Mulcahy’s Report Card [sean mulcahy – sny.com]

UConn Women's Basketball links

KML’s well-rounded game [carl adamec – sny.com]

Impressions After Game 1 For the UConn Women [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis Well Rounded In Win; Stewart, Tuck Shine [rich elliott – ct post]

Final Four tickets on sale [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn's Three Freshmen Are Special [hartford courant]

Freshmen Excel For UConn [hartford courant]

A closer look at three key points from the Huskies' 103-39 win over the College of Charleston [new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Volleyball. Quayle Closes Regular Season With Honor Roll Appearance [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Soccer. Huskies Earn No. 4 Overall Seed In NCAA Tournament [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

The UConn Huskies football team has two games left in the regular season and needs to win them both to become bowl-eligible.

And while they are off this week, the Big East has announced their game time for their next tilt on the road against the Louisville Cardinals.

The game on November 24th will kickoff at 12 p.m. and will be shown locally here in Connecticut on SNY. It has been designated as the Big East Game of the Week and will be shown across the Big East Network.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Return a punt for a touchdown and finish with 160 all purpose yards and you'll win Big East Special Teams Player of the Week.

Here's the release from UConn and the Big East:

PROVIDENCE – University of Connecticut senior Nick Williams (East Windsor, Conn.) has been named the BIG EAST Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday for his performance in the Huskies’ 24-17 win over Pittsburgh on Friday night.

Williams finished with 160 all-purpose yards, including an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown, to spark the UConn victory.

He finished with 80 yards on four punt returns, added 42 yards on two kickoff returns, had three receptions for 31 yards and one rushing attempt for seven yards. The score was Williams’ second punt return for a touchdown this season and the fourth special teams touchdown of his career as he became Connecticut’s all-time leader in return yardage (2,389). The former record belonged to Larry Taylor, who had 2,277 yards between 2004-07.

UConn redshirt senior linebacker Sio Moore (Apex, N.C.) was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. He had six tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry in the win.

Syracuse wide receiver Alec Lemon was the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week while Khaseem Greene of Rutgers was Defensive Player of the Week.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: patrick raycraft – hartford courant

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Big East bowl projections: Week 12 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

Big East power rankings: Week 12 [andrea adelson – espn.com]

UConn showing progress on third downs [jim fuller – new haven register]

Husky Offense Opened Up [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn hits on all cylinders in opener [carl adamec – sny.com]

Notes From UConn’s Win Over Charleston [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Another Fine Offensive Display By The Huskies; Stewart Starts [rich elliott – ct post]

Freshmen impressive in first game [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn women's basketball postgame notebook [john nash – the hour]

UConn women overwhelm College of Charleston [ct post]

Breanna Stewart's Debut Is A Hit As UConn Dominates [hartford courant]

Geno Auriemma Mulls The Lineup, And His Strategy Works [hartford courant]

Breanna Stewart leads Huskies in rout of College of Charleston [new haven register]

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis adding to her resume [new haven register]

UConn women are off and running [the day]

Huskies roll to season-opening win [the hour]

UConn Men's Basketball links

College Hoops Week in Review: Team of the Week – UConn Huskies [nbcsports.com]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. Field Hockey Eliminated on Late Goal in NCAA Second Round [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Swimming. Women's Swimming And Diving Fall At Pennsylvania [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Swimming. Men's Swimming And Diving Falls To Pennsylvania [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.