Pittsburgh's 19-15 win against West Virginia on Friday keeps afloat one scenario that wouldn't have USF playing in the St. Petersburg Bowl -- that the Bulls could earn a spot in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, where they made their bowl debut in 2005.

With Cincinnati taking the league's BCS berth and Pittsburgh the best guess for the Sun (presuming Notre Dame loses to USC and the Gator takes Nebraska), the Meineke folks would be choosing between USF and West Virginia, or Rutgers if the Knights can beat Louisville. To be considered for Charlotte, the Bulls would have to win at West Virginia, but such a win would put them at 8-4 with two straight wins, while West Virginia would be 7-5, having lost three of four. Connecticut played in Charlotte last season, so they're not a reasonable option. Rutgers, with a win against Louisville, would be 7-5 but with a six-game win streak, giving Charlotte all kinds of options.

In talking with people involved in the Big East's bowl selection process this week, it seems the Bulls would be very much on the Meineke's radar in such a scenario, though USF would still have a good job of winding up in St. Petersburg, which would be ideal for the first-year bowl. To have any shot at Charlotte, the Bulls would have to beat West Virginia for the third year in a row ...

-- USF receivers coach Mike Canales said Friday that he was on his way to interview for the head coaching vacancy at Utah State. "It's my alma mater. It's a dream job, but it's a destination, too," said Canales, who will be back in Tampa on Saturday. The Bulls don't practice again until Monday as they prepare for their regular-season finale at West Virginia. For more on the Utah State job, the Deseret News' USU blog has been all over it ...