Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
NORMAN, Okla. -- Cincinnati might be even more interested in the outcome of Ben Mauk's legal case now.
The Bearcats on Saturday lost senior starting quarterback Dustin Grutza to a broken right fibula, which he suffered while being sacked in the second half of the 52-26 loss at Oklahoma. Grutza is out at least a month and maybe the season. A decision on surgery will be made Monday.
Junior backup Tony Pike, who led Cincinnati to a touchdown on the game's final play, now becomes the starter. Of course, the Bearcats can always hold out hope that Mauk, last year's starter who has been denied an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, will win his court case. He testified Friday in an Ohio court, seeking an injunction against the NCAA.
With the loss of Grutza, and West Virginia's humbling defeat at East Carolina, the Big East race looks more wide open than ever.
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
