STAR MATERIAL

The junior quarterback rushed for 186 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to help the No. 4 Mountaineers beat No. 20 Connecticut, 66-21, to clinch the Big East Conference title and a berth in the Bowl Championship Series.

White’s fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing effort should improve his status in the Heisman Trophy race. He has 1,144 yards this season, along with 1,498 yards passing.

White had a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and made several defenders miss when he reversed direction and scored on a 24-yard run in the third quarter to give the Mountaineers a 31-14 lead.

“I’m not going to say there’s anybody better than Pat White,” Connecticut Coach Randy Edsall said. “I think he’s the best player in college football. He has my vote.”

White and Steve Slaton, who gained 54 yards, became only the third pair of teammates in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in consecutive seasons, matching Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Felix Jones this season and Minnesota’s Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney in 2003-04.