TAMPA, Fla. — Cincinnati will have to find a way to keep its high-octane offense going without Tony Pike for at least one more game.

The No. 8 Bearcats lost their starting quarterback to a sprained left wrist during Thursday night's 34-17 victory over No. 21 South Florida, and the severity of the injury will be determined by a specialist.

Coach Brian Kelly said Pike, who broke his left forearm last season and played with a plate and six screws that are still in place, will miss Cincinnati's next game, at home Oct. 24 against Louisville.

"The plate that's in there has shifted," Kelly said, adding that it has not been determined if the injury will require surgery. He expects to know more after Pike undergoes an examination today.

The Bearcats (6-0, 2-0 Big East) did not make Pike available to the media in the locker room, citing team policy regarding injured players.

Without the senior, who's thrown for 1,633 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, Cincinnati rallied around backup Zach Collaros to put the game away.

The replacement scored on runs of 74 and 3 yards after Pike threw a pair of scoring passes to Armon Binns in the second quarter to help build a 17-10 halftime lead.

South Florida (5-1, 1-1) tried, but never truly adjusted to the Bearcats transforming themselves into a run-first team with Collaros in the game.

"We try to stay prepared for every circumstance," Kelly said. "Zach gets work on that during the week, and we had enough in there to be successful against a very, very good defense."

It was another disappointing night for South Florida, which has struggled after climbing into the Top 25 each of the past three seasons.