TAMPA, Fla. — Forget a pair of disappointing losses that threatened to undermine West Virginia’s season. The 22nd-ranked Mountaineers can clinch a share of the Big East title by beating South Florida, and they’ve still got a shot at representing the league in the lucrative Bowl Championship Series, too.

As far as coach Dana Holgorsen is concerned, that’s all that matters heading into Thursday night’s regular season finale.

“This is what it’s about. We have a national TV game, a quality opponent, and if we win the game, we get a share of the Big East conference championship,” said Holgorsen, whose team has won three of four following a lopsided loss to Syracuse to remain in a crowded race.

“That’s where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year, and it’s right there for us,” the first-year coach added. “Would we have liked to have won a couple more games and have the title with us right now? Yes. Everybody else would like that, too. ... Reality is that we’ve put ourselves in a position that we can win the Big East. We’ll take it.”

Louisville clinched a share of the crown with a victory over USF last week. West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) can grab a portion by beating the Bulls. Cincinnati can do the same by the defeating Connecticut on Saturday.

If there’s a three-way tie, the Mountaineers will receive the BCS bid if they are ranked higher than Louisville or Cincinnati in the final BCS rankings.