PITTSBURGH — Three months later, neither South Florida nor Pittsburgh is exactly where it wanted to be when the college football season opened.

Three consecutive midseason losses put South Florida (8-3, 3-3 Big East) out of the conference title race, the No. 2 spot in the rankings and, worse still, the Top 25 altogether.

Their fall from the rankings occurred nearly as swiftly as their climb.

The Bulls have since rebounded with victories over Syracuse (41-10) and Louisville (55-17), but the best they can hope for by beating Pittsburgh (4-6, 2-3) on Saturday probably is a date in the Sun Bowl. The Gator Bowl on New Year's Day appears to be out of the picture.

"Any bowl for me is an honor," South Florida coach Jim Levitt.

Still, it won't be the bowl the Bulls would have gone to if they had been 12-0, 11-1 or 10-2.

If Pitt's bowl drought extends much longer, the Panthers might be tempted to start their own postseason game. They can finish 6-6 only by upsetting South Florida and No. 4 West Virginia in an eight-day span, and even that improbable scenario likely wouldn't get them into a postseason game.

It's a major disappointment for coach Dave Wannstedt, who still hasn't produced a winning record or a bowl team in three seasons. There will be considerable pressure on the former Bears and Dolphins coach to produce both next season, especially with a new athletic director arriving soon.

Pitt's two-deep chart is loaded with freshmen and sophomores, with predictable results. The Panthers' 20-16 loss at Rutgers last week mirrored that of earlier defeats to Navy (48-45), Louisville (24-17) and Michigan State (17-13) in which they had the ball in scoring range late in the game, but couldn't get a decisive touchdown.

"You'd like to think that if we're 50 percent, that's two more wins," Wannstedt said.

Pitt's offense has been carried most of the season by two freshmen, running back LeSean McCoy (1,125 yards, 11 touchdowns) and quarterback Pat Bostick (61.7 completion percentage, 6 touchdown passes).

Bostick was benched in the second half against Rutgers, and Wannstedt won't announce until game time whether Bostick or redshirt freshman Kevan Smith, a Seneca Valley graduate, will start.

Pitt's defense has improved significantly during the last month after giving up a combined 92 points to Navy and Virginia, but the Panthers will be tested by playmaking Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe. He has thrown for 2,314 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 765 yards and nine scores.