The Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Rasheed Marshall set a Big East career rushing mark for quarterbacks and threw three touchdown passes while leading No. 15 West Virginia over Syracuse 27-6 Thursday night.

Jason Colson had 113 yards against the league's worst rushing defense, and Chris Henry caught two TD passes against the Orange for the second straight season.

The Mountaineers (6-1, 2-0) took sole possession of first place in the conference by scoring the first 17 points and stopping four Syracuse drives inside the red zone without points.

Syracuse (3-4, 1-1) must win three of its final four games to become bowl-eligible.

Marshall owns league records once held by Syracuse's Donovan McNabb and Virginia Tech's Michael Vick.

Marshall's 87 rushing yards Thursday gave him 1,605 for his career, breaking McNabb's mark of 1,561. In 2002, Marshall set the single-season mark of 666 formerly held by Vick.

OHIO STATE: With Justin Zwick hindered by a separated shoulder, Troy Smith will start at quarterback for the Buckeyes on Saturday against Indiana.

Quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels announced the decision after Thursday's practice. Daniels said he has talked to Smith to reassure him he doesn't need to win the game single-handedly.

"We don't need him to come out with a red cape and an 'S' on his chest," Daniels said. "We just need him to do the things that Troy is capable of doing."

Zwick, who has started every game for Ohio State (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten), suffered what Daniels termed a mild separation of his left shoulder in the Buckeyes' 33-7 loss at Iowa last week - their third defeat in a row.

LOUISVILLE: The No. 15 Cardinals (4-1, 2-0 Conference USA) play South Florida (2-3, 1-2) tonight in another nationally televised showcase, just more than a week after dropping a 41-38 defeat at the Miami Hurricanes.

Louisville moved up three sports in the Associated Press poll despite the loss.

"We've got six games to go and we'd like to win all six," coach Bobby Petrino said. "If we take care of our business, there are good things out there."