JALMOND
September 7th, 2015, 08:59 PM
Wow, wasn't that exciting? The Big Sky conference had quite the weekend with impressive performances from almost all of the schools. It certainly caused a shake-up, both nationally and here in the power rankings. Congrats to both North Dakota and Portland State on their FBS wins, but really everyone looked really sharp. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all are my opinions only and all open for discussion (this week, probably more discussion than ever).
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week lost to FBS Oregon, 61-42, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---The Eagles may have lost their explosive quarterback from last year, but they showed they are not about to give up their grasp on the title without a fight. Still, a good win would be better than a good loss this weekend.
2. Cal Poly (4)---Last week, won at Montana, 20-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---Overlooked amid all the chaos from the weekend was the late game fireworks from the last game on the weekend when the Mustangs squeaked by Montana. Their turn this weekend to face the Pac-12, and the bar has been raised.
3. Montana (2)---Last week, lost at home to Cal Poly, 20-19, this week, BYE---It looked for awhile like the Grizzlies were going to sneak out a win at home against Cal Poly, only to watch the Mustangs kick the winning field goal. They get a break in the schedule before heading out east.
4. Montana State (1)---Last week, beat Fort Lewis, 45-14, this week, BYE---Just a victim of circumstances as the Bobcats took care of business against a DII team. The problem was that everyone else was looking like world beaters against higher competition. They, too, get a break this weekend.
5. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week, won at Stephen F Austin, 34-28, this week, New Mexico Highlands (DII) at home---The Lumberjacks put the conference on notice that they also are a team to be reckoned with as they took care of business at a strong Southland team. They can't stub their toe this weekend, however.
6. Idaho State (5)---Last week, beat Black Hills State, 55-0 this week, Portland State at home---The Bengals took care of business last weekend, dispatching a DII opponent. Things get more interesting this weekend as they bring on the upstart Portland State team.
7. North Dakota (9)---Last week, won at FBS Wyoming, 24-13, this week at home against Drake (Pioneer)---No one really gave the Dakotans much of a chance against Wyoming, yet they were able to come home with the win. Things are looking up, but they can't look past this weekend.
8. Portland State (12)---Last week, won at FBS Washington State, 24-17, this week at Idaho State---The Vikings had virtually no chance to win by anyone at Washington State, yet a strong, gritty performance led to their first win ever over a Pac-12 team. Flying high, they encounter Idaho State who is eager to knock them down.
9. Southern Utah (7)---Last week, lost at FBS Utah State 12-9, this week at South Dakota State (Mo Valley)---The Thunderbirds came so close to getting yet another FBS win, falling just short at the end. They will need that momentum as they return to the FCS this weekend.
10. Sacramento State (8)---Last week, won at home against Eastern Oregon, 41-20, this week, at Washington (Pac-12)---After taking care of business last week against an NAIA team, the Hornets look to continue the conference's great showing against the Pac-12.
11. Weber State (10)---Last week, lost at FBS Oregon State, 26-7, this week at North Dakota State (Mo Valley)---Oh, what would have happened had the Wildcats packed up an offense to go with that awesome defensive performance last week? They will need to find that offense in a hurry.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week, lost to FBS Nevada, 31-17, this week South Dakota (Mo Valley) at home---The Aggies had their moments in playing up a level but still came out on the short end. They return home and welcome a challenge from the tough Missouri Valley conference.
13. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, beat Western State 42-34, this week at Houston Baptist (Southland)---A win is a good thing, so the Bears want to believe, but a win has to be better than over a DII, especially given how the conference did as a whole. A win this weekend in FCS would be better for sure.
RECAP: 1, then 2-10 in a pack, 11-12 on their heels, 13 off the pace.
1. Eastern Washington (3)---Last week lost to FBS Oregon, 61-42, this week at Northern Iowa (Mo Valley)---The Eagles may have lost their explosive quarterback from last year, but they showed they are not about to give up their grasp on the title without a fight. Still, a good win would be better than a good loss this weekend.
2. Cal Poly (4)---Last week, won at Montana, 20-19, this week at Arizona State (Pac-12)---Overlooked amid all the chaos from the weekend was the late game fireworks from the last game on the weekend when the Mustangs squeaked by Montana. Their turn this weekend to face the Pac-12, and the bar has been raised.
3. Montana (2)---Last week, lost at home to Cal Poly, 20-19, this week, BYE---It looked for awhile like the Grizzlies were going to sneak out a win at home against Cal Poly, only to watch the Mustangs kick the winning field goal. They get a break in the schedule before heading out east.
4. Montana State (1)---Last week, beat Fort Lewis, 45-14, this week, BYE---Just a victim of circumstances as the Bobcats took care of business against a DII team. The problem was that everyone else was looking like world beaters against higher competition. They, too, get a break this weekend.
5. Northern Arizona (6)---Last week, won at Stephen F Austin, 34-28, this week, New Mexico Highlands (DII) at home---The Lumberjacks put the conference on notice that they also are a team to be reckoned with as they took care of business at a strong Southland team. They can't stub their toe this weekend, however.
6. Idaho State (5)---Last week, beat Black Hills State, 55-0 this week, Portland State at home---The Bengals took care of business last weekend, dispatching a DII opponent. Things get more interesting this weekend as they bring on the upstart Portland State team.
7. North Dakota (9)---Last week, won at FBS Wyoming, 24-13, this week at home against Drake (Pioneer)---No one really gave the Dakotans much of a chance against Wyoming, yet they were able to come home with the win. Things are looking up, but they can't look past this weekend.
8. Portland State (12)---Last week, won at FBS Washington State, 24-17, this week at Idaho State---The Vikings had virtually no chance to win by anyone at Washington State, yet a strong, gritty performance led to their first win ever over a Pac-12 team. Flying high, they encounter Idaho State who is eager to knock them down.
9. Southern Utah (7)---Last week, lost at FBS Utah State 12-9, this week at South Dakota State (Mo Valley)---The Thunderbirds came so close to getting yet another FBS win, falling just short at the end. They will need that momentum as they return to the FCS this weekend.
10. Sacramento State (8)---Last week, won at home against Eastern Oregon, 41-20, this week, at Washington (Pac-12)---After taking care of business last week against an NAIA team, the Hornets look to continue the conference's great showing against the Pac-12.
11. Weber State (10)---Last week, lost at FBS Oregon State, 26-7, this week at North Dakota State (Mo Valley)---Oh, what would have happened had the Wildcats packed up an offense to go with that awesome defensive performance last week? They will need to find that offense in a hurry.
12. UC-Davis (11)---Last week, lost to FBS Nevada, 31-17, this week South Dakota (Mo Valley) at home---The Aggies had their moments in playing up a level but still came out on the short end. They return home and welcome a challenge from the tough Missouri Valley conference.
13. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week, beat Western State 42-34, this week at Houston Baptist (Southland)---A win is a good thing, so the Bears want to believe, but a win has to be better than over a DII, especially given how the conference did as a whole. A win this weekend in FCS would be better for sure.
RECAP: 1, then 2-10 in a pack, 11-12 on their heels, 13 off the pace.