JALMOND
August 26th, 2021, 01:48 AM
The unknown. Maybe that is what we should call the 2021 season. Due to COVID last season eight schools played 5-6 games, Cal Poly played 3 games, Montana played 2 and Portland State played 1, but all the players were given the option of not losing a year of eligibility. All that makes this year an unknown. Will those schools that played six games have an edge over those that played fewer (or didn't play any)? Given that, the conference race this year is probably as wide open as it ever has been. Here are the opening week's power rankings for the Big Sky Conference. All are my opinion only, all are open for discussion (and I'm sure we will have a lot). I brought them out this week due to Southern Utah playing this weekend. Here you go...
1. Weber State Wildcats (next game Sept. 2 at Pac-12 Utah)-The Wildcats made it through the COVID shortened schedule undefeated and promptly lost in the first round of the playoffs. Still, the five games they played (and won) in conference should have prepared them for a strong run this year when it counts. They get an early tilt next Thursday just down the road from campus.
2. Eastern Washington Eagles (next game Sept. 2 at Mountain West UNLV)-The Eagles actually got seven games in last year as they were able to play Cal Poly before the Mustangs hung it up, and they also got a playoff game in as well. Will that give them a leg up on everyone else in the conference? A business trip to Vegas next week is in the cards.
3. Montana Grizzlies (next game Sept. 4 at Pac-12 Washington)-The Grizzlies opted out of playing a six game schedule and instead hosted Central Washington and Portland State, winning both of them comfortably. That optimism has carried over to this year when it truly counts and they will start next week in Seattle.
4. Montana State Bobcats (next game Sept. 4 at Mountain West Wyoming)-One of the bigger unknowns in the conference, the Bobcats will have a new head coach coming in to this season. They also did not play any games in the spring. They will head out to Wyoming for their first game in 20 months since they lost to North Dakota State in the 2019 playoffs.
5. UC-Davis Aggies (next game Sept. 2 at American Tulsa)-The Aggies played five games total during the COVID season and many people thought they deserved a spot in the playoffs, but they ended up staying home. Still, five games is enough to prepare them for this season whe it counts. They start next week on the road.
6. Sacramento State Hornets (next game Sept. 4 at WAC Dixie State)-The Hornets opted not to play any games in the fall or the spring and therefore will play their first game in over 20 months against transistional Dixie State. The Hornets have some exciting pieces but how will they fare after not playing for so long.
7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (next game Sept. 2 against WAC Sam Houston)-The Lumberjacks also got five games in during the COVID season and hope that it will prepare them adequately for this year. They do have a strong opener at home against a tough FCS opponent, which should also help them this season.
8. Portland State Vikings (next game Sept. 4 at Mountain West Hawaii)-The Vikings opted out of the grueling six game spring schedule, opting instead for one game against Montana on the road, capping their spring practice. Will that be enough? They take an opening trip to the Islands to start the season, then it is back to the grind.
9. Idaho State Bengals (next game Sept 4 against Missouri Valley North Dakota)-The Bengals got in their six game COVID schedule and capped it with a win over their rival (Idaho) which was a good thing to build on during the summer. They come in feeling good and will start the season against the former Big Sky school.
10. Idaho Vandals (next game Sept. 4 against DII Simon Fraser)-The Vandals played six games during the COVID season and, aside from the opening win over Eastern Washington, did not look good. Still, enough optimism from those six games has them thinking positive going into this season. They bring in a DII team to start the year.
11. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (next game August 28 at Mountain West San Jose State)-The Thunderbirds got in a six game slate during COVID, yet only could muster one win over Cal Poly. Still, their thinking is six games is better than none and they will try to parlay that into wins this year. They start early, playing this weekend.
12. Cal Poly Mustangs (next game Sept. 4 at Pioneer San Diego)-The intent was there but after being hit by COVID and really not competitive in the games they did play, the Mustangs folded up shop after three games in the spring. Now, they are back healthy and ready to go. They hit the road for a game against a good FCS squad.
13. Northern Colorado Bears (next game Sept. 3 at Pac-12 Colorado)-The Bears also brought in a new coach, opted out of the spring schedule, and ended up not playing any games in the spring. What that did for them remains to be seen as they will make the short trip down the road next week and play the Pac-12.
1. Weber State Wildcats (next game Sept. 2 at Pac-12 Utah)-The Wildcats made it through the COVID shortened schedule undefeated and promptly lost in the first round of the playoffs. Still, the five games they played (and won) in conference should have prepared them for a strong run this year when it counts. They get an early tilt next Thursday just down the road from campus.
2. Eastern Washington Eagles (next game Sept. 2 at Mountain West UNLV)-The Eagles actually got seven games in last year as they were able to play Cal Poly before the Mustangs hung it up, and they also got a playoff game in as well. Will that give them a leg up on everyone else in the conference? A business trip to Vegas next week is in the cards.
3. Montana Grizzlies (next game Sept. 4 at Pac-12 Washington)-The Grizzlies opted out of playing a six game schedule and instead hosted Central Washington and Portland State, winning both of them comfortably. That optimism has carried over to this year when it truly counts and they will start next week in Seattle.
4. Montana State Bobcats (next game Sept. 4 at Mountain West Wyoming)-One of the bigger unknowns in the conference, the Bobcats will have a new head coach coming in to this season. They also did not play any games in the spring. They will head out to Wyoming for their first game in 20 months since they lost to North Dakota State in the 2019 playoffs.
5. UC-Davis Aggies (next game Sept. 2 at American Tulsa)-The Aggies played five games total during the COVID season and many people thought they deserved a spot in the playoffs, but they ended up staying home. Still, five games is enough to prepare them for this season whe it counts. They start next week on the road.
6. Sacramento State Hornets (next game Sept. 4 at WAC Dixie State)-The Hornets opted not to play any games in the fall or the spring and therefore will play their first game in over 20 months against transistional Dixie State. The Hornets have some exciting pieces but how will they fare after not playing for so long.
7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (next game Sept. 2 against WAC Sam Houston)-The Lumberjacks also got five games in during the COVID season and hope that it will prepare them adequately for this year. They do have a strong opener at home against a tough FCS opponent, which should also help them this season.
8. Portland State Vikings (next game Sept. 4 at Mountain West Hawaii)-The Vikings opted out of the grueling six game spring schedule, opting instead for one game against Montana on the road, capping their spring practice. Will that be enough? They take an opening trip to the Islands to start the season, then it is back to the grind.
9. Idaho State Bengals (next game Sept 4 against Missouri Valley North Dakota)-The Bengals got in their six game COVID schedule and capped it with a win over their rival (Idaho) which was a good thing to build on during the summer. They come in feeling good and will start the season against the former Big Sky school.
10. Idaho Vandals (next game Sept. 4 against DII Simon Fraser)-The Vandals played six games during the COVID season and, aside from the opening win over Eastern Washington, did not look good. Still, enough optimism from those six games has them thinking positive going into this season. They bring in a DII team to start the year.
11. Southern Utah Thunderbirds (next game August 28 at Mountain West San Jose State)-The Thunderbirds got in a six game slate during COVID, yet only could muster one win over Cal Poly. Still, their thinking is six games is better than none and they will try to parlay that into wins this year. They start early, playing this weekend.
12. Cal Poly Mustangs (next game Sept. 4 at Pioneer San Diego)-The intent was there but after being hit by COVID and really not competitive in the games they did play, the Mustangs folded up shop after three games in the spring. Now, they are back healthy and ready to go. They hit the road for a game against a good FCS squad.
13. Northern Colorado Bears (next game Sept. 3 at Pac-12 Colorado)-The Bears also brought in a new coach, opted out of the spring schedule, and ended up not playing any games in the spring. What that did for them remains to be seen as they will make the short trip down the road next week and play the Pac-12.