JALMOND
September 6th, 2021, 05:08 PM
What a week for the Big Sky. Three wins over the FBS including Montana's win over #20 Washington. A conference that usually prides itself on a shootout, offensive mentality, almost all of the games represented tough, defensive, grind it out type games. Has the conference suddenly changed to a smashmouth type, defensive thinking conference or was it just a strange, first week of football week? Here are this week's power rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are just my opinion only.
1. Montana (3)-Last week won at Washington (FBS Pac-12) 13-7, this week Western Illinois (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---Even the most optimistic fan could not have seen the Grizzlies winning against what was supposed to be one of the top programs in the Pac-12 this year. But the Grizzlies got the game with defense and move on this week, entertaining a strong team from the Missouri Valley.
2. Eastern Washington (2)-Last week won at UNLV (FBS Mtn West) 35-33 (2OT), this week Central Washington (DII) at home---Unlike the Montana/Washington game, or even the UC Davis/Tulsa game, many people thought the Eagles would be able to stay close in this game and probably get the win. The Eagles tried to give it away late but still got the win. This week, they bring in their in-state, DII brothers.
3. UC Davis (5)-Last week won at Tulsa (FBS American) 19-17, this week at San Diego (FCS Pioneer)---While most people might have thought the Aggies could keep it close against Tulsa, many did not think they could emerge with the victory. But the Aggie defense kept Tulsa at bay and gave them a chance to pull out a great win. This week, they get their non-scholly friends from the south on the road, a tough place to play.
4. Weber State (1)-Last week lost at Utah (FBS Pac-12) 40-17, this week at Dixie State (FCS transitional)---While others were showing off their strength, the Wildcats gave their big brothers from the Pac-12 a battle, only to lose steam in the 4th quarter where Utah's Pac-12 power came through. The Wilcats venture on the road once again, welcoming their in-state brethren to the FCS.
5. Montana State (4)-Last week lost at Wyoming (FBS Mtn West) 19-16, this week Drake (FCS Pioneer) at home---So close. The Bobcats took Wyoming to town and was poised to get another Big Sky win over the FBS until a late touchdown spoiled the day. Still, a very good showing should give the new look Bobcats confidence starting the season. They welcome the Pioneer league to town this weekend.
6. Sacramento State (6)-Last week won at Dixie State (FCS transitional) 19-7, this week Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---The Hornets' defense did just enough last week, shutting down a new FCS squad on the road to get a tough win in the FCS. Things may get a bit more difficult as they welcome a strong Missouri Valley team to their cozy confines.
7. Northern Arizona (7)-Last week lost to Sam Houston (FCS WAC) at home 42-16, this week at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Lumberjacks knew they were going to be in for a tough battle by bringing in the defending national champs and things got out of hand fairly quickly. They will hit the road this weekend, heading out to the Missouri Valley for a tough game at South Dakota.
8. Idaho (10)-Last week beat Simon Fraser (DII) at home 68-0, this week at Indiana (FBS Big 10)---While everyone else were playing at the FCS level or reaching to the FBS, the Vandals brought in a DII school, hoping to build confidence before starting their DI season, and they got the easy win. Things are going to be much more difficult as they head out to Big 10 land against one of the stronger opponents there.
9. Cal Poly (12)-Last week won at San Diego (FCS Pioneer) 28-17, this week at Fresno State (FBS Mtn West)---The Mustangs quietly put away a good Pioneer league team on the road and sent a message to the rest of the conference that they are not to be overlooked. The Mustangs controlled the game pretty much from start to finish and hope to install confidence. They step up a level, heading out to the Central Valley.
10. Portland State (8)-Last week lost at Hawaii (FBS Mtn West) 49-35, this week at Washington State (FBS Pac-12)---The Vikings did not get off to a quick start that is necessary when playing up a level and as a result, they had to play catch-up pretty much the whole game. They step up a level again this weekend as they venture out to the Pac-12 level. They can win this game, but they certainly cannot have the same start as last weekend.
11. Idaho State (9)-Last week lost to North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 35-14, this week at Nevada (FBS Mtn West)---The Bengals played North Dakota tough for the first half, then fell apart in the second for a tough home FCS loss. They will also step up a level as they go on the road to play a strong team from the Mountain West. They will need a better showing in order to get this game.
12. Southern Utah (11)-Last week, lost at San Jose State (FBS Mtn West) 45-14 and to Arizona State (FBS Pac-12) 41-14, this week off---The Thunderbirds took on a murderous start to their final Big Sky season, losing two games by almost the same score. Hoping that these game will give them confidence heading in to their final Big Sky season, they will take this week off before playing again.
13. Northern Colorado (13)-Last week lost at Colorado (FBS Pac-12) 35-7, this week at Houston Baptist (FCS Southland)---The surprising thing about the Bears game this weekend was not that they were playing one of the better Pac-12 teams, but that they were able to stay competitive in the game. Could that be an indication of their season? They head on the road this weekend, playing one of the remaining Southland upstarts.
RECAP: 1-5 setting the pace, 6 keeping up, 7 trying to keep up, 8-13 slightly off the pace.
1. Montana (3)-Last week won at Washington (FBS Pac-12) 13-7, this week Western Illinois (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---Even the most optimistic fan could not have seen the Grizzlies winning against what was supposed to be one of the top programs in the Pac-12 this year. But the Grizzlies got the game with defense and move on this week, entertaining a strong team from the Missouri Valley.
2. Eastern Washington (2)-Last week won at UNLV (FBS Mtn West) 35-33 (2OT), this week Central Washington (DII) at home---Unlike the Montana/Washington game, or even the UC Davis/Tulsa game, many people thought the Eagles would be able to stay close in this game and probably get the win. The Eagles tried to give it away late but still got the win. This week, they bring in their in-state, DII brothers.
3. UC Davis (5)-Last week won at Tulsa (FBS American) 19-17, this week at San Diego (FCS Pioneer)---While most people might have thought the Aggies could keep it close against Tulsa, many did not think they could emerge with the victory. But the Aggie defense kept Tulsa at bay and gave them a chance to pull out a great win. This week, they get their non-scholly friends from the south on the road, a tough place to play.
4. Weber State (1)-Last week lost at Utah (FBS Pac-12) 40-17, this week at Dixie State (FCS transitional)---While others were showing off their strength, the Wildcats gave their big brothers from the Pac-12 a battle, only to lose steam in the 4th quarter where Utah's Pac-12 power came through. The Wilcats venture on the road once again, welcoming their in-state brethren to the FCS.
5. Montana State (4)-Last week lost at Wyoming (FBS Mtn West) 19-16, this week Drake (FCS Pioneer) at home---So close. The Bobcats took Wyoming to town and was poised to get another Big Sky win over the FBS until a late touchdown spoiled the day. Still, a very good showing should give the new look Bobcats confidence starting the season. They welcome the Pioneer league to town this weekend.
6. Sacramento State (6)-Last week won at Dixie State (FCS transitional) 19-7, this week Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---The Hornets' defense did just enough last week, shutting down a new FCS squad on the road to get a tough win in the FCS. Things may get a bit more difficult as they welcome a strong Missouri Valley team to their cozy confines.
7. Northern Arizona (7)-Last week lost to Sam Houston (FCS WAC) at home 42-16, this week at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Lumberjacks knew they were going to be in for a tough battle by bringing in the defending national champs and things got out of hand fairly quickly. They will hit the road this weekend, heading out to the Missouri Valley for a tough game at South Dakota.
8. Idaho (10)-Last week beat Simon Fraser (DII) at home 68-0, this week at Indiana (FBS Big 10)---While everyone else were playing at the FCS level or reaching to the FBS, the Vandals brought in a DII school, hoping to build confidence before starting their DI season, and they got the easy win. Things are going to be much more difficult as they head out to Big 10 land against one of the stronger opponents there.
9. Cal Poly (12)-Last week won at San Diego (FCS Pioneer) 28-17, this week at Fresno State (FBS Mtn West)---The Mustangs quietly put away a good Pioneer league team on the road and sent a message to the rest of the conference that they are not to be overlooked. The Mustangs controlled the game pretty much from start to finish and hope to install confidence. They step up a level, heading out to the Central Valley.
10. Portland State (8)-Last week lost at Hawaii (FBS Mtn West) 49-35, this week at Washington State (FBS Pac-12)---The Vikings did not get off to a quick start that is necessary when playing up a level and as a result, they had to play catch-up pretty much the whole game. They step up a level again this weekend as they venture out to the Pac-12 level. They can win this game, but they certainly cannot have the same start as last weekend.
11. Idaho State (9)-Last week lost to North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 35-14, this week at Nevada (FBS Mtn West)---The Bengals played North Dakota tough for the first half, then fell apart in the second for a tough home FCS loss. They will also step up a level as they go on the road to play a strong team from the Mountain West. They will need a better showing in order to get this game.
12. Southern Utah (11)-Last week, lost at San Jose State (FBS Mtn West) 45-14 and to Arizona State (FBS Pac-12) 41-14, this week off---The Thunderbirds took on a murderous start to their final Big Sky season, losing two games by almost the same score. Hoping that these game will give them confidence heading in to their final Big Sky season, they will take this week off before playing again.
13. Northern Colorado (13)-Last week lost at Colorado (FBS Pac-12) 35-7, this week at Houston Baptist (FCS Southland)---The surprising thing about the Bears game this weekend was not that they were playing one of the better Pac-12 teams, but that they were able to stay competitive in the game. Could that be an indication of their season? They head on the road this weekend, playing one of the remaining Southland upstarts.
RECAP: 1-5 setting the pace, 6 keeping up, 7 trying to keep up, 8-13 slightly off the pace.