Big Sky Power Rankings 9-19

[JALMOND]

For most of the Big Sky schools, non-conference play wrapped up last week and the conference season starts this weekend. As a whole the Big Sky fared well against the FBS Mountain West conference, but did not do well against the Pac-12. But all that changes and everyone has a brand new slate as conference play begins, and conference play will dictate the playoff representation. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). As usual, all up for discussion. Good luck to everyone.

1. Montana (2)---Last week won at Indiana State (Missouri Valley) 49-14, this week Portland State at home---The Grizzlies are looking explosive on both sides of the ball in each of their three non-conference wins. They are clearly ready to play and the rest of the Big Sky better be on notice as they look to regain their top spot.

2. Weber State (3)---Last week beat Utah Tech (WAC) at home 44-14, this week at UC Davis---The Wildcats rode their combination of FBS, FCS and Division II opponents all the way to a perfect record and they are also looking good on both sides of the ball. The only Big Sky team to get an FBS scalp (so far) they are ascending as well.

3. Montana State (1)---Last week lost at Oregon State (FBS Pac-12) 68-28, this week at Eastern Washington---Like most of the Big Sky teams this season, the Bobcats were looking good until they met up with a Pac-12 opponent last weekend, who took them for a backyard beatdown. They will need to recover as conference season starts.

4. Sacramento State (4)---Last week won at Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley) 37-21, this week at Colorado State (FBS Mtn West)---Something good going on in Sac-Town? The Hornets didn't bat a wing as they traveled to the Missouri Valley and got a good win. They will hold off starting conference play as they move up a level to the Mtn West.

5. UC Davis (5)---Last week beat San Diego (Pioneer) at home 43-13, this week Weber State at home---Feeling good now that the Aggies got their first win of the season after playing two tough road games, they will start the conference season with yet another tough game, this time at home, and possibly move up the standings.

6. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week bye, this week Montana State at home---Having a week off to regain their composure and their moxie before starting in on conference play, the Eagles are hoping to start conference play better than the non-conference schedule went. They get a good home test right off the bat.

7. Idaho (7)---Last week beat Drake (Pioneer) at home 42-14, this week at Northern Arizona---The Vandals put together what was probably the best effort a Big Sky team had against the Pac-12, then followed it up with another good showing against the Power 5. Could they be the sleeper in the conference this year? This weekend is a good test.

8. Northern Arizona (8)---Last week lost to North Dakota (Missouri Valley) at home 27-24, this week Idaho at home---The Lumberjacks had a good non-conference home win in their grasp only to see it wiggle away. Still, a good road win has them thinking good thoughts as conference play starts. A good test for them as well.

9. Portland State (9)---Last week bye, this week at Montana---The Vikings took a week off to recover from their Pac-12 beatdown and to get focused on the conference play ahead. The question, did playing two money games to start the season prepare them for conference play, especially in one of the toughest places in the conference?

10. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week won at Lamar (Southland) 21-14, this week Idaho State at home---The Bears went 1-1 against the Southland and had a relatively good performance against the Mountain West between them. One bad game out of the way, they've looked better the last two games. How will that translate to conference play?

11. Cal Poly (10)---Last week lost at South Dakota (Missouri Valley) 38-21, this week bye---The Mustangs closed out their non-conference slate with a tough loss to the Missouri Valley. They have looked fine in games, but the only win was due to some late game heroics in eking out a win over a non-scholly school. They take this week off.

12. Idaho State (12)---Last week lost to Central Arkansas (ASUN) at home 31-16, this week at Northern Colorado---Playing two Mountain West games, then following it up with a home game against a tough opponent still has the Bengals going in to conference play looking for their first win. But they are starting fresh and they could win the opener.

RECAP: 1-5 contenders, 6-9 hopeful, 10-12 anything is possible.

[wapiti]

Preseason OOC games are finishing up (Except Sac) and conference games begin. The games start to mean a bit more.


1. (1) Montana - The defense has been outstanding in the first 3 games, even on the road. Will anyone be able to beat the griz in the regular season?
Next victim is PSU in Missoula.


2. Weber (2) - Dispatched fellow FCS state team Utah Tech with ease. BBQ should be challenged @ UC Davis.


3. Sac State (4) - Took down Northern Iowa on the road. Next up is G5 FBS Colorado State on the road.


4. Montana State (3) - MSU was throttled by a strong Oregon State team. MSU continues to struggle with turnovers. This time it was 3 INTs. Next is a questionable EWU team in Cheney.


5. UC Davis (5) - I debated putting UCD ahead of MSU, but since MSU has the better w-l record I left it as is. Big game in Davis this weekend against BBQ.


6. Idaho (6) - UI got their first W of the season. It was close for the first half and then UI beat up Drake in the 2nd half. Next is NAU on the road and it should be a good game.


7. NAU (7) - Was beat by U North Dakota in Flagstaff. Not good to lose @home. A good Idaho team is next in Flagstaff.


8. EWU (8) - Had a bye. Next is MSU in Cheney.


9. PSU (9) - Had a bye. Next is a very likely L @ UM


10. NC (10) - UNCU surprised me by winning a road game @Lamar. Next is pillow fight game against ISU.


11. CP (11) - Lost on the road to a decent South Dakota team. Next is a tough one against Sac State.


12. ISU (12) - ISU was beat up by Central Arkansas in Pocatello. This next game may be their best chance for a win against UNCU.




No change in the Recap: 1-5 contenders 6-9 Middle of the pack 10-12 Bottom of the barrel

[MSUBobcat]

1. Montana (1) - The Griz are looking very strong on defense and the offense is coming together well. Front runner for conference championship at this point.
2. Weber (2) - Also 3-0 with an FBS curb stomping.
3. Sac St (3) - The Hornets avenged their 2021 loss to UNI with a solid road win.
4. UC-Davis (5) - The Aggies played tough at SDSU last week and followed it by pounding one of the better PFL teams.
5. Montana State (4) - The RB corps is depleted and the defense/special teams looked inept, albeit against FBS ORV OSU.
6. Idaho (7) - Idaho beat a bad Drake team as they were expected. Moved up due to NAU losing at home, but they face each other this weekend, so one will solidify their position in relation to the other.
7. NAU (6) - UND now has 2 decent wins and creeping up in the rankings. Still... to be top half, gotta win those home games against good competition.
8. EWU (8) - bye week, so no movement. Big conference opener hosting MSU this weekend. Will there be shakeup in my rankings? I hope not.
9. PSU (9) - also bye week, so no movement. Unless 10-12 really surprise me and earn passing PSU, even a drubbing at Wa-Griz probably won't change their position this weekend either.
10. UNC (10) - if they didn't have that inexplicable home loss to HBU, I might have them above PSU. They held their own against a WYO team that just beat Air Force, which has looked pretty good and is coming off a solid 2021 season.
11. Cal Poly (12) - a 17 point road loss to South Dakota is some degree better than a 15 point home loss to Central Arkansas.
12. ISU-o (11) - see reasoning for #11. I think NoCo builds off the momentum of its road win last weekend and handles the Bengals at home, leaving their Oct. 15 Homecoming matchup vs. Cal Poly as their best chance for a W in 2022.

1-5 Still solid playoff contenders
6 Last week I said if NAU played like they did at SHSU, they would be in the conversation. They didn't, and right now, aren't. But perhaps Idaho is??
7-9 One or all of these teams will steal an upset win over a higher ranked conference foe.
10-12 Still looking like a long season for these teams.

[dbackjon]

Another test for the Jacks. Fell short last week. Need to close out the games to get into contention

[wapiti]

There is argument for BBQ to be number 1 in the rankings.

In a few weeks UM plays @ BBQ. That game may determine who is the Big Sky Champ.

[uofmman1122]

I don't like this. We haven't been good front runners in over a decade.

Stop saying we're the favorite. lol

[MSUBobcat]

There is argument for BBQ to be number 1 in the rankings.

In a few weeks UM plays @ BBQ. That game may determine who is the Big Sky Champ.

One could easily make that argument. Beating USU on the road by 28 is better than beating South Dakota by 17 at home. Only reason I haven't made the move is carryover from 2021, where the Griz were a QF team and BBQ was left at home (don't tell FUBeAR that xprayx. If Weber wins convincingly @UC-Davis, it'll be time.


I don't like this. We haven't been good front runners in over a decade.

Stop saying we're the favorite. lol

Feel free to drop a game and I'll feel free to drop their ranking.... :D