Big Sky Power Rankings 9-15

[JALMOND]

The upper echelon of the conference is slowly emerging and as expected, five schools are making their case to be included in the top spots of the conference, and conference play hasn't even started yet for most. This is truly shaping up to be one of the wildest years in football in the conference in a long time. Here are this week's power rankings for the conference (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. One more week of non-conference action then it is on to conference play.

1. Montana State (1)---Last week, bye, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home---Having scheduled a game during week 0, the Bobcats needed to have an open date before conference play and so they chose the week before entertaining a school from the Northeast conference. Should be an easy tuneup before conference play.

2. Idaho (2)---Last week beat Albany (FCS CAA) at home 41-13, this week at Abilene Christian (FCS United)---The Vandals avenged a playoff loss last year with a resounding win over Albany this year. They go back on the road this week, but facing an FCS opponent this week. Still, it won't be easy getting another win.

3. Montana (3)---Last week beat Morehead State (FCS Pioneer) 59-2, this week Western Carolina (FCS Southern) at home---The Grizzlies finally flexed their muscles last week and got the conference's first win in three tries over the non-scholly Pioneer League. Things get a bit tougher this weekend but hopefully they have turned the corner.

4. UC Davis (4)---Last week won at Southern Utah (FCS United) 24-21, this week Utah Tech (FCS United) at home---In a very entertaining game last week, the Aggies held on to get a strong road win and took a step forward to the top. This week, they return home but bring in another United conference foe for a big test.

5. Sacramento State (5)---Last week beat Nicholls (FCS Southland) at home 34-7, this week at Texas A&M Commerce (FCS Southland)---The conference showed its toughness in that the Hornets got a good strong win at home, yet could not take advantage of it in the rankings. They go on the road but stay in the Southland this weekend.

6. Northern Arizona (7)---Last week won at Utah Tech (FCS United) 45-17, this week at Incarnate Word (FCS Southland)---The Lumberjacks have been steadily climbing the rankings, getting a strong road win over one of their rivals this past weekend. Their reward is making a trip to play one of the top Southland teams this time.

7. Weber State (6)---Last week lost at Lamar (FCS Southland) 17-16, this week at Northwestern State (FCS Southland)---The Wildcats took one on the chin last weekend in a close loss deep in the heart of the Southland conference. They stay on the road and in the Southland this weekend for another game against maybe an easier opponent.

8. Eastern Washington (8)---Last week lost at SE Louisiana (FCS Southland) 28-24, this week at Nevada (FBS Mountain West)---The Eagles woes continued for another week as they had their chances to get a road win but could not capitalize in the end. This week does not get easier as they must play at the FBS level on the road.

9. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost to Abilene Christian (FCS United) at home 24-22, this week at Stephen F Austin (FCS Southland)---The Bears have played some tough teams and played them tough. Last week, they thought they had a win only to lose at the end. They go on the road this week to face one of the heavies from the Southland.

10. Portland State (9)---Last week's home game against South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) cancelled, this week at Boise State (FBS Mountain West)---The Vikings fight last week involved a case of whooping cough which cost them the opportunity to play the scheduled game. The week is not better as they face a strong road test with the FBS.

11. Idaho State (10)---Last week lost at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 52-14, this week Southern Utah (FCS United) at home---No one expected the Bengals to go into hostile territory last week and somehow get a win, but few thought they would be put away so early. They come back home, but face a strong test with a team from the United conference.

12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week beat Western Oregon (DII) at home 31-14, this week bye---Hats off to the Mustangs for their first win of the season, even if they had to reach down into the lower divisions to get it. Still, there were some nervous moments in the game. They will take this week off and prepare for conference play.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-5 trying to keep up, 6 emerging from the next pack, 7 just behind, 8-11 falling off, 12 fading.

[wapiti]

1. Idaho ---Dispatched Albany easier than I thought they would. The Oline gave the 3rd string QB plenty of time to execute and wide holes for the RB.


2. Montana State ---Had a bye. This week will be almost bye like too. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (Is there such a thing as 4th) stringers should get opportunity to play.


3. Montana ---2nd and 3rd stringers got some playing time. This week a big step up in competition with Western Carolina coming to Missoula.


4. Sacramento State ---Did what was expected against Nicholls.


5. UC Davis ---Earned a good road win at Southern Utah (FCS United) 24-21,


6. Northern Arizona ---Moving up a bit. Will get tested with a road game at Incarnate Word this week.


7. Weber State ---Should have won the game against Lamar, but a poor coaching decision near the end of the game did them in. (or does Weber have a bad field goal kicking game?)


8. Eastern Washington ---EWU and NC are in a virtual tie for 8 and 9 spot. I will give edge to EWU.


9. Northern Colorado ---Showed much resilience against a good Abilene Christian team, but still came up short. NC is ready to move up.


10. Portland State ---PSU decided to not play due to Whooping cough exposure to the team.


11. Idaho State ---Took a hard loss on the road at North Dakota. The Bengals are poised for improvement.


12. Cal Poly ---CP got a W, but it was against a middling Div 2 team. I thought CP could not get much worse from last year, but I may be wrong in that assessment.


RECAP: 1-5 leaders, 6-7 Showing some promise, but a step behind, 8-11 Fighting for position in the middle of the pack, 12 way behind.

[MSUBobcat]

My weekly xtwocentsx

1. Idaho (2) - The Vandals' FBS win is better than the Cats', and the Albany demolishing is better than the UTU/Maine combo. That D looks like the real deal.
2. MSU (1) - Flip flopped MSU and Idaho for the reason above.
3. UM (3) - The Griz got a cupcake after a major letdown in the 2nd half in Grand Forks and took out their frustrations on them.
4. UC Davis (4) - The Aggies beat a decent SUU team (with an FBS victory) for a quality road OOC win.
5. Sac St (5) - The Hornets put a hurt on the visiting Nicholls Colonels. It's hard to decide between them and Davis, having played only 2 FBS teams and a team that also played 2 FBS. Time will tell if Nicholls is a quality win or not.
6. NAU (7) - Hanging tough against Arizona is looking less shiny after this weekend's loss for the Wildcats, but they whooped UTU in what I learned last week is called the Grand Canyon Rivalry.
7. Weber (6) - BBQ's kicking game burned them in a 1pt loss @ Lamar, once on a missed PAT and again on a 40 yard FG at the end of the game.
8. EWU (9) - The Eags nearly bounced back from the loss to PFL Drake with a road win.
9. PSU (8) - Portland State wasn't likely to beat USD, but I was curious to see how they might fare at "home".
10. NoCo (11) - For a while, the Bears didn't look completely inept. But then they did what teams that are unaccustomed to winning do... and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory (not to take anything away from ACU's last drive where they picked apart the D over the middle, setting up a long GW FG).
11. ISU-o (10) - The Alerus is a tough place to play, but the Bengals didn't get off the bus, speeding out to a 38-0 deficit in the 2nd quarter.
12. Cal Poly (12) - Scoreboard watching, I saw CP was tied in the 3rd quarter to a WOU team that was 3-8 last year, with one of those wins being Lincoln. They were able to score 17 unanswered to end the game to avert a 2nd embarrassing loss.

Still have 1&2 slightly out front. 3-5 penciling in a playoff berth. 6-7 looking to make some noise. 8-12.... there's always next year.

[MSUBobcat]

The upper echelon of the conference is slowly emerging and as expected, five schools are making their case to be included in the top spots of the conference, and conference play hasn't even started yet for most. This is truly shaping up to be one of the wildest years in football in the conference in a long time. Here are this week's power rankings for the conference (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. One more week of non-conference action then it is on to conference play.

1. Montana State (1)---Last week, bye, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home---Having scheduled a game during week 0, the Bobcats needed to have an open date before conference play and so they chose the week before entertaining a school from the Northeast conference. Should be an easy tuneup before conference play.


The Bobcats didn't choose this as our bye week. It was out of necessity when SFA canceled their game with us that was originally slated for this weekend due to joining the Southland. Our bye was supposed to be prior to conference play beginning. But as wapiti stated... this should basically be a bye.

[MSUBobcat]

1. Idaho ---Dispatched Albany easier than I thought they would. The Oline gave the 3rd string QB plenty of time to execute and wide holes for the RB.


2. Montana State ---Had a bye. This week will be almost bye like too. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (Is there such a thing as 4th) stringers should get opportunity to play.


3. Montana ---2nd and 3rd stringers got some playing time. This week a big step up in competition with Western Carolina coming to Missoula.


4. Sacramento State ---Did what was expected against Nicholls.


5. UC Davis ---Earned a good road win at Southern Utah (FCS United) 24-21,


6. Northern Arizona ---Moving up a bit. Will get tested with a road game at Incarnate Word this week.


7. Weber State ---Should have won the game against Lamar, but a poor coaching decision near the end of the game did them in. (or does Weber have a bad field goal kicking game?)


8. Eastern Washington ---EWU and NC are in a virtual tie for 8 and 9 spot. I will give edge to EWU.


9. Northern Colorado ---Showed much resilience against a good Abilene Christian team, but still came up short. NC is ready to move up.


10. Portland State ---PSU decided to not play due to Whooping cough exposure to the team.


11. Idaho State ---Took a hard loss on the road at North Dakota. The Bengals are poised for improvement.


12. Cal Poly ---CP got a W, but it was against a middling Div 2 team. I thought CP could not get much worse from last year, but I may be wrong in that assessment.


RECAP: 1-5 leaders, 6-7 Showing some promise, but a step behind, 8-11 Fighting for position in the middle of the pack, 12 way behind.

I received a push notification from MSU that any fans willing to come back into the stadium after the halftime tailgating will be given at least 1 play on the field. Still not worth coming back in.......