Big Sky Power Rankings 8-24

[JALMOND]

And so we begin again with football on the horizon in the Big Sky. Idaho State gets things going early, with a game this Saturday against UNLV. The rest of the teams begin next week. I begin my 20th season of compiling these rankings, once again pointing out that they are my opinion only and open for discussion. As Idaho State is the only team to play this weekend, and is the only team NOT to play next weekend, the next power rankings will come out on September 5th. Here are the opening rankings. Have fun.

1. Montana State Bobcats---Next game, 9-3 McNeese State (FCS, Southland) at home---Following a rather surprising run to the FCS national championship game last season, the Bobcats have some strong pieces coming back to show it was no fluke.

2. Sacramento State Hornets---Next game, 9-3, Utah Tech (FCS, WAC) at home---A surprising season last year and some good pieces returning has got the Hornets looking to build on last year's success.

3. Montana Grizzlies---Next game, 9-3, Northwestern State (FCS, Southland) at home---The Grizzlies will rely on a stout defense until their offense can get its legs under them. Then, watch out.

4. Eastern Washington Eagles---Next game, 9-3 Tennessee State (FCS, Ohio Valley) at home---The Eagles always will be tough and this year should be no different, one a few questions get answered.

5. UC Davis Aggies---Next game, 9-3 at California (FBS, Pac-12)---The Aggies are hoping to build on their playoff appearance last season, one that led to a first round loss. They would love to start the year with a lower tier Pac-12 school.

6. Weber State Wildcats---Next game, 9-1 Western Oregon (DII) at home---Eager to show that they belong near the top of the conference again, the Wildcats will start the season against a DII opponent.

7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Next game, 9-1 at Arizona State (FBS, Pac-12)---Questions abound for the Lumberjacks heading in to the season, but how fast they answer them could determine how successful this year will be.

8. Idaho Vandals---Next game, 9-3 at Washington State (FBS Pac-12)---New coach, new system and plenty of questions everywhere, but the Vandals a hoping for a good showing against their big neighbors.

9. Portland State Vikings---Next game, 9-1 at San Jose State (FBS, Mtn West)---The Vikings are going to rely on their defense to keep their ship afloat until the offense gets going. Many questions surround this team.

10. Northern Colorado Bears---Next game, 9-3 Houston Baptist (FCS, Southland) at home---They Bears get to start their season at home and against a fellow FCS school. Some early questions to be answered and they could be knocking on the door.

11. Cal Poly Mustangs---Next game, 9-1 at Fresno State (FBS, Mtn West)---This year should find the Mustangs to be much improved over the previous years, but do they have enough to get back on top?

12. Idaho State Bengals---Next game 8-27 at UNLV (FBS, Mtn West)---If some good things go right for the Bengals this year, they won't be near the bottom for long. They may not have enough to beat an FBS team, but they may when conference play begins.

RECAP: 1-6 contenders, 7-12 maybe.

[kalm]

And so we begin again with football on the horizon in the Big Sky. Idaho State gets things going early, with a game this Saturday against UNLV. The rest of the teams begin next week. I begin my 20th season of compiling these rankings, once again pointing out that they are my opinion only and open for discussion. As Idaho State is the only team to play this weekend, and is the only team NOT to play next weekend, the next power rankings will come out on September 5th. Here are the opening rankings. Have fun.

1. Montana State Bobcats---Next game, 9-3 McNeese State (FCS, Southland) at home---Following a rather surprising run to the FCS national championship game last season, the Bobcats have some strong pieces coming back to show it was no fluke.

2. Sacramento State Hornets---Next game, 9-3, Utah Tech (FCS, WAC) at home---A surprising season last year and some good pieces returning has got the Hornets looking to build on last year's success.

3. Montana Grizzlies---Next game, 9-3, Northwestern State (FCS, Southland) at home---The Grizzlies will rely on a stout defense until their offense can get its legs under them. Then, watch out.

4. Eastern Washington Eagles---Next game, 9-3 Tennessee State (FCS, Ohio Valley) at home---The Eagles always will be tough and this year should be no different, one a few questions get answered.

5. UC Davis Aggies---Next game, 9-3 at California (FBS, Pac-12)---The Aggies are hoping to build on their playoff appearance last season, one that led to a first round loss. They would love to start the year with a lower tier Pac-12 school.

6. Weber State Wildcats---Next game, 9-1 Western Oregon (DII) at home---Eager to show that they belong near the top of the conference again, the Wildcats will start the season against a DII opponent.

7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Next game, 9-1 at Arizona State (FBS, Pac-12)---Questions abound for the Lumberjacks heading in to the season, but how fast they answer them could determine how successful this year will be.

8. Idaho Vandals---Next game, 9-3 at Washington State (FBS Pac-12)---New coach, new system and plenty of questions everywhere, but the Vandals a hoping for a good showing against their big neighbors.

9. Portland State Vikings---Next game, 9-1 at San Jose State (FBS, Mtn West)---The Vikings are going to rely on their defense to keep their ship afloat until the offense gets going. Many questions surround this team.

10. Northern Colorado Bears---Next game, 9-3 Houston Baptist (FCS, Southland) at home---They Bears get to start their season at home and against a fellow FCS school. Some early questions to be answered and they could be knocking on the door.

11. Cal Poly Mustangs---Next game, 9-1 at Fresno State (FBS, Mtn West)---This year should find the Mustangs to be much improved over the previous years, but do they have enough to get back on top?

12. Idaho State Bengals---Next game 8-27 at UNLV (FBS, Mtn West)---If some good things go right for the Bengals this year, they won't be near the bottom for long. They may not have enough to beat an FBS team, but they may when conference play begins.

RECAP: 1-6 contenders, 7-12 maybe.

Replacing a ton of talent at QB and LB and a likely 1-5 start. I’d be thrilled if we finish over .500.

[AZGrizFan]

And so we begin again with football on the horizon in the Big Sky. Idaho State gets things going early, with a game this Saturday against UNLV. The rest of the teams begin next week. I begin my 20th season of compiling these rankings, once again pointing out that they are my opinion only and open for discussion. As Idaho State is the only team to play this weekend, and is the only team NOT to play next weekend, the next power rankings will come out on September 5th. Here are the opening rankings. Have fun.

1. Montana State Bobcats---Next game, 9-3 McNeese State (FCS, Southland) at home---Following a rather surprising run to the FCS national championship game last season, the Bobcats have some strong pieces coming back to show it was no fluke.

2. Sacramento State Hornets---Next game, 9-3, Utah Tech (FCS, WAC) at home---A surprising season last year and some good pieces returning has got the Hornets looking to build on last year's success.

3. Montana Grizzlies---Next game, 9-3, Northwestern State (FCS, Southland) at home---The Grizzlies will rely on a stout defense until their offense can get its legs under them. Then, watch out.

4. Eastern Washington Eagles---Next game, 9-3 Tennessee State (FCS, Ohio Valley) at home---The Eagles always will be tough and this year should be no different, one a few questions get answered.

5. UC Davis Aggies---Next game, 9-3 at California (FBS, Pac-12)---The Aggies are hoping to build on their playoff appearance last season, one that led to a first round loss. They would love to start the year with a lower tier Pac-12 school.

6. Weber State Wildcats---Next game, 9-1 Western Oregon (DII) at home---Eager to show that they belong near the top of the conference again, the Wildcats will start the season against a DII opponent.

7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Next game, 9-1 at Arizona State (FBS, Pac-12)---Questions abound for the Lumberjacks heading in to the season, but how fast they answer them could determine how successful this year will be.

8. Idaho Vandals---Next game, 9-3 at Washington State (FBS Pac-12)---New coach, new system and plenty of questions everywhere, but the Vandals a hoping for a good showing against their big neighbors.

9. Portland State Vikings---Next game, 9-1 at San Jose State (FBS, Mtn West)---The Vikings are going to rely on their defense to keep their ship afloat until the offense gets going. Many questions surround this team.

10. Northern Colorado Bears---Next game, 9-3 Houston Baptist (FCS, Southland) at home---They Bears get to start their season at home and against a fellow FCS school. Some early questions to be answered and they could be knocking on the door.

11. Cal Poly Mustangs---Next game, 9-1 at Fresno State (FBS, Mtn West)---This year should find the Mustangs to be much improved over the previous years, but do they have enough to get back on top?

12. Idaho State Bengals---Next game 8-27 at UNLV (FBS, Mtn West)---If some good things go right for the Bengals this year, they won't be near the bottom for long. They may not have enough to beat an FBS team, but they may when conference play begins.

RECAP: 1-6 contenders, 7-12 maybe.

Replacing a ton of talent at QB and LB and a likely 1-5 start. I’d be thrilled if we finish over .500.

Nicely played, Gil.

‘Scats lose their best LB, their best WR, their best DE, 3 of the 5 O-linemen and have a QB with 3 career starts coming off an injury, and had the easiest path to the NC game in the past 30 years. They will be lucky to finish 4th.

[kalm]

Replacing a ton of talent at QB and LB and a likely 1-5 start. I’d be thrilled if we finish over .500.

Nicely played, Gil.

‘Scats lose their best LB, their best WR, their best DE, 3 of the 5 O-linemen and have a QB with 3 career starts coming off an injury, and had the easiest path to the NC game in the past 30 years. They will be lucky to finish 4th.

My name is kalm and I’m an Eagle fan.

[AZGrizFan]

Nicely played, Gil.

‘Scats lose their best LB, their best WR, their best DE, 3 of the 5 O-linemen and have a QB with 3 career starts coming off an injury, and had the easiest path to the NC game in the past 30 years. They will be lucky to finish 4th.

My name is kalm and I’m an Eagle fan.

But you’ve absconded with Gil’s schtick regarding his team’s potential for the upcoming year…

[kalm]

My name is kalm and I’m an Eagle fan.

But you’ve absconded with Gi’ls schtick regarding his team’s potential for the upcoming year…

Are you implying I sandbag?

I post every score!

[SuperHornet]

Maybe you can help me out with something, JAL. One of my favorite fellow Hornet fans, who has always been WAY better at prognosticating than me, has predicted something that I really don't understand: the Hornets lose to .500 UNI, but beat EWU this year. Is a .500 MVFC team really THAT much better than a near-top-tier Big Sky team like EWU (not to mention the defending BSC champs)?

[JALMOND]

Maybe you can help me out with something, JAL. One of my favorite fellow Hornet fans, who has always been WAY better at prognosticating than me, has predicted something that I really don't understand: the Hornets lose to .500 UNI, but beat EWU this year. Is a .500 MVFC team really THAT much better than a near-top-tier Big Sky team like EWU (not to mention the defending BSC champs)?

With my limited knowledge of MVC football, I will try to answer. I think it has to do with the intangibles, mainly the Hornets have played at Cheney many times so they are familiar with the surroundings and happenings during gameday there. When was the last time the Hornets have played at UNI? From what I've heard, gameday there is similar to Washington-Grizzly but with a roof on it. Also the Hornets are playing UNI early in the season so they may still be trying to work out the "bugs" in the system and get ready for conference play. Hopefully, when they play EWU, the "bugs" will have been all worked out.

Also, with UNI not playing NDSU during the season and playing both SDSU and Missouri State at home, I'm thinking they will be better than .500. Just my .

[SuperHornet]

Sounds good, JAL. Thank you.

[SDHornet]

Well done JAL...but nothing should have been surprising about our season last year. Only surprising thing was that it was an outright title and not a shared one.