Week 2 is in the books and the conference got another scalp against the Mountain West. Now before we all can pat ourselves on the backs and talk about how great this conference is, the conference also took another loss to the Pioneer Football League. Some things are becoming clear and some are still pretty murky. But most teams still have a couple weeks to work out the bugs before conference season begins. Here are this week's power rankings (last week's ranking in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Some good games coming up this weekend.
1. Montana State (1)---Last week beat Maine (FCS CAA) at home 41-24, this week bye---The Bobcats left little doubt early in their game after welcoming the visitors from the far off East. After racing out to a 3-0 record which included a game on week 0 (an impressive FBS scalp), they are the first conference team to earn a bye.
2. Idaho (3)---Last week won at Wyoming (FBS Mountain West) 17-13, this week Albany (FCS CAA) at home---The Vandals were the team that put the FBS on notice with a gritty performance at Oregon, then following it up with a good win at Wyoming. They make their return to the FCS with a good home game this weekend.
3. Montana (2)---Last week lost at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 27-24, this week Morehead State (FCS Pioneer) at home---The Grizzlies looked great in the first half against their former conference mates, but could not sustain it in the second half. They welcome a Pioneer team this week, a conference that has proven to be the nemesis so far.
4. UC Davis (4)---Last week beat Texas A&M-Commerce (FCS Southland) 36-22, this week at Southern Utah (FCS United)---The Aggies got a strong win last week in taking care of business against the Southland conference. They go on the road this week, playing a former conference member who got a FBS scalp last week.
5. Sacramento State (5)---Last week lost at Fresno State (FBS Mountain West) 46-30, this week Nicholls (FCS Southland)---To date, the Hornets have played two Mountain West schools tough, yet only have two losses to show for their efforts. They come home this weekend and welcome a team from the Southland for a tough tussle.
6. Weber State (7)---Last week beat Portland State at home 43-16, this week at Lamar (FCS Southland)---In typical Wildcat fashion, the defense led the way until the offense could get on track and they earned a good home conference win. They step back out of the conference and into the Southland this weekend for a strong road test.
7. Northern Arizona (8)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Big 12) 22-10, this week at Utah Tech (FCS United)---Showing no fear, the Lumberjacks took on the #20 team in the FBS (their big brothers to the south) and played them tough the whole game. They showed they are a team to be reckoned with, and this week they move up north for another tough test.
8. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week lost to Drake (FCS Pioneer) at home 35-32 (OT), this week at SE Louisiana (FCS Souhtland)---The Eagles are still trying to figure out how they lost against the Pioneer league. Perplexing to say the least, they need to get back to football because they have another strong test on the road this weekend.
9. Portland State (9)---Last week lost at Weber State 43-16, this week South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---The early conference test was too muck for the Vikings as they took it on the chin last week. Their difficult schedule means little time to wallow as they have their home opener this week against a top 5 FCS team.
10. Idaho State (10)---Last week beat Western Oregon (DII) at home 50-10, this week at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---With all the surprises going around the conference, the Bengals did what they were supposed to in beating a lower division foe. Their reward is playing the same team that is coming off a win over Montana.
11. Northern Colorado (11)---Last week lost at Colorado State (FBS Mountain West) 38-17, this week Abilene Christian (FCS United) at home---The Bears actually looked pretty decent in staying with their big brothers to the west for most of the game. They head home this weekend in welcoming a team from the United conference.
12. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Stanford (FBS ACC) 41-7, this week Western Oregon (DII) at home---The Mustangs managed to stay with their intellectual brothers for the first half last week before slowly losing traction as the game went on. They are looking for their first win and they should get it this weekend playing a DII school.
RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4-5 just behind, 6-7 keeping up, 8-11 trying to keep up, 12 falling.