Big Sky Power Rankings 8-25
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 10:48 pm
Another season of football and, with EWU already playing a game, it looks like I'm late to the party. This is the 11th year I've done this and this was probably the most difficult of any of them. Right now, the conference has two clear cut top teams, and two clear bottom teams. The middle resembles a BBQ sandwich with things falling out, things missing and pretty unstable. Here are the power rankings for this week in the Big Sky. As usual, all are my opinion only. This took some doing but I think it is a good start.
1. Eastern Washington Eagles---The Eagles got things rolling last week in the FCS opener on ESPN by beating a good Southland team in Sam Houston State. Considered to be one of the top teams in the nation, this weekend they take a break and welcome the NAIA's own Montana-Western.
2. Montana Grizzlies---The Grizzlies have the guns to challenge Eastern Washington this year and the deciding factor could be when they face off in Cheney later in the year. But there is a lot of football to be played between now and then. The Grizzlies start their quest this weekend with a road game at FBS Wyoming.
3. Montana State Bobcats---The Bobcats have enough to stay close to the top, at least on paper. However, their performances last year in the two games without their top quarterback looked rather interesting. Whether they can put it all together to contend remains to be seen. The season starts this weekend at Arkansas State.
4. UC-Davis Aggies---The Aggies boast a top notch running back coming back as well as a finicky defense that had its moments last season. Maybe a stretch to have them this high but it could be a great season if they can fill some holes. This weekend, they kick off their season at Pac-12's Stanford.
5. Cal Poly Mustangs---Like the Aggies, the Mustangs also return a strong running back. However, there are some big holes on defense that need to be filled. If they can, the Mustangs could also rise. This weekend they head out to the Sun Belt's own New Mexico State. Possibly the best chance for the Big Sky against the FBS.
6. Southern Utah Thunderbirds---This is a change. People start off not thinking about the Thunderbirds at the start of the year, but by the end, everyone is talking about them. So let's start them near the top and see what happens. They hit the road this weekend with a trip to Nevada.
7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Close, close and oh so close, seem to be how the football seasons have gone with the Lumberjacks. Now they have to find some players to continue their oh so close seasons. It may take awhile but they could make some noise if they find them right away. They start at San Diego State.
8. Sacramento State Hornets---There had been enough with the Hornets to make things interesting in the conference but not enough to get over the hump. Now they bring in a new coaching staff and some holes to fill as well. The capabilities are there to continue to surprise. But will they? Things start off on the road against FCS newcomer Incarnate Word.
9. Portland State Vikings---Talk about being close. The Vikings seem to be right there in most games and then it was not so much of what the opponent did as it was what they did to lose the games. Now they have some big holes to fill. Things are not easy at the start as they play at Pac-12's Oregon State. Can they be like EWU in the opener last year?
10. Idaho State Bengals---Surprises and question marks for the Bengals as no one seems to know what to expect from them. They have enough to get them close to the top and they have enough volitility to make the team explode by mid-season. Either way, the season begins at Pac-12 Utah this weekend.
11. Weber State Wildcats---A new coaching staff may take awhile to adjust for the Wildcats but it is a staff familiar with the school and team. If the team buys in to the new coaching philosophy, they could surprise a lot of people. Maybe not in the first weekend as they head out to Pac-12 Arizona State, but maybe later on.
12. North Dakota---The No-Names lost a lot and also have a new coach and new system in place. In other words, pretty much a rebuilding situation. How soon can they understand the new system remains to be seen. It will take awhile, and probably a few growing pains this season. It starts this weekend at San Jose State.
13. Northern Colorado Bears---The Bears need a lot of help to stay near the pack that they've been accustomed to in recent years. Whether they can win enough this season to bring their coach back next year will be a tall order. They are extending their summer break and will not start play until next week.
RECAP: 1-2 at the top, 3-11 behind, 12-13 bringing up the rear.
1. Eastern Washington Eagles---The Eagles got things rolling last week in the FCS opener on ESPN by beating a good Southland team in Sam Houston State. Considered to be one of the top teams in the nation, this weekend they take a break and welcome the NAIA's own Montana-Western.
2. Montana Grizzlies---The Grizzlies have the guns to challenge Eastern Washington this year and the deciding factor could be when they face off in Cheney later in the year. But there is a lot of football to be played between now and then. The Grizzlies start their quest this weekend with a road game at FBS Wyoming.
3. Montana State Bobcats---The Bobcats have enough to stay close to the top, at least on paper. However, their performances last year in the two games without their top quarterback looked rather interesting. Whether they can put it all together to contend remains to be seen. The season starts this weekend at Arkansas State.
4. UC-Davis Aggies---The Aggies boast a top notch running back coming back as well as a finicky defense that had its moments last season. Maybe a stretch to have them this high but it could be a great season if they can fill some holes. This weekend, they kick off their season at Pac-12's Stanford.
5. Cal Poly Mustangs---Like the Aggies, the Mustangs also return a strong running back. However, there are some big holes on defense that need to be filled. If they can, the Mustangs could also rise. This weekend they head out to the Sun Belt's own New Mexico State. Possibly the best chance for the Big Sky against the FBS.
6. Southern Utah Thunderbirds---This is a change. People start off not thinking about the Thunderbirds at the start of the year, but by the end, everyone is talking about them. So let's start them near the top and see what happens. They hit the road this weekend with a trip to Nevada.
7. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---Close, close and oh so close, seem to be how the football seasons have gone with the Lumberjacks. Now they have to find some players to continue their oh so close seasons. It may take awhile but they could make some noise if they find them right away. They start at San Diego State.
8. Sacramento State Hornets---There had been enough with the Hornets to make things interesting in the conference but not enough to get over the hump. Now they bring in a new coaching staff and some holes to fill as well. The capabilities are there to continue to surprise. But will they? Things start off on the road against FCS newcomer Incarnate Word.
9. Portland State Vikings---Talk about being close. The Vikings seem to be right there in most games and then it was not so much of what the opponent did as it was what they did to lose the games. Now they have some big holes to fill. Things are not easy at the start as they play at Pac-12's Oregon State. Can they be like EWU in the opener last year?
10. Idaho State Bengals---Surprises and question marks for the Bengals as no one seems to know what to expect from them. They have enough to get them close to the top and they have enough volitility to make the team explode by mid-season. Either way, the season begins at Pac-12 Utah this weekend.
11. Weber State Wildcats---A new coaching staff may take awhile to adjust for the Wildcats but it is a staff familiar with the school and team. If the team buys in to the new coaching philosophy, they could surprise a lot of people. Maybe not in the first weekend as they head out to Pac-12 Arizona State, but maybe later on.
12. North Dakota---The No-Names lost a lot and also have a new coach and new system in place. In other words, pretty much a rebuilding situation. How soon can they understand the new system remains to be seen. It will take awhile, and probably a few growing pains this season. It starts this weekend at San Jose State.
13. Northern Colorado Bears---The Bears need a lot of help to stay near the pack that they've been accustomed to in recent years. Whether they can win enough this season to bring their coach back next year will be a tall order. They are extending their summer break and will not start play until next week.
RECAP: 1-2 at the top, 3-11 behind, 12-13 bringing up the rear.
