Big Sky Power Rankings 9-4

[JALMOND]

There were some questions within the conference heading into the first weekend and it is unclear if those questions have been answered. Some interesting matchups await the conference teams going into Week 2, with 5 schools playing up to the FBS Mountain West level and 3 others venturing into Missouri Valley territory. Here are this week's Big Sky conference power rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are just my opinion and all are open for discussion. All games coming up are on Saturday. Here we go.

1. Montana State (1)---Last week beat Utah Tech (FCS United) at home 63-20, this week at South Dakota State (FCS Missouri Valley---Playing at home, the Bobcats took care of business last week, jumping on their opponent early and letting a bunch of players play. A strong task awaits them this week with a return FCS semifinal matchup from last year. This should be a great game.

2. Idaho (2)---Last week won at Lamar (FCS Southland) 42-17, this week at Nevada (FBS Mountain West)---A good team will do well on the road regardless of their opponent and the Vandals headed deep into the Southland and came home victorious. Can they take another step forward and get a win over the FBS this weekend? A strong possibility of that happening.

3. UC Davis (4)---Last week won at Texas A&M-Commerce (FCS Southland) 48-10, this week at Oregon State (FBS Pac-12)---The Aggies were another conference school to emerge victorious from the Texas Gulf Coast last week. Their reward this week a short trip up the west coast, moving up a level to play one of the big boys of the Pac-12. As good as they looked, a win may not be doable.

4. Sacramento State (5)---Last week won at Nicholls (FCS Southland) 38-24, this week Texas A&M-Commerce (FCS Southland) at home---The Hornets also came home last weekend from Bayou country with a victory under their belts, They will try to make it two in a row over the Southland this week, this time they get to play at their house. They should get this one as well.

5. Montana (3)---Last week beat Butler (FCS Pioneer) at home 35-20, this week at Utah Tech (FCS United)---The Grizzlies may have started the year feeling a little more confident than they should have, having a Pioneer team create some anxious moments. This week they go on the road for what should be an easy win. But after last week, nothing will be easy.

6. Weber State (6)---Last week beat Central Washington (DII) at home 35-10, this week at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Wildcats did what they should have done in dispatching a lower division foe and giving a bunch of players some playing time. They move on to the Missouri Valley land this weekend and what has been a strong opponent at a tough place to play.

7. Eastern Washington (7)---Last week lost to North Dakota State (FCS Missouri Valley) at Minneapolis, MN 35-10, this week at Fresno State (FBS Mountain West)---Hats off to the Eagles as they took on one of the heavy hitters in all of FCS at a neutral site last weekend. This week's game may be similar to the way last week's game went where even a good showing won't overcome a good opponent.

8. Northern Arizona (9)---Last week lost at Arizona (FBS Pac-12) 38-3, this week at North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley)---The Lumberjacks took a strong blow on the chin last week against their bigger brothers to the south. They will need to recover this week as they hit the road for a tough game against a familiar opponent. Was last week just a difference in levels or will this week be more of the same.

9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week beat San Diego (FCS Pioneer) 27-10, this week at San Jose State (FBS Mountain Valley)---Not much was expected this year for the Mustangs but they went out and got a good home win over a Pioneer league opponent, and looked good doing it. However, they could be brought back to reality this week as they move up to play the Mountain West.

10. Idaho State (12)---Last week lost at San Diego State (FBS Mountain West) 36-28, this week at Utah State (FBS Mountain West)---Last weekend saw the Bengals play up a level and while the game was not really in doubt, they hung around the whole game and kept their opponent from feeling comfortable. They stay in the Mountain West this weekend and another chance to hang around.

11. Portland State (8)---Last week lost at Oregon (FBS Pac-12) 81-7, this week at Wyoming (FBS Mountain West)---Things were going to be tough last week for the Vikings, playing up a level against a team with championship aspirations, but giving up 81 points is a tough pill to swallow. To top that off, their next opponent is coming off their biggest win in years.

12. Northern Colorado (10)---Last week lost at Abilene Christian (FCS Southland) 31-11, this week Incarnate Word (FCS Southland) at home---Starting the year off with new faces on the team was going to be tough, but going on the road and playing a good opponent proved too much to overcome. This week the Bears stay at home, but an exceptional team comes calling this time.

RECAP: 1-6 bunched up at the top, then 7, then 8-12 in a bunch behind.

[kalm]

Great job, J!

Small quibble and it wouldn't have changed much but US Bank Stadium is about as neutral as Lumen Field would be.

[SDHornet]

We should be no worse than 2nd in these rankings. 20 straight regular season wins should actually mean something.