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Now that the poll is out, I feel comfortable posting these. If the opening week is any indication of how the season will go, be prepared for a wild ride in the Big Sky this year. We had upsets, we had near upsets, we had status quo, we had shockers, we had normalcy. We had our first win over the Pac-12 in 15 years, then almost got another one just 4 hours later. Here are this week's power rankings for the Big Sky. This week (last week). All are my opinion only and all are open for discussion. Here's hoping the other weeks are just as entertaining.

1. Eastern Washington (1)---Just head west on I-90 to the big city, give a good show, collect the check and say goodbye to your winning streak. Only the Eagles did not get the memo from Washington as their calm and cool quarterback almost pulled off a shocker, even with 4 turnovers. The Eagles were like Casey at the bat, clear down to the similar ending. This week, they return to the FCS as the hunted, heading on the road to South Dakota.

2. Sacramento State (4)---Just for those who don't know, this is not your father's Hornet team. This former resident of the conference basement took one step towards proving they belong in the upper echelon of the conference with their go for broke, overtime victory over the Pac-12's Oregon State. This week, another chance to prove themselves as they once again go on the road to Southern Utah, another upstart looking for respect.

3. Montana State (2)---We all should have known that this was going to be a crazy weekend when the Bobcats stayed with the Pac-12 new team, Utah, on Thursday. While the Bobcats could not crack the Ute's defense, their defense kept the score respectful and didn't allow the Pac-12 team a chance to get away. This week, maybe a bit better as they welcome UC-Davis to the cozy confines in Bozeman.

4. Montana (3)---Interesting for the Grizzlies as they headed east to play the money game with Tennessee of the SEC. While the Grizzlies defense tried to slow down Tennessee, the offense was actually showing some signs of life against the bigger team. All told, it should bode well this week as they welcome Cal Poly to their massive stadium. A return to the usual, of course.

5. Weber State (6)---Maybe a bit surprising was the Wildcats. In the midst of a (somewhat) rebuilding project and an FBS team coming up, one would think there was very little chance. However, it helps when the FBS opponent is Wyoming and the game was clearly up for grabs right until the end. This week, the Wildcats head up the road to another FBS team, this time its Utah State, who gave the defending BCS champs Auburn all they could handle.

6. Northern Arizona (5)---While there were surprises galore all around the conference, the Lumberjacks were absorbing their usual beating against their in state Pac-12 teams, this year was Arizona. A game effort in the beginning, by the end all it amounted was good film. This week, they welcome DII's Fort Lewis to the dome which should give the Jacks more good film, but this time film of a win.

7. Portland State (8)---Talking about film games, the Vikings emerged from their game with the NAIA's Southern Oregon with some really good film as the game was pretty much over sometime in the first quarter. Probably the only thing hotter that the Vikings was the weather. This week, the Vikings have a bye so they can relish their big win over the NAIA and do a lot of film study.

8. Idaho State (7)---Granted, even though the opponent was the Pac-12's doormat team, Washington State, if the Bengals would have kept it close, that would have opened some eyes across the conference. However, true to form, the Bengals lost big and therefore the Mike Kramer era began quietly. This week, they welcome DII's Western State, the same team that Montana opened with the last two years. Maybe this will be the first win for Kramer's new team.

9. Northern Colorado (9)---With all the upsets, surprises and near misses in the conference, surely the Bears could get by the NAIA's Lindenwood team. However, at the end the Bears were on the short end, signaling the start of a long season in Greeley. With the rest of the conference looking great, the Bears looked hapless. This week, they make the short trek, but big steps, to FBS Colorado State.

JALMOND wrote:
5. Weber State (6)---Maybe a bit surprising was the Wildcats. In the midst of a (somewhat) rebuilding project and an FBS team coming up, one would think there was very little chance. However, it helps when the FBS opponent is Wyoming and the game was clearly up for grabs right until the end. This week, the Wildcats head up the road to another FBS team, this time its Utah State, who game the defending BCS champs Auburn all they could handle.

i like seeing weber moving up in your rankings. in your preseason ranking i mentioned wsu shouldnt be in a rebuild status since mac is a very good recruiter, he has moved our program up a notch since 2008 and has done a good job keeping the cupboards full.

i will admit though i did not expect to see hoke in his first ever start accumulate 541 yds off offense, pass for over 300 and rush for almost 100 against an fbs team. wyo seems to always have good defense even when they area bad team. our running back booker had 100 yds rushing at half time and our new receiver was national freshman of the week with 100+ yds receiving. i dont expect utah state to have some amazing defense that we cant get by. i expect a shootout this week at usu.

i was impressed this past week with the play of all the big sky teams minus unc.

i would have put sac #1 since they got the job done. no dis toward ewu, they will have enough chances this yr.

Looks good to me.

weberwildcat wrote:mac is a very good recruiter, he has moved our program up a notch since 2008

Huh?

2008 10-4 (lost in quarterfinals)
2009 7-5 (lost in first round)
2010 6-5 (no playoffs)

i'm not trying to pile on ISU here, BUT i wouldn't chalk up this weekend's game against Western State as an automatic, "go through the motions" victory. while at MSU, the big human was notorious for having his teams grossly under-prepared to play lesser opponents(see chadron state, central washington, humboldt state). while i'm not exactly predicting a western state win, i'm also not predicting an ISU blowout.

no cakewalks for the montana teams this weekend either. cal poly at UM will be VERY interesting.

ISU might have gotten blown out on the score board but double last year’s average offensive production with 453 yards. Kevin Yost passed for over 386 yards completing 32/45 pass attempts and is 4th in the FCS for passing yards. Rodrick Rumble had 10 receptions for 218 yards a 65 yard td reception and he leads the FSC with most reception yards. If ISU can do this against a PAC 12 team I hope they can win a few in the BSC.

kemajic wrote:

weberwildcat wrote:mac is a very good recruiter, he has moved our program up a notch since 2008

Huh?

2008 10-4 (lost in quarterfinals)
2009 7-5 (lost in first round)
2010 6-5 (no playoffs)

Under McBride, Weber has become a team that has a shot at winning the conf title every year depending on the quarterback, Weber has become one of the most phsyical teams in the conference. Coach Mac has brought Weber State football to respectability with his coaching and his recruits. Weber State is now a very dangerous team year in and year out.

How is winning the conf and making the playoffs 2 years in a row (never been done before) not Improving? in 2010 we came one win away from going 3 years in a row. Not to mention, Weber has beaten FCS powerhouse Montana more times in the last 3 years than anyone in the nation. Yeah I guess thats not improving

kemajic wrote:

weberwildcat wrote:mac is a very good recruiter, he has moved our program up a notch since 2008

Huh?

2008 10-4 (lost in quarterfinals)
2009 7-5 (lost in first round)
2010 6-5 (no playoffs)

Wildcat Ryan wrote:

kemajic wrote: Huh?

2008 10-4 (lost in quarterfinals)
2009 7-5 (lost in first round)
2010 6-5 (no playoffs)

How is winning the conf and making the playoffs 2 years in a row (never been done before) not Improving? in 2010 we came one win away from going 3 years in a row. Not to mention, Weber has beaten FCS powerhouse Montana more times in the last 3 years than anyone in the nation. Yeah I guess thats not improving

Perhaps the more salient question is this: How can you look at THOSE facts and claim that he's moving the program UP?

No doubt it's going to be a dog fight at the top this year. VERY strange seeing Sac that high up (although they certainly deserve it).

I can't argue with this poll. I think we will have a little better understanding of where things are headed after the next 2 weeks play out.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Wildcat Ryan wrote:

How is winning the conf and making the playoffs 2 years in a row (never been done before) not Improving? in 2010 we came one win away from going 3 years in a row. Not to mention, Weber has beaten FCS powerhouse Montana more times in the last 3 years than anyone in the nation. Yeah I guess thats not improving

Perhaps the more salient question is this: How can you look at THOSE facts and claim that he's moving the program UP?

Easy,

1. Weber was never in the discussion for the Big Sky title, for the last 3 years, they have been in discussion for title contention.

2. Before Mac certain teams looked at Weber as an easy win, now teams have to bring thier A-game to beat the Wildcats.

3. The recruits Mac brings in are at a different level than past Wildcat recruits. (example: Barrington Collins, recrutied by Florida State, UCLA, Arizona State and one of the Oregons, he came to Weber. Weber would never have gotten that quality of recruit before.

4. We are competing better against FBS teams (not the BCS ones mind you). In the last 3 years Weber should have beaten Wyoming twice and Colorado State once, and held a 17-7 advantage at Hawaii in 08.

5. There is a new attitude here about Weber State football, an attitude we havent had before. A National Championship attitude.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Wildcat Ryan wrote:

How is winning the conf and making the playoffs 2 years in a row (never been done before) not Improving? in 2010 we came one win away from going 3 years in a row. Not to mention, Weber has beaten FCS powerhouse Montana more times in the last 3 years than anyone in the nation. Yeah I guess thats not improving

Perhaps the more salient question is this: How can you look at THOSE facts and claim that he's moving the program UP?

Well they did really suck before he got there...

Can't argue with that last Jalmond, good work! Since I believe power rankings are based on who had the better performance/who is playing the best right now, not who is going to be the best down the road, the only thing Imight change is Weber and Montana. I was impressed with Weber's showing at Wyoming. The Griz showed some good things at UT, but Weber had UW on the ropes until the very end. Other than that, looks perfect.

catbob wrote:Can't argue with that last Jalmond, good work! Since I believe power rankings are based on who had the better performance/who is playing the best right now, not who is going to be the best down the road, the only thing Imight change is Weber and Montana. I was impressed with Weber's showing at Wyoming. The Griz showed some good things at UT, but Weber had UW on the ropes until the very end. Other than that, looks perfect.

In your wet dreams Montana is the 5th best team in the BSC.

Yea I know, I know. These early week power rankings mean squat mostly since everyone is usually playing up or down a division (or two, or three...).

I'm not sold on Weber yet though, so I'd probably leave UM at #4.

kemajic wrote:

weberwildcat wrote:mac is a very good recruiter, he has moved our program up a notch since 2008

Huh?

2008 10-4 (lost in quarterfinals)
2009 7-5 (lost in first round)
2010 6-5 (no playoffs)

i mean wsu post 2007 season. before 2008 just to take a look at our annual record is all you need to do. mac got hired in 2005, had a couple of yrs to start recruiting and by 2008 he got the program moving up.

you honestly dont remember the weber football before 2008? we had losing seasons most of the yrs and decades prior to mac bride.

keep in mind our last 2 conference titles were 2008 and 1968.

AZGrizFan wrote:Perhaps the more salient question is this: How can you look at THOSE facts and claim that he's moving the program UP?

Keep in mind that in 2010 WSU was 1 game away from an at large bid, and tied with SAC and UM for 3-5th place

I think that given last years results and after 1 game this year, WSU certainly needs to be in the conversation as much a SAC and probably more than UM

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303032692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

JALMOND wrote:2. Sacramento State

Won't last.

cats2506 wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:Perhaps the more salient question is this: How can you look at THOSE facts and claim that he's moving the program UP?

Keep in mind that in 2010 WSU was 1 game away from an at large bid, and tied with SAC and UM for 3-5th place

I think that given last years results and after 1 game this year, WSU certainly needs to be in the conversation as much a SAC and probably more than UM

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303032692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In 2010 Montana was one game away from an at-large bid as well, yet you're falling all over yourself throwing dirt on their grave.

AZGrizFan wrote:

cats2506 wrote:
Keep in mind that in 2010 WSU was 1 game away from an at large bid, and tied with SAC and UM for 3-5th place

I think that given last years results and after 1 game this year, WSU certainly needs to be in the conversation as much a SAC and probably more than UM

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303032692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In 2010 Montana was one game away from an at-large bid as well, yet you're falling all over yourself throwing dirt on their grave.

I that was the point, try to keep up if ya can

Carry on

89Hen wrote:

JALMOND wrote:2. Sacramento State

Won't last.

Your Hornet envy is noted. Carry on.

And great job J. I completely agree with EWU maintaining #1. They competed with a Pac-12 program and barring a couple of turnover probably win that one.

SDHornet wrote:

89Hen wrote: Won't last.

Your Hornet envy is noted. Carry on.

And great job J. I completely agree with EWU maintaining #1. They competed with a Pac-12 program and barring a couple of turnover probably win that one.

No turnovers and we win that one going away. 17 of their 30 points were off turnovers and short fields. Hold on to the ball and we probably beat them 34 or so to 13. We had double their total yardage... we didn't compete with them; we dominated them (except managed to shoot ourselves in the foot ).

Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Your Hornet envy is noted. Carry on.

And great job J. I completely agree with EWU maintaining #1. They competed with a Pac-12 program and barring a couple of turnover probably win that one.

No turnovers and we win that one going away. 17 of their 30 points were off turnovers and short fields. Hold on to the ball and we probably beat them 34 or so to 13. We had double their total yardage... we didn't compete with them; we dominated them (except managed to shoot ourselves in the foot ).

Sounds like the first 3 quarters of our game at OSU.