Big Sky Power Rankings 9-16
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2025 10:19 pm
A little chill in the air in most regions of the Big Sky means that fall is coming. One more full week of non-conference play, then the true schedule begins and the title chase is setting up to be quite a good one. Portland State is sitting this week out and from the looks of things, that may be good for the Vikings, but everyone else is participating. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only.
1. Montana State (2)---Last week beat San Diego (FCS Pioneer) at home 41-7, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home---The Bobcats broke through and got their first win of the year in convincing fashion at home. Some tough games to begin but hopefully now they are on track. They bring in a team this week from the other part of the country.
2. Montana (1)---Last week beat North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 24-23, this week Indiana State (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---It took some anxious moments and some scary times, but the Grizzlies were able to secure a home win in the last couple minutes of the game last week. They stay in the Missouri Valley, hopefully with an easier team.
3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week won at Southern Utah (FCS United) 52-49, this week Incarnate Word (FCS Southland) at home---The Lumberjacks eked out a tough road win last week in spectacular fashion. This week, they are bringing in a tough opponent from the Southland into their cozy dome for another tough test before conference play.
4. Sacramento State (4)---Last week beat Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home 49-28, this week Central Arkansas (FCS United) at home---There were some scary moments for the Hornets last weekend in their game against a member from the Northeast but they put the pressure on at the end. They bring in a good team from the United Conference.
5. Idaho (5)--Last week beat Utah Tech (FCS United) at home 20-6, this week at San Jose State (FBS Mountain West)---In a game where the Vandal defense rose up to get the win, their offense seemed to be non-existent. Still, a win is a win and they move up a level this week for a tough road game. They will need good play from both sides of the ball.
6. UC Davis (6)---Last week, bye, this week Southern Utah (FCS United) at home---The Aggies took last week off to assess where they are and get ready for conference play. They have one mode non-conference game to go, however, and it is a tough one, against a member of the United conference that has played the Big Sky tough all year.
7. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 24-17 (OT), this week at Houston Christian (FCS Southland)---Are the Bears actually going to be a decent FCS team this year? They showed their performance against the FBS was no fluke as they stayed toe to toe with a tough FCS squad. This game this week may actually be easy.
8. Idaho State (7)---Last week bye, this week Lincoln, CA (DII)---The Bengals took last week off to get ready for the conference season. They still have one more game before that, and they bring in a traveling DII team to their cozy dome. Maybe a light test before true conference games start and they games start to count.
9. Weber State (10)---Last week won at McNeese (FCS Southland) 42-41, this week Butler (FCS Pioneer) at home---Back and forth, back and forth, the Wildcats finally emerged on top on the road in Southland country last week. A good, tough, hard-fought win. They come back home this weekend, and face a team from the Pioneer League.
10. Eastern Washington (8)---Last week lost at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley) 17-14, this week Western Illinois (FCS Ohio Valley) at home---The Eagles managed to sleepwalk their way out of a win last week, only to wake up and find themselves in a tight game. They could not get over the hump. This week, a return home against the Ohio Valley.
11. Cal Poly (11)---Last week beat Western Oregon (DII) at home 56-7, this week at Stephen F Austin (FCS Southland)---Can't complain about what the Mustangs did last week in looking like a typical FCS team going up against a DII squad. A tough test awaits them, however, as they head out to Southland country. This will be a good test.
12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West) 23-3, this week bye---Some signs of life for the Vikings out on the Islands in a game that no one saw. The offense is still a challenge but the defense looked good in stepping up a level. The Vikings get a week off to prepare themselves for their conference slate of games.
RECAP: 1-6 in a bunch at the top, 7-11 not far behind, 12 far behind.
1. Montana State (2)---Last week beat San Diego (FCS Pioneer) at home 41-7, this week Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home---The Bobcats broke through and got their first win of the year in convincing fashion at home. Some tough games to begin but hopefully now they are on track. They bring in a team this week from the other part of the country.
2. Montana (1)---Last week beat North Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) at home 24-23, this week Indiana State (FCS Missouri Valley) at home---It took some anxious moments and some scary times, but the Grizzlies were able to secure a home win in the last couple minutes of the game last week. They stay in the Missouri Valley, hopefully with an easier team.
3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week won at Southern Utah (FCS United) 52-49, this week Incarnate Word (FCS Southland) at home---The Lumberjacks eked out a tough road win last week in spectacular fashion. This week, they are bringing in a tough opponent from the Southland into their cozy dome for another tough test before conference play.
4. Sacramento State (4)---Last week beat Mercyhurst (FCS Northeast) at home 49-28, this week Central Arkansas (FCS United) at home---There were some scary moments for the Hornets last weekend in their game against a member from the Northeast but they put the pressure on at the end. They bring in a good team from the United Conference.
5. Idaho (5)--Last week beat Utah Tech (FCS United) at home 20-6, this week at San Jose State (FBS Mountain West)---In a game where the Vandal defense rose up to get the win, their offense seemed to be non-existent. Still, a win is a win and they move up a level this week for a tough road game. They will need good play from both sides of the ball.
6. UC Davis (6)---Last week, bye, this week Southern Utah (FCS United) at home---The Aggies took last week off to assess where they are and get ready for conference play. They have one mode non-conference game to go, however, and it is a tough one, against a member of the United conference that has played the Big Sky tough all year.
7. Northern Colorado (9)---Last week lost at South Dakota (FCS Missouri Valley) 24-17 (OT), this week at Houston Christian (FCS Southland)---Are the Bears actually going to be a decent FCS team this year? They showed their performance against the FBS was no fluke as they stayed toe to toe with a tough FCS squad. This game this week may actually be easy.
8. Idaho State (7)---Last week bye, this week Lincoln, CA (DII)---The Bengals took last week off to get ready for the conference season. They still have one more game before that, and they bring in a traveling DII team to their cozy dome. Maybe a light test before true conference games start and they games start to count.
9. Weber State (10)---Last week won at McNeese (FCS Southland) 42-41, this week Butler (FCS Pioneer) at home---Back and forth, back and forth, the Wildcats finally emerged on top on the road in Southland country last week. A good, tough, hard-fought win. They come back home this weekend, and face a team from the Pioneer League.
10. Eastern Washington (8)---Last week lost at Northern Iowa (FCS Missouri Valley) 17-14, this week Western Illinois (FCS Ohio Valley) at home---The Eagles managed to sleepwalk their way out of a win last week, only to wake up and find themselves in a tight game. They could not get over the hump. This week, a return home against the Ohio Valley.
11. Cal Poly (11)---Last week beat Western Oregon (DII) at home 56-7, this week at Stephen F Austin (FCS Southland)---Can't complain about what the Mustangs did last week in looking like a typical FCS team going up against a DII squad. A tough test awaits them, however, as they head out to Southland country. This will be a good test.
12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost at Hawaii (FBS Mountain West) 23-3, this week bye---Some signs of life for the Vikings out on the Islands in a game that no one saw. The offense is still a challenge but the defense looked good in stepping up a level. The Vikings get a week off to prepare themselves for their conference slate of games.
RECAP: 1-6 in a bunch at the top, 7-11 not far behind, 12 far behind.