Big Sky Power Rankings 9-30

[JALMOND]

What an opening conference week that was. Shocking outcomes and great performances dotted the Big Sky landscape. When the dust settled, who had Montana State with the same record as Cal Poly (1-0 conference, 3-2 overall). This is setting up to be quite the race for the conference title and the auto-bid to the playoffs. Here are this week's power rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Only eight teams play this weekend.

1. Montana (1)---Last week beat Idaho at home 41-30, this week at Idaho State---The Grizzlies took care of the Vandals at home last week under the national TV broadcast. Looking to be rolling along, they hit the road this weekend for a strong test against a game Bengals squad. Playing in the Pocatello barn can be challenging.

2. Montana State (2)---Last week beat Eastern Washington at home 57-3, this week at Northern Arizona---The first conference game for the Bobcats had them hosting the Eagles, which turned out to be a blowout early. Feeling good in conference play, they head out on the road against a strong Lumberjacks team, which could be a tough one.

3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week won at Portland State 31-17, this week Montana State at home---In conference play, any road win is a good win and the Lumberjacks looked fine on the road against the Vikings last weekend. This weekend will be tougher with a strong Bobcats team coming to town for a great matchup.

4. UC Davis (6)---Last week beat Weber State at home 34-12, this week at Cal Poly---The Aggies took care of business at home last week in the first conference game, getting past the Wildcats at home after some tense early moments. Now they head down south to play the Mustangs, the new darlings of the conference.

5. Idaho (5)---Last week lost at Montana 41-30, this week bye---The Vandals took one on the chin last week in their first conference game of the season at the Grizzlies den. They are taking this weekend off to prepare themselves to make some more noise in the conference race coming up. They have the Bears in two weeks.

6. Idaho State (8)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 26-18, this week Montana at home---The Bengals jumped on the Bears early on and held serve for basically the whole game, getting a good conference road win in the process. No rest for the weary as they have the Grizzlies waiting for them at their place.

7. Sacramento State (4)---Last week lost to Cal Poly at home 32-24, this week bye---In the ultimate conference head scratcher, the Hornets took on a game Mustangs squad at home, looking to start the season right. But nothing went right for the Hornets and they found themselves on the short end of the score. They have a bye this week.

8. Northern Colorado (7)---Last week lost to Idaho State at home 26-18, this week bye---The Bears were looking to finally make a statement last week in conference play, but their comeback fell just short. Eager to show the conference that they can be competitive this year, they are taking this week off for more preparedness.

9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week won at Sacramento State 32-24, this week UC Davis at home---In truly shocking fashion, the Mustangs rolled into the Hornets lair and rolled out with a good, strong road win. Eager to continue with their new found success, they welcome the Aggies to their home stadium for a tussle.

10. Weber State (9)---Last week lost at UC Davis 34-12, this week bye---The Wildcats went in to play the Aggies hoping to garner a win to start conference play, but they ran into a buzzsaw right away. They won't get another chance until two weeks from now to try again and get a conference win.

11. Eastern Washington (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 57-3, this week Portland State at home---The Eagles went over to the Bobcats home for a matchup, but it seemed like they weren't even there as they got manhandled. They come home this weekend for a test against the Vikings in the continuation of the Dam Cup.

12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost to Northern Arizona at home 31-17, this week at Eastern Washington---The Vikings continued their strong scheduling with a stern test last week at home against the Lumberjacks. They did show some signs of improvement. They may be feeling good as they face a reeling Eagles team this weekend.

RECAP: 1-4 out front, 5-7 just behind, 8-9 surprising, 10-12 in back.

[kalm]

What an opening conference week that was. Shocking outcomes and great performances dotted the Big Sky landscape. When the dust settled, who had Montana State with the same record as Cal Poly (1-0 conference, 3-2 overall). This is setting up to be quite the race for the conference title and the auto-bid to the playoffs. Here are this week's power rankings (last week's rankings in parenthesis). All are my opinion only. Only eight teams play this weekend.

1. Montana (1)---Last week beat Idaho at home 41-30, this week at Idaho State---The Grizzlies took care of the Vandals at home last week under the national TV broadcast. Looking to be rolling along, they hit the road this weekend for a strong test against a game Bengals squad. Playing in the Pocatello barn can be challenging.

2. Montana State (2)---Last week beat Eastern Washington at home 57-3, this week at Northern Arizona---The first conference game for the Bobcats had them hosting the Eagles, which turned out to be a blowout early. Feeling good in conference play, they head out on the road against a strong Lumberjacks team, which could be a tough one.

3. Northern Arizona (3)---Last week won at Portland State 31-17, this week Montana State at home---In conference play, any road win is a good win and the Lumberjacks looked fine on the road against the Vikings last weekend. This weekend will be tougher with a strong Bobcats team coming to town for a great matchup.

4. UC Davis (6)---Last week beat Weber State at home 34-12, this week at Cal Poly---The Aggies took care of business at home last week in the first conference game, getting past the Wildcats at home after some tense early moments. Now they head down south to play the Mustangs, the new darlings of the conference.

5. Idaho (5)---Last week lost at Montana 41-30, this week bye---The Vandals took one on the chin last week in their first conference game of the season at the Grizzlies den. They are taking this weekend off to prepare themselves to make some more noise in the conference race coming up. They have the Bears in two weeks.

6. Idaho State (8)---Last week won at Northern Colorado 26-18, this week Montana at home---The Bengals jumped on the Bears early on and held serve for basically the whole game, getting a good conference road win in the process. No rest for the weary as they have the Grizzlies waiting for them at their place.

7. Sacramento State (4)---Last week lost to Cal Poly at home 32-24, this week bye---In the ultimate conference head scratcher, the Hornets took on a game Mustangs squad at home, looking to start the season right. But nothing went right for the Hornets and they found themselves on the short end of the score. They have a bye this week.

8. Northern Colorado (7)---Last week lost to Idaho State at home 26-18, this week bye---The Bears were looking to finally make a statement last week in conference play, but their comeback fell just short. Eager to show the conference that they can be competitive this year, they are taking this week off for more preparedness.

9. Cal Poly (11)---Last week won at Sacramento State 32-24, this week UC Davis at home---In truly shocking fashion, the Mustangs rolled into the Hornets lair and rolled out with a good, strong road win. Eager to continue with their new found success, they welcome the Aggies to their home stadium for a tussle.

10. Weber State (9)---Last week lost at UC Davis 34-12, this week bye---The Wildcats went in to play the Aggies hoping to garner a win to start conference play, but they ran into a buzzsaw right away. They won't get another chance until two weeks from now to try again and get a conference win.

11. Eastern Washington (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 57-3, this week Portland State at home---The Eagles went over to the Bobcats home for a matchup, but it seemed like they weren't even there as they got manhandled. They come home this weekend for a test against the Vikings in the continuation of the Dam Cup.

12. Portland State (12)---Last week lost to Northern Arizona at home 31-17, this week at Eastern Washington---The Vikings continued their strong scheduling with a stern test last week at home against the Lumberjacks. They did show some signs of improvement. They may be feeling good as they face a reeling Eagles team this weekend.

RECAP: 1-4 out front, 5-7 just behind, 8-9 surprising, 10-12 in back.

This the worst team I’ve seen at Eastern since maybe the 90’s. Young line, confused offense. Might win one more game this year.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Not really sure why Cal Poly's below NoCo & Sac. I'd put them above ISU, too, but the Bengals are tough to pin down right now.