It is a question of questions in the Big Sky. Everyone has them, but how quickly they are answered means which teams will go the furthest. The first weekend, many questions were not answered. That may have had something to do with the quality of opponents everyone played. This weekend the competition should be more even and we can start addressing the issues. Here are this week's power rankings, all my opinions as usual. This week (last week). Not many changes.
1. Montana State (1)---Maybe their drubbing of Chadron State will not make up for the upset of a few years ago, but the Bobcats did win this time. Now they head to Ash's former job at Drake. On paper, looks like a win, but anything can happen on the road.
2. Eastern Washington (2)---Rather shocking win at Idaho in an ugly contest as the Eagles break in their new quarterback, but the defense did a great job holding the FBS Idaho team. This week, they stay in the Palouse, playing the Pac-12's Washington State team. Anybody can say...2 FBS wins?
3. Cal Poly (3)---The Mustangs got an impressive home win over Pioneer non-scholly, San Diego and made it look rather easy, as any Big Sky school should. The Mustangs will take this week off to prepare for Wyoming next week and the conference season the following week.
4. Montana (4)---The Grizzlies had a bit of a struggle against the Mo Valley's South Dakota team but after the offseason struggles, nothing new to this squad. They were able to get the win at home. This week finds them at FCS juggernaut Appalachian State on the road. Not easy by no means.
5. North Dakota (7)---It is one thing to play a formerly bad NAIA school that is making a jump up to DII, but UND got a superior effort on offense to match a great performance on defense to put South Dakota Mines away in a hurry. This week, they welcome fellow Big Sky member Portland State to their home.
6. Northern Arizona (5)---Things could not get much worse for the Lumberjacks in their first game, losing their quarterback and their running back, then losing by a wide margin to their fellow in state big brother, Arizona State. This week, they play FBS again, going to UNLV.
7. Portland State (8)---So on paper it was NAIA, but the team the Vikings beat was a fixture in the NAIA title game in Carroll College. Bend but don't break was the motto and the Vikings held off any chance for an upset. This week, they need to play better as they go on the road to new conference member, North Dakota.
8. Southern Utah (6)---The Thunderbirds entered their new conference with a strong quarterback, something that is needed for success around here, yet the quarterback looked rather pedestrian in their blowout loss to Utah State. Now they stay in FBS with a game at the Pac-12's California team.
9. Weber State (9)---A strong showing in the first half against Fresno State had the Wildcats thinking what if. Then Fresno State came out to play in the second and put them away. This week, they participate in the Utah round robin, playing Brigham Young on the road.
10. UC-Davis (12)---The defense was a given going in to the Aggies game against Azusa Pacific, but no one could see the offensive explosion in the game. If that keeps up, the Aggies could surprise in the conference. This week they see if they can keep is going at San Jose State.
11. Sacramento State (10)--Maybe unfair expectations for the Hornets after their big opening win last season, but some pundits were picking their opener this season against New Mexico State to be a bit more competitive. Now, they head into the Pac-12 with a game at Colorado.
12. Idaho State (11)---The passing game for the Bengals is in top season form, but the Air Force totally picked apart the Bengals defense. When the defense catches up to the offense, the Bengals may have some good things going. This week, they bring in new DII team Black Hills State to Pocatello.
13. Northern Colorado (13)---Yes it was a blowout and it was a shutout, but it was not nearly as bad for the Bears last week at Utah as most people thought. There are good things for them to build on this week as they welcome Mesa College to their home turf. Should get a win, but Lindenwood last year should have been a win.
Recap: 1 clearly out front, 2 has emerged from the big pac for a solid second, 3-13 still in a bunch.