Big Sky Power Rankings 11-4

[JALMOND]

The picture is getting clearer now in the Big Sky. Probably not what we expected but things are taking shape and with it being November now, it is about time. A good tussle between the top two teams gave us a great showing by both. On top of that, Montana took a step of returning to the conference elite with a strong road win. Unfortunately, Sacramento State looked like they are without a quarterback and for how long remains to be seen. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only.

1. Weber State (2)---Last week won at Sacramento State 36-17, this week North Dakota at home---A good conference road win for the Wildcats. Now all that's between them and another strong road meeting is a date with the conference castoffs who are also trying for a playoff berth.

2. Sacramento State (1)---Last week lost to Weber State at home 36-17, this week at Northern Arizona---A tough loss for the Hornets, not only for the game but also losing their stud quarterback in the process. Having to recover in the thin air of Northern Arizona does not help.

3. Montana (3)---Last week won at Portland State 38-23, this week Idaho at home---Seems like while the focus has been everywhere else in the conference, the Grizzlies just keep moving on. A good road victory gives way to a winnable conference home game before a tough ending.

4. Montana State (4)---Last week beat Southern Utah at home 42-7, this week at Northern Colorado---The Bobcats finally put together a good solid overall effort on both sides for a big conference win. They need to not look past this game this weekend before a tough ending themselves.

5. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week beat Northern Arizona at home 66-38, this week at Idaho State---The Eagles finally came alive this year with a resounding home win. Unfortunately, it is a little too late as they are probably on the outside of the playoffs.

6. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 66-38, this week Sacramento State at home---The Lumberjacks took a tough defeat on the road last week. They now take their turn at spoiler against the darlings of the conference this year.

7. UC Davis (7)---Last week bye, this week at Portland State---The Aggies took two weeks to refocus as they are out of the playoff picture. Their quest to salvage their pride starts this weekend with a tough game at Portland State, then a couple chances at spoiler.

8. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to Montana at home 38-23, this week UC Davis at home---The Vikings never could get anything going last week and got their first home loss of the season. They will need to regroup for a tough game this weekend.

9. Idaho (9)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 21-9, this week at Montana---The Vandals home cooking continued last week, gaining confidence once again inside their building. It's been a tough go outside of their building and now they face one of the heavies.

10. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week won at Idaho State 26-20, this week Montana State at home---Nothing has been expected from the Bears so a win last week in a place that has been tough for anyone is a good confidence builder as they get set to play spoiler against one of the better teams.

11. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 42-7, this week bye---A good confidence boost the week before gave way to dismay in Big Sky Country for the Thunderbirds. This year has not been kind to them and they get an extra week to figure it out.

12. Idaho State (11)--Last week lost to Northern Colorado at home 26-20, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Bengals have been like money at home all year until last week when they took a perplexing loss to one of the bottom dwellers. They now get a better team at home.

13. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Idaho 21-9, this week bye---Not where the Mustangs expected to be this late in the season but the situation finds them at the bottom. They get an extra week to try to climb out of this funk and end the year on a high note.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4 keeping up, then 5, then 6, then 7, 8-9 fading back, 10-13 bringing up the rear.

[wapiti]

The picture is getting clearer now in the Big Sky. Probably not what we expected but things are taking shape and with it being November now, it is about time. A good tussle between the top two teams gave us a great showing by both. On top of that, Montana took a step of returning to the conference elite with a strong road win. Unfortunately, Sacramento State looked like they are without a quarterback and for how long remains to be seen. Here are this week's power rankings (last week in parenthesis). All are my opinion only.

1. Weber State (2)---Last week won at Sacramento State 36-17, this week North Dakota at home---A good conference road win for the Wildcats. Now all that's between them and another strong road meeting is a date with the conference castoffs who are also trying for a playoff berth.

2. Sacramento State (1)---Last week lost to Weber State at home 36-17, this week at Northern Arizona---A tough loss for the Hornets, not only for the game but also losing their stud quarterback in the process. Having to recover in the thin air of Northern Arizona does not help.

3. Montana (3)---Last week won at Portland State 38-23, this week Idaho at home---Seems like while the focus has been everywhere else in the conference, the Grizzlies just keep moving on. A good road victory gives way to a winnable conference home game before a tough ending.

4. Montana State (4)---Last week beat Southern Utah at home 42-7, this week at Northern Colorado---The Bobcats finally put together a good solid overall effort on both sides for a big conference win. They need to not look past this game this weekend before a tough ending themselves.

5. Eastern Washington (6)---Last week beat Northern Arizona at home 66-38, this week at Idaho State---The Eagles finally came alive this year with a resounding home win. Unfortunately, it is a little too late as they are probably on the outside of the playoffs.

6. Northern Arizona (5)---Last week lost at Eastern Washington 66-38, this week Sacramento State at home---The Lumberjacks took a tough defeat on the road last week. They now take their turn at spoiler against the darlings of the conference this year.

7. UC Davis (7)---Last week bye, this week at Portland State---The Aggies took two weeks to refocus as they are out of the playoff picture. Their quest to salvage their pride starts this weekend with a tough game at Portland State, then a couple chances at spoiler.

8. Portland State (8)---Last week lost to Montana at home 38-23, this week UC Davis at home---The Vikings never could get anything going last week and got their first home loss of the season. They will need to regroup for a tough game this weekend.

9. Idaho (9)---Last week beat Cal Poly at home 21-9, this week at Montana---The Vandals home cooking continued last week, gaining confidence once again inside their building. It's been a tough go outside of their building and now they face one of the heavies.

10. Northern Colorado (13)---Last week won at Idaho State 26-20, this week Montana State at home---Nothing has been expected from the Bears so a win last week in a place that has been tough for anyone is a good confidence builder as they get set to play spoiler against one of the better teams.

11. Southern Utah (10)---Last week lost at Montana State 42-7, this week bye---A good confidence boost the week before gave way to dismay in Big Sky Country for the Thunderbirds. This year has not been kind to them and they get an extra week to figure it out.

12. Idaho State (11)--Last week lost to Northern Colorado at home 26-20, this week Eastern Washington at home---The Bengals have been like money at home all year until last week when they took a perplexing loss to one of the bottom dwellers. They now get a better team at home.

13. Cal Poly (12)---Last week lost at Idaho 21-9, this week bye---Not where the Mustangs expected to be this late in the season but the situation finds them at the bottom. They get an extra week to try to climb out of this funk and end the year on a high note.

RECAP: 1-3 out front, 4 keeping up, then 5, then 6, then 7, 8-9 fading back, 10-13 bringing up the rear.

Rankings look good.
I disagree with UCDavis chance at the playoffs. If they win their next 3 games they will have 7 FCS wins and that will get them consideration and a fair chance at being included.

[MSUBobcat]

Rankings look good.
I disagree with UCDavis chance at the playoffs. If they win their next 3 games they will have 7 FCS wins and that will get them consideration and a fair chance at being included.

I said the same last week. 7 D-I wins, no bad losses (P5 Cal, the top 2 FCS teams in NDSU and Weber and 2 teams that are in the hunt for a playoff bid in UM and UND) . End the year winning 5 of their last 6, with only loss being to what should be a 2 seeded WSU (assuming they win out). Depending on how the chips fall in the BSC and around the country, they could have 3 wins over teams that are at least under consideration for a playoff bid, if not in the playoffs (San Diego, Sac State and MSU).

[slostang]

Cal Poly most definitely deserves to be towards the bottom, but I think they belong above a SUU team they beat who just lost to MSU 42-7, a team Cal Poly took to OT.

[MSUBobcat]

Cal Poly most definitely deserves to be towards the bottom, but I think they belong above a SUU team they beat who just lost to MSU 42-7, a team Cal Poly took to OT.

I tend to agree with you, but... what does it really matter? As the tiers indicate, 10-13 are "bringing up the rear". They are fairly indistinguishable from each other and likely won't finish with more than 3 wins in a 12 game season (Poly only plays 11). Seems kinda like pointing out the teacher marked a correct answer wrong to bring your test score from a 46% to a 48%. It's still a massively failing grade.

[cpalum]

I tend to agree with you, but... what does it really matter? As the tiers indicate, 10-13 are "bringing up the rear". They are fairly indistinguishable from each other and likely won't finish with more than 3 wins in a 12 game season (Poly only plays 11). Seems kinda like pointing out the teacher marked a correct answer wrong to bring your test score from a 46% to a 48%. It's still a massively failing grade.


Sad....we (CP fans) are now relegated to arguing that they should be ranked above dead last. They might be 11, 12, or 13 but one thing is for certain...they are not a good football team.

[Grizalltheway]

Sad....we (CP fans) are now relegated to arguing that they should be ranked above dead last. They might be 11, 12, or 13 but one thing is for certain...they are not a good football team.

I definitely miss the days when it seemed like every game between us came down to the final possession or OT.

[MSUBobcat]

Sad....we (CP fans) are now relegated to arguing that they should be ranked above dead last. They might be 11, 12, or 13 but one thing is for certain...they are not a good football team.

Everyone has down years. Look at where the Hornets were just a year ago. I have confidence your team turns it around sooner than later.

[slostang]

I know it is like arguing who better looking in a burn ward. Both teams are badly burned and ugly, but as bad as we are I think SUU is worse. Does it really matter? No, both programs are burned and headed in the wrong direction. I agree it is sad. We once were a proud program. Now not so much. I am hoping that changes in the near future.

[I Bleed Purple]

I know it is like arguing who better looking in a burn ward. Both teams are badly burned and ugly, but as bad as we are I think SUU is worse. Does it really matter? No, both programs are burned and headed in the wrong direction. I agree it is sad. We once were a proud program. Now not so much. I am hoping that changes in the near future.

Does that include abandoning the triple option?

[slostang]

Does that include abandoning the triple option?
I don’t think the triple option is the problem. How they are running it the last few years is part of the problem.

[Grizalltheway]

I don’t think the triple option is the problem. How they are running it the last few years is part of the problem.
Do you think Cal Poly can get the kind of athletes they need to be contenders with a more modern offense?

[cx500d]

Do you think Cal Poly can get the kind of athletes they need to be contenders with a more modern offense?
Probably would be easier than finding an option qb in California

[JALMOND]

I know it is like arguing who better looking in a burn ward. Both teams are badly burned and ugly, but as bad as we are I think SUU is worse. Does it really matter? No, both programs are burned and headed in the wrong direction. I agree it is sad. We once were a proud program. Now not so much. I am hoping that changes in the near future.

I actually was looking at who was "worse" between Poly and Idaho State. I know the Bengals have 3 wins including one over North Dakota, but consecutive losses to Southern Utah and Northern Colorado have me thinking they may not be the same team as they were earlier. But then, neither is Poly.