Big Sky Conference Power Rankings: Week 6
Mint Sports contributor Minty Coach once said, “Anything can happen in the Big Sky, and usually does,” and last weekend’s games were that crazy. There’s some movement in this week’s power rankings after an surprisingly entertaining weekend in the Big Sky.
(Previous week’s ranking in italicized parentheses)
1. Eastern Washington — STATS FCS Poll: 4 (5), Sagarin Rank: 78 (88)
EWU played without a hurt Gage Gubrud but didn’t miss a beat as they dominated Southern Utah 55-17 in Cheney. EWU moved up to the 4 spot in the STATS FCS poll and are the clear class of the Big Sky. Eastern hits the road this weekend to take on Weber State.
2. UC Davis — STATS FCS Poll: 14 (16), Sagarin Rank: 124 (123)
UC Davis was up big early on Northern Colorado and held on after a late UNC rally made the 49-36 score look a lot closer than it was. UNC scored 26 in the 4th quarter but UC Davis had the game in hand 42-10 before the comeback attempt. UC Davis looks to keep rolling this weekend with a HUGE home conference game against the red hot Idaho State Bengals.
3. Idaho State — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 137 (155)
Idaho State makes the leap into our Top 3 this week after completely destroying Idaho over the weekend. Tanner Gueller threw for 8 TDs and the Bengals routed the Vandals 62-28. Idaho State looks to keep their hot streak going as they travel to UC Davis in a battle of two of top teams in the conference so far this season.
4. Weber State — STATS FCS Poll: 13 (6), Sagarin Rank: 121 (114)
Weber State couldn’t hang on to beat NAU last weekend and got handed a 28-24 loss in the Walkup Skydome last weekend. Weber was ranked as high as 6th in the STATS FCS poll but their lone quality win is over now-ranked South Dakota in their third game. Weber stays in the Top 4 due to the rest of the Big Sky mostly being a toss up.
5. Montana State — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 157 (160)
Montana State was on a bye last week after getting beat by Eastern the previous weekend. A chance to heal up and hopefully figure out their QB position were bye week goals (for the fans, at least). Montana State’s two losses are to the #2 and #4 teams in the FCS so it’ll be interesting to see what they can do against a middle of the pack team when they host Idaho for homecoming this weekend. The last time the Cats and Vandals played a conference game? October 7th, 1995 with MSU pulling off the upset win over the #23 Vandals. The Cats will hope to avoid the homecoming loss and get their conference season back on track.
6. Montana — STATS FCS Poll: 22 (14), Sagarin Rank: 136 (119)
The Griz fall back to the 6 spot in the Power Rankings by giving Portland State their first Division 1 win in nearly two years. In the biggest Big Sky shocker in recent memory, the Vikings went to Washington Grizzly Stadium and beat UM on a last second field goal. The Griz drop behind MSU for the first time this season as the Cats have beat both common opponents that they share with the Griz, while UM has lost to both. The Griz look to get back on track with a tough road game in North Dakota.
7. Northern Arizona — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 143 (158)
Case Cookus was MIA again last weekend but the Lumberjacks knocked off Weber State at home, winning 28-24. Northern Arizona is a roller coaster without Cookus at the helm but pulled off the quality win over the Wi. With losses to EWU, Missouri State, and Idaho State on their resume, NAU is on a bye this weekend and has an almost guaranteed victory next week when they travel to Greeley to take on the UNC Bears.
8. Sacramento State — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 168 (152)
Sacramento State was upset at home by Cal Poly last weekend and it wasn’t even close. The Hornets lost 41-27 and would be moving down in the Power Rankings if it wasn’t for the rest of the teams having more glaring weaknesses than them. Sac State heads to Southern Utah this weekend to try and get it back on track.
9. Cal Poly — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 179 (187)
Cal Poly went to Sacramento State and beat the Hornets badly, 41-27, to get back in the win column. After two blowout losses to Eastern Washington and Montana the previous two weeks, Cal Poly got a much needed W at the expense of the Hornets. Cal Poly is on a bye this week and the hosts UC Davis the next weekend.
10. Idaho — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 183 (172)
Idaho got absolutely killed last weekend at Idaho State. Like… killed. Idaho State put up 62 points on the Vandals and hopefully ignited a rivalry that will be fun to watch in the Big Sky. If the Vandals went into that game thinking the Bengals weren’t worthy of being a rival this game should have changed their mind. Idaho has had a rude welcome back to the Big Sky and travels to Bozeman this weekend to take on Montana State and attempt to even up their conference record.
11. Portland State — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 207 (213)
Oh what a win for the Portland State Vikings! The team who we thought would be at the bottom of the Big Sky Power Rankings for the foreseeable future went to Missoula and knocked off the Griz to spoil their homecoming. No one, and I mean no one but the player’s parents, gave PSU a shot to win that game and they stood toe to toe with the Griz and threw the knockout punch in the form of a last second field goal to get their first Division 1 win in a LONG time. PSU kept it close with Idaho the previous week so maybe we’re seeing them become a bit more competitive. They could get their second win in a row when they host Northern Colorado this weekend in what should be the game with the least impact on the conference.
12. Northern Colorado — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 190 (189)
UNC showed some heart last weekend with their cute comeback attempt against UC Davis. They threw up 26 points in the 4th quarter but, as with most games when you’re down 36 points going into the 4th quarter, it just wasn’t enough to take down the Aggies. In the battle that no one cares about, UNC will take on Portland State in Oregon this weekend.
13. Southern Utah — STATS FCS Poll: NR (NR), Sagarin Rank: 180 (174)
Poor Southern Utah. They caught a break and didn’t have to play against Gage Gubrud last weekend in Cheney but still got blown out 55-17. Their D played so bad they may have created a QB controversy at Eastern Washington (just kidding). But really, SUU has a brutal schedule and is looking like the most disappointing team in the Big Sky this year based on expectations. SUU hosts Sacramento State this weekend in a game that is looking a lot more winnable than it did a couple weeks ago.
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About the Author
Hot Take Nate Hot Take Nate now resides in Northern California but still calls Montana his home. It'll always be home.
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