One week down, five-ish to go! Two of the eight teams didn’t play (UC Davis & Cal Poly). Some will argue all the games were closer than expected, others can claim things went according to plan.

Reminder this is a “Power Ranking.” It means different things to different people. Some view it as the best team, some view it as hottest team at the moment. At the end of the year, the team that wins the conference may not be No. 1 in our rankings. We had 13 voters this week.

This week [Last week] Team - Point total (First Place Votes)

1. [1] Weber State Wildcats - 115 (12 First place votes)

Weber State wins on the road in Pocatello. Was it the big win the national media wanted to see? Weber could be your No. 1 team in the country this week. This being a power ranking, it didn’t appear to be enough for one of our voters to think they are hottest team in the Big Sky.

But with 600 + yards of offense…. Weber may have turned over a new leaf. Watch out!

2. [3] Idaho Vandals - 90 (1 First place vote)

Big win over local top 25 rival, 12th-ranked Eastern Washington last week 28-21. A great game by the Vandals defense holding Walter Payton watchlist QB Eric Barriere below his normal lighting-rod self.

Lady luck seemed to be on Idaho’s side, enough to even secure its first top vote in this power poll’s history.

Odd to say this, this year in particular, but it is a long season. Can they keep it up?

3. [2] Eastern Washington Eagles - 70

Tough loss in Moscow this weekend for the ranked Eagles. Short on players, short on coaches and short on time the Eagles fought hard. There is no such thing as a “good loss,” but the Eagles have to feel rather confident for when the Vandals make the return trip to Cheney in April.

This weekend, the ball just didn’t “bounce” their way.

4. [4] UC Davis Aggies - 61

Did not play, did not move. Somehow received a vote for every poll position but No. 1.

5. [5] Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - 48

A win is a win in real life. But a 34-33 win is not the same in a power ranking. Even with the W, NAU received a smaller percentage of the points. They also fell further behind UC Davis, who did not even play.

For Lumberjacks they got a trophy, momentum, and the win. They are only one of three teams in Big Sky 1-0. Week two will be big for them.

6. [6] Cal Poly Mustangs - 40

Did not play, did not move.

7. [8] Southern Utah - 28

When playing a tough Lumberjacks squad, a loss in the game is different than a loss in terms of a power ranking.

Members of BSPN had little to no faith in the Thunderbirds and they received almost all the last place votes last week.

But this week we saw a 34-33 close one vs rival NAU and a surprising QB performance as former walk-on Justin Miller tossed 5 TDs and only 1 INT. Maybe, just maybe, Miller, paired with 2nd-easiest Big Sky schedule will lead to surprise season in Cedar City, Utah.

8. [7] Idaho State - 19

The Bengals performed better than most would have guessed heading into Saturday. Problem is, it was against Weber, and they still lost by four scores.

While last place this week, the Bengals could be frisky.