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 9 voters this week.
This week [Last Week] | Team | First Place Votes
1. [1] Montana (9)
Last Week: W Vs Cal Poly 39-7
This Week: @ #6 Eastern Washington
My Ranking: 1
Unanimous numero uno! But the first real FCS test is this week on the windy inferno in Cheney on ESPN2. Look they have looked good against, you know bottom dwelling FCS teams sagarin ranked 172 & 218 (out of 258). Then of course the Husky elephant in the room a win against power 5 Washington who are 2-2 and just beat Cal in OT 31-24. Meanwhile Cal beat Sac State by only 12 the week prior.
They are getting the respect they deserve, but man oh man a win in Cheney would be huge to real quall my doubts. Per Colter Nuanez on ESPN Missoula “The red turf was installed in 2010 at Roos Field in Cheney, WA. The Griz are 0-5 since then on the Inferno.”
Not only would a win this week quall my doubts, but would probably help beat away some of the 2010s ghosts beating around Missoula. You break your 5 games lose streak to the Eagles, that game for another streak breaker November 23rd becomes less mental.
2. [2] UC Davis
Last Week:W #19 Weber State 17-14
This Week: v Idaho
My Ranking: 2
UC Davis was my darling pick this fall to be a dark horse and they are looking to be every part of it. All they have done so far is take care of business. 4-0 with FBS win, Top 15 FCS win, and two blowouts of lesser FCS opponents.
The game last week vs Weber may have just secured them a playoff spot, pending a colossal collapse. Their playoff resume sits at 4.5 wins.
QB Hunter Rodrigues is proving to be the next step at QB after Jake Maier took them to national prominence. Pair that with a top 3 RB in the Big Sky (Ulonzo Giliam Jr) and some stud pass catchers (Jared Harrell & McCallan Castles).
They have a more impressive resume than Montana, and probably have a legit gripe with these rankings and not receiving a 1st place vote. The Sagarin rankings of the teams they have beat 86, 243, 117, 228. Very comparable to Montana but with the extra win and one being Top 25 in the FCS.
Aggies fans are staring to pop out of the woodwork online and should be proud of the progress this team has made.
3. [4] Eastern Washington
Last Week W @ Southern Utah 50-21
The farewell tour headliner is this weekend at the home venue. Tickets are expensive, capacity is being added. Can Eric Barrierre have a performance like we are used to? Or will Montanas physical front 7 cause the issues for Barrierre and the band have had in the past.
The home fans and all the groupies circles this show when the calendar came out. This show is the show of shows on the tour. They have been waiting since 2016 to have this show back at home.
They need a good show. They have really only been playing smaller intimate shows. Wins vs sagarin ranked 172, 197, 144 and a team not ranked due to being D2.
They due have one comparable which is absolutely, totally and unequivocally going to show how Saturdays game will got.
Montana 42 Western Illinois 7
Eastern Washington 62 Western Illinois 56
4. [3] Montana State
Last Week: W @ Portland State 30-17
This Week: vs Northern Colorado
My Ranking 5
This one should stir some drama. You view it as either Montana State maybe having a bit of a letdown vs Portland State, or handling a “top 5 Big Sky Program” in Portland State.
When the real story is this game went exactly how it was suppose to. Spread was -13… boom, that’s a push.
For Bobcat fans, you are correct a 29 point win at Southern Utah vs 13 point win at Portland State doesn’t quite seem different, or impressive enough to justify being jumped in the poll. Then you see I have you at 5 and divert your energy to me, realizing it is probably my fault.
Look love me some Bobcats. But you guys just haven’t beaten anyone worth a damn. Sagarin ranked 244, 186, 243. By far the easiest schedule so far in the Big Sky. Just keep winning and you will move up.
5. [5] Weber State
Last Week: L vs #8 UC Davis 14-17
This Week: @ Cal Poly
My Ranking: 4
From the easiest schedule in the big sky to the hardest. Weber State has had to face two top 8 teams and a potential Pac-12 south champion. They have not had an easy time of it. To make things harder they lost their starting QB Bronson Barron for the those ranked matchups.
Not going to make excuses for them. They were suppose to be better than 1-3 entering week 5 this year. They have made it to the FCS Semi-finals before with below average QB play.
Good news is their schedule gets easier from here on out. With only 2 games that should even challenge them with 1 at home. that said they can really only afford to lose 1 more from here on out. Weber is reeling.
Oh and that ball was defiantly uncatchable.
6. [7] Sacramento State
Last Week: W @ Idaho State 23-21
This Week: Bye Week
My Ranking: 9
I still don’t quite understand why everyone else in the Big Sky Podcast network still has this team even close to floating around the top 5.
To be fair, there is a clear top tier this year and a large middle with some a few stragglers.
Right now, Sac is the king of the middle I guess.
7. [9] Portland State
Last Week: L vs #11 Montana State 17-30
This Week: @ Southern Utah
My Ranking: 6
Not a fan of losing a game and moving up in the standings. But it happens. Call it the Montana Effect. You play a team from the state of Montana and play ok, you will move up.
8. [12] Northern Colorado
Last Week: W Northern Arizona 17-10 OT
This Week: vs #11 Montana State
My Ranking: 7
They are like that Katy Perry song. They are hot, then they are cold, up and then down, in then out.
Dylan McCaffery is back in and they win the game. Without him they lose to a team like Lamar.
But even so, NAU seems to be having some struggles. They needed a bigger win to really look threatening for this season. But it appears they will play a playoff spoiler role this year. Which is better then cellar dweller like they had been.
9. [11] Idaho
Last Week: Bye Week
This Week: vs #8 UC Davis
My Ranking: 8
Talk about benefiting from some bad, bad play in front of you. When you have a -84 scoring margin in your two most recent games, probably shouldn’t move up. But hey, this pulls them closer to where I have them ranked. So maybe more people just calmed down, and looked at actual talent on the team and not the scoring margin?
10. [10] Idaho State
Last Week: L vs Sacramento State 21-23
This Week: vs Northern Arizona
My Ranking: 10
The Bengals did me dirty. 0-3 to start the season with a loss to Sac State. Just…no.
t-11. Southern Utah
Last Week: L vs #6 Eastern Washington 21-50
This Week: vs Portland State
My Ranking: 12
SUU just can’t put it together. Had a chance to catch EWU sleeping. That didn’t happen.
t-11. Northern Arizona
Last Week: L @ Northern Colorado 10-17 OT
This Week: vs Idaho State
My Ranking: 11
Just look lost on offense. Which is shocking because they are DEEP at Wideout and seemed to find the guy running the rock in Hall.
13. Cal Poly
Last Week: L @ #4 Montana 7-39
This Week: vs #19 Weber State
My Ranking:13
I mean, people believe in Baldwin, just not yet.
*** As always I”m not an journalist so, take your gramatical error comments, & put them in a beg some-Where. Hope you enjoyed the content regarless if you maid it too dis disclaimer
Tubs at The Club 
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