Author: Brian Marceau

Somehow, we have just two more weeks left in the conference season. We know Weber State, Sacramento State, and Montana will play on. Montana State might need another win, and UC Davis can still dream if they win out. The rest of the league is playing for pride, next season’s narrative, and if a few athletic departments are less broke than average, a few coaches might feel their seats growing a bit warm.

 

Playing for Byes

 

1. Weber State
Conference: 6-0
Overall: 8-2
Last Week: Win vs. North Dakota (30-27)
This Week: at Montana
Key Stat: Weber State is 2-0 versus current top-10 teams (Northern Iowa and Sacramento State).
Another Key Stat (conference only): In six conference games, the Wildcats have allowed just three rushing touchdowns.

2. Sacramento State
Conference: 5-1
Overall: 7-3
Last Week: at Win at Northern Arizona (38-34)
This Week: at Idaho
Key Stat (conference only): Defensive lineman George Obinna leads the Big Sky in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (11.0).

3. Montana
Conference: 5-1
Overall: 8-2
Last Week: vs. Idaho
This Week: vs. Weber State
Key Stat (conference only): Montana allows both the second fewest yards per carry (3.2ypa), and the second fewest rushing yards per game (112.2ypg).
Another Key Stat (conference only): Running back Marcus Knight has more rushing touchdowns himself (12 TDs) than seven Big Sky teams (Cal Poly, UD Davis, Idaho, Idaho State, NAU, SUU, and UNC).

In a Different World, We Could All Be Each Other

4. Montana State
Conference: 4-2
Overall: 7-3
Last Week: Win at Northern Colorado (45-14)
This Week: at UC Davis
Key Stat (conference only): Montana State leads the Big Sky in rushing offense (256.7ypg), but due to injuries, no Bobcats are among the conference’s top ten leaders in rushing yards.
Another Key Stat (conference only): The Bobcats have three players (Troy Anderson, Amandre Williams, and Derek Marks) among the league’s top ten in tackles for loss.

5. Eastern Washington
Conference: 4-2
Overall: 5-5
Last Week: Win at Idaho State (48-5)
This Week: vs. Cal Poly
Key Stat (conference only): Quarterback Eric Barriere’s 370.2 total yards per game leads the conference by an average of 51 yards per game (Case Cookus: 319.2ypg).

6. UC Davis
Conference: 3-3
Overall: 5-5
Last Week: Win at Portland State (45-28)
This Week: vs. Montana State
Key Stat (conference only): Since throwing three interceptions in a loss at North Dakota, quarterback Jake Maier has thrown 13 touchdowns and two interceptions, while completing 66 percent of his passes.
Another Key Stat (conference only): After opening Big Sky play with 102 combined rushing yards in losses to Montana and North Dakota, running back Ulonzo Gilliam has averaged 150 rushing yards per game.

 

The Best of the Worst

 

7. Portland State
Conference: 3-4
Overall: 5-6
Last Week: Loss vs. UC Davis (45-28)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat (conference only): Portland State’s three Big Sky wins have come against teams (Idaho, Southern Utah, and Northern Colorado) with a combined conference record of 5-14.

8. Northern Arizona
Conference: 2-4
Overall: 4-6
Last Week: Loss vs. Sacramento State (38-34)
This Week: at Southern Utah
Key Stat (conference only): Northern Arizona has held opponents to fewer than 450 total yards just once (Montana State: 443), while allowing an average of 540.8 yards per game.

9. Idaho
Conference: 2-4
Overall: 4-6
Last Week: Loss at Montana (42-17)
This Week: vs. Sacramento State
Key Stat (conference only): In five Big Sky starts, quarterback Mason Petrino has accounted for seven touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) and 12 turnovers (seven interceptions, five lost fumbles).
Another Key Stat (conference only): The Vandals have both the third worst scoring offense (23.7 points per game) and the third worst total offense (393 yards per game).

 

Mercifully, It’s Just Two Weeks

 

10. Cal Poly
Conference: 1-5
Overall: 2-7
Last Week: Bye
This Week: vs. Eastern Washington
Key Stat (conference only): Cal Poly has both the Big Sky’s worst scoring offense (20.8 points per game) and worst total offense (323.8 yards).

11. Northern Colorado
Conference: 2-4
Overall: 2-8
Last Week: Loss vs. Montana State (45-14)
This Week: at North Dakota
Key Stat (conference only): Northern Colorado has the league’s worst scoring margin (-13.5 points per game).

12. Southern Utah
Conference: 1-5
Overall: 2-8
Last Week: Bye
This Week: vs. Northern Arizona
Key Stat: Southern Utah’s two FCS wins have come against teams (Stephen F. Austin and Idaho State) with a combined FCS record of 4-13.

13. Idaho State
Conference: 2-5
Overall: 3-7
Last Week: Loss vs. Eastern Washington (48-5)
This Week: at BYU (FBS)
Key Stat (conference only): During Idaho State’s active four-game losing streak, opposing quarterbacks have thrown 13 touchdowns and two interceptions, while Bengal quarterbacks have thrown five touchdowns and nine interceptions.

 

We’re halfway through the conference season, with the game of the year (Weber State at Sacramento State) this Saturday. Preseason darlings EWU and UC Davis are officially playoff spoilers, Montana looked alright (for a week) without Dalton Sneed, and Southern Utah pulled off the unthinkable and won a conference game. As always, our positions are dictated by votes from members of the Big Sky Podcast Network, as well as some of our favorite media figures covering the Big Sky, while Brian Marceau puts down our thoughts.

Jockeying For A Seed

1. Weber State
Conference: 4-0
Overall: 6-2
Last Week: Win at UC Davis (36-20)
This Week: at Sacramento State.
Key Stat (conference only): Weber State pairs the top total defense (339.5 yards allowed per game) with the third best scoring offense (39.2 points per game).
Another Key Stat (conference only): The Wildcats gain an average of 256.5 yards per game on the ground while surrendering just 80.5 rushing yards per game.

2. Sacramento State
Conference: 4-0
Overall: 6-2
Last Week: Win at Cal Poly (38-14)
This Week: vs. Weber State
Key Stat (conference only): Sacramento State owns the Big Sky’s best scoring offense (42.2 points per game) and best scoring defense (21 points per game).

3. Montana
Conference: 3-1
Overall: 6-2
Last Week: Win vs. Eastern Washington (34-17)
This Week: at Portland State
Key Stat (conference only): Montana has outscored Big Sky teams 94-30 in the second half.
Another Key Stat: Through four Big Sky games, running back Marcus Knight has rushed for eight touchdowns, and 13 total touchdowns on the season.

Too Good For The Rest, Too Bad For The Top

4 (Tie). Montana State
Conference: 2-2
Overall: 5-3
Last Week: Loss at North Dakota (16-12)
This Week: vs. Southern Utah
Key Stat (conference only): The Bobcats’ defense has allowed just 367.8 yards per game (second best in conference) and 13 touchdowns (tied for third best).
Another Key Stat (conference only): Montana State’s offense accrues 384.5 yards per game (second worst).

Ruining Seasons (Including Our Own)

4 (Tie). Northern Arizona
Conference: 2-2
Overall: 4-4
Last Week: Win vs. Portland State (31-29)
This Week: vs. Eastern Washington
Key Stat (conference only): NAU’s league worst rush defense (254 yards per game, 15 TDs allowed, 5.4 yards per attempt in conference) has contributed to the Lumberjacks’ league worst time of possession (22:57).
Another Key Stat (conference only): NAU wide receiver Stacy Chukwumezie leads the Big Sky in receiving yards per game (110 yards), while fellow wide receiver Brandon Porter is third (98 yards per game).

6. Eastern Washington
Conference: 2-2
Overall: 3-5
Last Week: Loss at Montana (34-17)
This Week: vs. Northern Arizona
Key Stat (conference only): EWU ranks middle of the Big Sky in: scoring offense (sixth), scoring defense (seventh), rushing offense (sixth), rushing defense (seventh), pass defense (fifth), and total defense (sixth).

7. UC Davis
Conference: 2-3
Overall: 4-5
Last Week: Loss vs. Weber State (36-20)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat (conference only): In spite the production out of quarterback Jake Maier (288.2 passing yards per game, 12 TD passes) and running back Ulonzo Gilliam (92 rushing yards per game), UC Davis’ 10^th ranked Big Sky offense has been outgained by an average of 56.4 yards per game (417.2 to 473.6).

Still Telling Ourselves It’s All Okay

8. Portland State
Conference: 3-2
Overall: 5-4
Last Week: Loss at Northern Arizona (31-29)
This Week: vs. Montana
Key Stat: The combined conference record of Portland State’s Big Sky wins (Southern Utah, Idaho, and Northern Colorado) is 3-10.
Another Key Stat: The combined conference record of Portland State’s Big Sky losses (Idaho State and Northern Arizona) is 4-5.

9. Idaho
Conference: 2-3
Overall: 3-5
Last Week: Bye
This Week: vs. Cal Poly
Key Stat (conference only): Idaho forfeits an average of 100.2 penalty yards per game. The next closest team (NAU) forfeits an average of 68.8 penalty yards per game.

Another Key Stat: The Vandals have zero conference road wins since rejoining the Big Sky. Idaho’s last conference road win came as members of the Sun Belt (FBS) on December 2, 2017 at Georgia State.
Another Key Stat: Idaho is 5-2 at home against Big Sky teams (six conference, one nonconference) since rejoining the Big Sky.

Our Super Bowl Is Against Each Other

Southern Utah
Conference: 1-4
Overall: 2-7
Last Week: Win vs. Idaho State (59-34)
This Week: at Montana State
Key Stat: In two multiple-score Big Sky losses (at Portland State, at Weber State), Southern Utah had a turnover margin of -7. In its two one-score Big Sky losses (vs. Cal Poly, vs. UC Davis) and last week’s win (vs. Idaho State), the Thunderbirds had a turnover margin of +3.

Idaho State
Conference: 2-3
Overall: 3-5
Last Week: Loss at Southern Utah (59-34)
This Week: vs. Northern Colorado
Key Stat: In consecutive losses at Idaho and at Southern Utah, quarterback Matt Struck turned the ball over six times (five interceptions, one lost fumble). Four of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns (three interceptions, one lost fumble).
Another Key Stat: Idaho State has allowed no fewer than 450 yards in all five of their Big Sky games (least: 452 vs. North Dakota, most: 588 at Montana).

Cal Poly
Conference: 1-4
Overall: 2-6
Last Week: Loss vs. Sacramento State (38-14)
This Week: at Idaho
Key Stat: In blowout losses to Big Sky teams (Weber State, UC Davis, and Sacramento State), Cal Poly surrenders an average of 521.3 yards per game. In competitive losses (Montana State, North Dakota) and Cal Poly’s lone Big Sky win (Southern Utah), the Mustangs surrendered an average of 371.6 yards per game.
Another Key Stat: On 123 carries in Big Sky play, Duy Tran-Sampson has zero rushes in excess of 16 yards.

Northern Colorado
Conference: 1-3
Overall: 1-7
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Idaho State
Key Stat (conference only): Northern Colorado owns both the second worst pass defense (316.5 yards per game) and the second worst rush defense (229.8 yards per game) in the Big Sky.

We live in a world where Sacramento State, a team with exactly zero conference wins in 2018, now owns consecutive two score (or more) wins over Eastern Washington, Montana State, and Montana. It took our voters from the Big Sky Podcast Network a little less time than it’s taken the national polls to recognize what’s going on in Sacramento, but even we are still coming to terms with Sacramento State sitting on top of our football world.

 

Untouched (Haven’t Played Sacramento State)

 

1. Sacramento State
Conference: 3-0
Overall: 5-2
Last Week: Win vs. Montana (49-22)
This Week: at Cal Poly
Key Stat: In four games against Big Sky teams (three conference, one nonconference), Kevin Thomson has passed for an average of 307.6 yards per game while accounting for 24 touchdowns (18 passing, 6 rushing) and four turnovers (three interceptions, one lost fumble).
Another Key Stat: Through those same games, running back Elijah Dotson is gaining a combined (rushing and receiving) 148.25 yards per game.

2. Weber State
Conference: 3-0
Overall: 5-2
Last Week: Win vs. Northern Arizona (51-28)
This Week: at UC Davis
Key Stat: In four games against Big Sky teams (three conference, one nonconference), Weber State’s reputationally anemic offense has scored an average of 40.5 points per game. This increased production has come almost exclusively through the Wildcats’ run game. In those four games Weber State rushers have run for a combined 18 touchdowns (including Josh Davis’ 328 yards and four touchdowns vs. NAU), while quarterbacks Jake Constantine and Kaden Jenks have thrown for a combined four touchdowns.

 

If Not For Sacramento State, We’d Be Golden

 

3. Montana
Conference: 2-1
Overall: 5-2
Last Week: Loss at Sacramento State (49-22)
This Week: vs. Eastern Washington
Key Stat: Quarterback Dalton Sneed, who left in the third quarter due to a leg injury, contributed fewer combined yards against Sacramento State (158 total, 140 passing and 18 rushing) than he did against the University of Oregon (176 total, 184 passing and -8 rushing). In his five other FCS games, Sneed has passed for an average 339.6 yards and rushed for an average of 41.4 yards.
Another Key Stat: In five FCS wins, Montana has outgained opponents by an average of 154.2 yards per game. Against Sacramento State, the Grizzlies were outgained by 170 yards.

4. Montana State
Conference: 2-1
Record: 5-2
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at North Dakota
Key Stat: In Montana State’s first four FCS wins, the Bobcats’ outscored opponents in the second half by a combined margin of 107-24. In an overtime win over Cal Poly and loss to Sacramento State, Montana State was outscored in the second half 34-13.
Another Key Stat: Just one Big Sky team averages fewer than 375 yards of total offense in conference play (Cal Poly: 374.8). Through six FCS games, Montana State has allowed just two teams to reach 375 yards in total offense or more (NAU: 437, Sacramento State: 378).

 

Sacramento State Has, Or Will, Ruin Our Season

 

5. UC Davis
Conference: 2-2
Overall: 4-4
Last Week: Win at Southern Utah (33-25)
This Week: vs. Weber State
Key Stat: In conference losses to Montana and North Dakota, UC Davis surrendered an average of 501 yards per game and collected six turnovers while forcing just two (margin: -4). In two conference wins, the Aggies still surrendered a ton of yards (458 yards per game), but turned the ball over a combined zero times while forcing four turnovers (margin: +4).

 

6. Eastern Washington
Conference: 2-1
Overall: 3-4
Last Week: Bye
This Week: at Montana
Key Stat: In FCS games against teams below .500 (Idaho and Northern Colorado), quarterback Eric Barriere has completed 63 percent of his passes for an average of 405 yards passing per game. Against teams above .500 (Jacksonville State, North Dakota, and Sacramento State), Barriere has completed 52 percent of his passes for an average of 232 passing yards per game.

 

Didn’t Need Sacramento State To Ruin Our Season

7. Portland State
Conference: 3-1
Overall: 5-3
Last Week: Win at Northern Colorado (38-30)
This Week: vs. Northern Arizona
Key Stat: In Portland State’s three-game conference winning streak, the Vikings’ opponents (Southern Utah, Idaho, and Northern Colorado) have a combined Big Sky record of 2-10.

8. Idaho
Conference: 1-3
Overall: 3-5
Last Week: Win vs. Idaho State (45-21)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat: Making his first start since Idaho joined the Big Sky conference, junior backup quarterback Colton Richardson passed for more yards (289 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions) in two-and-a-half quarters than starting quarterback Mason Petrino has passed for in all but one of his 18 Big Sky starts. The outlier for Petrino came in a 46-27 loss to Montana in 2018, where Idaho trailed 43-13 at the end of the third quarter.
Another Key Stat: Scoring 45 points against Idaho State was the first time the Vandals scored more than 35 against a Division I opponent since their 2016 Famous Potato Bowl win. 21 of Idaho’s points came on defensive touchdowns.

9. Idaho State
Conference: 2-2
Overall: 3-4
Last Week: Loss at Idaho (45-21)
Next Week: at Southern Utah
Key Stat: Matt Struck contributed more touchdowns to Idaho (three: two interceptions and one fumble, all returned for touchdowns) than he did to Idaho State (two passing touchdowns).
Another Key Stat: In the Bengals’ two conference wins, Struck passed for a combined 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions. In Idaho State’s two conference losses, Struck has passed a combined two touchdowns and two interceptions.

10. Northern Arizona
Conference: 1-2
Record: 3-4
Last Week: Loss at Weber State (51-28)
This Week: vs. Portland State
Key Stat: In five FCS games, NAU has collected three blowout losses to top 15 teams (Illinois State, Montana State, and Weber State), and two wins (Missouri State and Northern Colorado) against opponents with a combined record of 2-12.

11. Cal Poly
Conference: 1-3
Overall: 2-5
Last Week: Loss vs. North Dakota (30-26)
This Week: vs. Sacramento State
Key Stat: Cal Poly has not allowed an opponent to possess the ball longer than 26:20 in conference play, but the Mustangs have still managed to surrender an average of 425.75 yards per game.

 

We Are What Sacramento State Was

12. Northern Colorado
Conference: 1-3
Overall: 1-7
Last Week: Loss vs. Portland State (38-30)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat: After passing for an average of 137.5 yards per game in nonconference play, senior quarterback Jakob Knipp has passed for an average of 303 yards per game through four Big Sky games.
Another Key Stat: Through those same conference games, senior running back Milo Hall has rushed for a combined 289 yards on 95 carries (3.04 yards per rush).

13. Southern Utah
Conference: 0-4
Overall: 1-7
Last Week: Loss vs. UC Davis (33-25)
This Week: vs. Idaho State
Key Stat: After forcing three turnovers and losing by only three to Cal Poly, through their next three conference games Southern Utah has a turnover margin of -8.

Life is just better during the conference season, and our rankings reflect this. As always, positions are dictated by Big Sky Podcast Network contributor votes, then compiled and written by Brian Marceau.

Book Their Tickets

1. Montana
Record: 5-1
Last Week: Win vs. Idaho State (59-20)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat: Through five FCS games, Montana is averaging 547 yards of total offense, with their worst offensive output (510 yards) coming in week one against South Dakota. Through those five games, quarterback Dalton Sneed has passed for 339.6 yards per game, 15 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while rushing for 41.4 yards per game and four touchdowns.

 

2. Weber State
Record: 3-2
Last Week: Win vs. Idaho (41-35)
This Week: vs. Southern Utah
Key Stat: Through three FCS wins, Weber State has a turnover margin of +4 and an average time of possession of 33:21

 

3. Montana State
Record: 5-1
Last Week: Win at Cal Poly (34-28 OT)
This Week: vs. Sacramento State
Key Stat: In wins against Northern Arizona and Cal Poly, former quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Travis Jonson averaged more yards per carry (7.9) than quarterback Tucker Rovig has averaged yards per pass (5.7) while rushing 24 times for 190 yards and four touchdowns.

 

4. Sacramento State
Record: 3-2
Last Week: Win vs. Eastern Washington (48-27)
This Week: at Montana State
Key Stat: Sacramento State has outscored its two Big Sky opponents (Northern Colorado in nonconference, EWU in conference) 98-27. In those two wins, quarterback Kevin Thomson completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing for 676 yards, 8 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.

 

If We All Win Out (And Don’t Play Each Other), There’s A Chance

 

5. Northern Arizona
Record: 3-3
Last Week: Win vs. Northern Colorado (41-23)
This Week: Bye
Key Stat: NAU’s defense allowed both Montana State and Northern Colorado to gain 443 yards of total offense. The biggest difference between the Lumberjacks’ opening loss at Montana State and their win over Northern Colorado was NAU’s passing efficiency: Case Cookus averaged 5.3 yards per pass against the Bobcats, then 8.4 against the Bears.

 

6. UC Davis
Record: 2-4
Last Week: Loss at North Dakota (38-36)
This Week: vs. Cal Poly
Key Stat: During Big Sky play in 2018, UC Davis allowed 27.1 points per game. In the Aggies’ opening two conference losses this season against Montana and North Dakota, UC Davis is allowing an average of 41.5 points per game. Defensive regression paired with Jake Maier’s turnover struggles (10 interceptions through 13 starts in 2018, compared to nine interceptions through six starts in 2019) explain how this preseason darling should find itself outside the top 25.

 

7. Eastern Washington
Record: 2-4
Last Week: Loss at Sacramento State (48-27)
This Week: vs. Northern Colorado
Key Stat: In their nonconference loss to Idaho and opening conference games, EWU has halved its scoring output from last season (24.6ppg in 2019 compared to 48ppg in 2018) while surrendering double the points (34.3ppg allowed in 2019 to 16.3 allowed in 2018).

 

8. Idaho State
Record: 2-3
Last Week: Loss at Montana (59-20)
Next Week: vs. North Dakota
Key Stat: Idaho State has allowed 1,093 yards through two Big Sky games (505 vs. Portland State, 588 at Montana). On the bright side, in those same games running back Ty Flannigan rushed 39 times for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

 

9. Idaho
Record: 2-4
Last Week: Loss vs. Weber State (41-35)
This Week: at Portland State
Key Stat: In two single-digit Big Sky losses, the Vandals committed 25 penalties for 244 lost yards while quarterback Mason Petrino committed six turnovers (three interceptions vs. UNC, three lost fumbles vs. Weber State).

 

You Only Forget About Us Because We’re Forgettable

10. Cal Poly
Record: 2-3
Last Week: Loss vs. Montana State (34-28 OT)
This Week: at UC Davis
Key Stat: In two Big Sky games, Cal Poly’s infamously inefficient defense has allowed opponents to outscore the Mustangs by three while opening 1-1 in spite of the Cal Poly offense possessing the ball for a combined 75:59.

 

11. Portland State
Record: 3-3
Last Week: Win vs. Southern Utah (52-31)
This Week: vs. Idaho
Key Stat: In 2018, Portland State ranked ninth in the Big Sky in total offense while gaining 387.6 yards per game. In their blowout loss at Idaho State and blowout win over Southern Utah, the Vikings gained an average of 489 yards.

 

12. Northern Colorado
Record: 1-5
Last Week: Loss at Northern Arizona (41-23)
This Week: at Eastern Washington
Key Stat: In their two nonconference FCS losses, Northern Colorado gained a combined 390 yards and earned 27 total first downs. Through two Big Sky games, the Bears have gained 854 yards and earned 48 first downs while going 1-1.

The Undisputed

 

13. Southern Utah
Record: 1-5
Last Week: Loss at Portland State (52-31)
This Week: at Weber State
Key Stat: Southern Utah is the anti-Cal Poly. In two conference losses, the Thunderbirds have possessed the ball for a total of 45:20. Their +3 turnover margin kept things close against Cal Poly, but a -3 turnover margin versus PSU paved the way for SUU’s third blowout FCS loss.