UC Davis
The Aggies maintain their top spot thanks to a bye. An upcoming matchup with Northern Colorado will likely keep UC Davis atop the list for another week.
Montana
A pure thumping of Cal Poly showcased the offensive prowess of Montana not yet unleashed this season. A three-touchdown performance by quarterback Dalton Sneed should make future opponents nervous.
Eastern Washington
The Eagles took care of business against Montana State, as expected. With 511 yards of total offense in Week 5, Eastern Washington should easily fly past Southern Utah next week.
Weber State
The Bobcats escaped this week with a bye. Next week, Weber State should prevail against a struggling Northern Arizona.
Idaho State (+3)
The biggest surprise of the season, the Bengals have steadily gained steam. With the team’s first 50-point performance of the year, it seems Idaho State’s offense has finally arrived. Defensively, the Bengals have yet to keep a team under 20 points, but time will tell if this team can climb the ranks.
Idaho (+1)
While Idaho State has defied expectations, the Vandals have underwhelmed the Moscow faithful five games in. Winning record aside, Idaho has not established itself as dominant in a conference game, barely scraping by a dismal Portland State team 20-7. If Idaho can dominate the Bengals next week, they might finally be taken seriously in the Big Sky.
Sacramento State (-1)
While the Hornets may not have taken the field this week, their 2-2 record, coupled with a blowout loss to Montana last week, just doesn’t hold up when compared with the two wins earned this week by Idaho teams.
Montana State (-3)
Quarterback changes are in the air, as both of the Bobcats’ signal callers failed to maintain any kind of momentum against Eastern Washington. Troy Anderson carried most of the load Saturday, but a 0-2 touchdown to interception rate does not bode well for the future.
Northern Arizona
The Lumberjacks took advantage of an undersized Idaho State defense, notching 42 points in a shootout. However, giving up 56 points will not help Northern Arizona climb to the top any time soon.
Southern Utah
While the Thunderbirds may be better than their 0-4 record indicates, if they can’t secure a win over Eastern Washington next week, their season has all but evaporated.
Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado was overpowered by North Dakota last week 38-13, and an upcoming game against UC Davis will likely result in an 0-6 record to start the season, further tanking their rank.
Cal Poly (+1)
A loss to Montana was all but expected over the weekend, but the Mustangs still managed 28 points against a staunch Grizzly defense.
Portland State (-1)
The Vikings’ lone win against the College of Idaho, an NAIA team, speaks volumes. The team has yet to secure a win in the FCS for two years, and Saturday’s performance against a sluggish Idaho offense further exemplifies the team’s inability to compete in the Big Sky.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill