UC Davis
The Aggies started the season white hot, and quickly turned that momentum into something special. This team is basically a shoe-in for the FCS Playoff — but forget that. UC Davis has championship-level talent.
Eastern Washington
The Eagles continue to chase the Aggies’ greatness, and a dominant win over Idaho in Cheney proves they can win the games they should. However, two powerhouses in Eastern Washington and UC Davis collide next week for what could be a preview of the Big Sky Championship.
Weber State
The Wildcats looked very impressive, defeating North Dakota 35-30 Saturday. While the top two Big Sky teams meet up in Week 10, the Wildcats can capitalize if the Eagles fall. At 6-2, every game matters down the stretch, and Weber State might get lucky enough for a shot at the crown.
Idaho State
The Bengals took a break from lighting up every score- board they come across, scoring 24 against a formidable Montana State. Idaho State will be another team with a watchful eye on the Aggies and Eagles.
Portland State (+3)
The Vikings, despite all of their many faults, are capable of winning football games, a skill that hadn’t been attained for many years. After handedly beating Sacramento State 41-10, Portland State gets a high rank following a landslide of other Big Sky losses.
Montana State (-1)
A talented middle-of-the-road team, the Bobcats put up a fight against Idaho State, but ultimately fell short. At 4-4, the time is now if Montana State wishes to see its season continue in December.
Montana
Oh Grizzlies. We hardly knew ye. A once dominant team, now quickly dipping to below par. It’s never easy pairing up with UC Davis, but with a 4-4 record and more losses than wins in the conference, Montana should start to wake up and smell the roses. Its dominance is done.
Cal Poly (+1)
The Mustangs are another one of those teams who shows flashes of promise, however fleeting. With a win over Northern Arizona, Cal Poly remains a cut above the bottom of the pack.
Northern Arizona
After a hot streak early in the season, Northern Arizona quickly fell from grace. If the Lumberjacks wanted to finish the season strong, the should have taken Cal Poly seriously, instead of losing 38-28 against a 3-5 team.
Northern Colorado (+3)
The Bears are saved from the bottom following a 42-point showing against Southern Utah. The once winless team now has two victories under their belt and are certainly not the worst team in the conference. Yet.
Idaho (-1)
The season just keeps getting worse for the Vandals. Granted, Eastern Washington is no push over. But after dominating Southern Utah, one would think the Vandals could have come to Cheney better prepared.
Southern Utah (-1)
The Thunderbirds dropped an embarrassing game to the once last-ranked Northern Colorado. With just one win on the season, it looks like the defending Big Sky champs now have their wings clipped.
Sacramento State (-1)
Two non-conference wins kept the Hornets from falling this low, but an 0-7 Big Sky record simply cannot be ignored.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill