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Published on August 29th, 2019 | by Brian Marceau

The Big Sky Podcast Network Power Rankings: Week Zero

Our power rankings are made up of voters from all of the independent Big Sky Podcast Network contributors. The rankings are democratic, the writeups are authoritarian, and our page space is devoted to the teams that interest us and our listeners the most.

Enjoy. 

The Contenders

  1. Eastern Washington (75% of first place votes)

On paper, our consensus top team has a lot to prove after finishing with EWU’s second most successful season in program history. The Eagles lost thirteen starters from last year’s national runner up finish, though the number is deceiving for those who followed EWU throughout the playoffs. Yes, Jay-Tee Tiuli (DPOY), all first-teamers Nsimba Webster, Keenan Williams, Roldan Alcobendas, and ten other All-Big Sky selections graduated, but many of their replacements saw extended play during the FCS playoffs and did not disappoint.  A particularly impressive 2018 injury replacement was quarterback Eric Barriere, who accounted for 32 TDs in his ten starts, six of which came against playoff teams. With a full season under his belt, and a significantly easier slate for his next ten games, expect the junior to look even better in 2019. 

Teaming up with Barriere to give EWU an elite threat on the ground will be Antoine Custer, a former preseason All-Big Sky running back who missed much of last season to injury. 

With the array of offensive firepower at EWU’s disposal, it’s easy to forget this team allowed only a point-and-a-half more per game in 2018 than noted defensive juggernaut Weber State. Until someone proves otherwise, the Eagles and their soft-on-paper 2019 conference schedule puts them easily a top our rankings.  

  1. UC-Davis (25% of first place votes)

After doubling their 2017 win total from five to ten in 2018, the next step for the Aggies is another deep run in the FCS playoffs. Coach Dan Hawkins returns one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS in senior Jake Maier, along with All-Big Sky pass catchers Jared Harrell (WR), Wes Preece (TE), and dual-threat running back Ulonzo Gilliam. With so many elite players across the offense, expect UC-Davis to score around forty a game, just like they did in 2018. A limiting factor for the Aggies (in terms of playoff seeding) could be their schedule, which offers as many 2018 FCS playoff teams (four), as games versus teams with sub-.500 2018 marks. 

(Likely) Playoff Bound

  1. Weber State

It’s incredible that Weber State could graduate nine All-Big Sky performers and still be a consensus top ten team in just about every preseason poll, but that’s where the Wildcats find themselves. Even with the listed attrition, Jay Hill’s squad still returns eight All-Big Sky selections, including FCS STATS Freshman of the Year Josh Davis, and conference’s most electric special teams talent, junior Rashid Shaheed (34.3 yds per kick return). Whether Coach Hill has managed to (again) reload should be answered within the first four weeks, where Weber State plays two FBS teams, Northern Iowa, and Cal-Poly (nonconference). 

The main knock against Weber State, compared to UC-Davis and EWU, is the Wildcats’ offense. Weber State has proven it doesn’t need to score a ton of points to regularly win games, but it’s hard to ignore the scoring gap between the Wildcats (44 TDs in 2018) and both the Eagles (86 TDs in 2018) and the Aggies (67 TDs in 2018). Expect Weber State to make a fourth consecutive trip to the FCS playoffs, but we’ll need to see the Wildcats prove they’ve reloaded or show a little more on the offensive end before we consider them on par with EWU or UC-Davis. 

  1. Montana State

There’s significantly more optimism about the Bobcats’ 2019 outlook than for their rivals in Missoula, and based off the success of 2018, a lot of that enthusiasm is warranted. Coach Choate won nearly as many games last season (eight) as he did in his first two in Bozeman (nine) including a first round FCS playoff win over Incarnate Word. The Bobcats return seventeen starters from last year, including five preseason All-Big Sky selections, and with only one conference matchup against a 2018 Big Sky playoff team, their 2019 schedule is favorable on-paper. 

A closer look at 2018 does indicate that last year’s Bobcats absolutely hit their ceiling. In one score games, Montana State finished 4-1, a mark which will hard to repeat a second consecutive year. It’s not shocking that a team whose identity is found on the defensive (and special teams) side of the ball will find itself in more close games than someone like EWU, but for a team ranked around the top fifteen in most national polls, whether the Bobcats can score enough to live up to their quite high expectations is a serious question. Last season, Montana State finished sixth in the Big Sky in scoring (28.6ppg), but that rank is a bit misleading, considering the gap between the Bobcats and the worst scoring team (Northern Colorado at 23.8ppg) and the gap between the Bobcats and the fourth best scoring team (Montana at 33.9ppg) is essentially the same. 

It’s possible that starting a true thrower at quarterback will give Montana State enough of an offensive bump to not need to pullout so many close wins. Starting redshirt freshman Casey Baughman under center will also allow junior Troy Andersen to move back to his natural position (LB), where he’ll join seniors Bryce Sterk (LB) and Brayden Konkol (S) and maybe improve on Montana State’s already stout defense, which allowed the fourth fewest points per game in the Big Sky in 2018. Without question the Bobcats have talent, and are a team most fans are (reasonably) penciling into the FCS playoffs for 2019, though its’ not clear at this point whether their current top-fifteen rankings are a reflection of real growth, or a near universal rounding up of 2018’s extensive series of fortunate events.

  1. Montana

2018 was an archetypical what if season for the Grizzlies The term Jekyll-and-Hyde is used to describe teams that look great one moment then awful the next, but using last year’s Grizzlies as an example, Jekyll-and-Hyde teams are truly Mr. Hyde teams, which is why Montana watched the FCS playoffs for the third consecutive season in spite of finishing with the fourth best scoring offense and the fifth best scoring defense in the Big Sky.  

There’s reason to believe 2019 should be different. In truth, the Grizzlies were two plays away from 8-3, which would have guaranteed at least one FCS playoff game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Coach Hauck returns nineteen starters, including Buck Buchanan Award nominee Dante Olson (LB), Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Dalton Sneed (QB), and the Big Sky’s best receiver in Sammy Akem. Those three will be joined by maybe the best wide receiver group in the conference (Jerry Louie-McGee, Samori Toure, Gabe Sulsar), but what Grizzly fans will likely find most reassuring is the potential improvement on the offensive line. Last season, the Grizzlies’ front five weighed in at an average of 281lbs, but with the addition of new recruits and growth from returning underclassmen, that front five could average closer to 316lbs. Size alone will not buy Dalton Sneed more time in the pocket, but progress from underclassmen and an influx of talent in the trenches should improve Montana’s margin for error compared to 2018.

The biggest on-paper difficulty the Grizzlies face this year will be their schedule. Montana will face all four of the Big Sky’s FCS playoff participants from 2018, while also taking on South Dakota, Oregon, North Alabama, and Monmouth in nonconference play, meaning Coach Hauck’s squad will have to hit the ground running in 2019. If the squandered promise of last year’s 6-5 run can materialize for the Grizzlies, expect to see more of the roster that led UC-Davis 21-6 through the first 44 minutes of play, but until we see it, this is the same Montana team that was outscored by 62 (72-134) in the fourth quarter throughout 2018. 

Their Horses Might Be Dark

  1. Northern Arizona

First year head coach Chris Ball returns seventeen starters from last year’s disappointing 4-6 finish, which started out with high expectations after a 2017 FCS playoff appearance and an opening week win against FBS UTEP. 

From this far away, the brightest spot for the Lumberjacks is the return of senior quarterback Case Cookus, who missed most of 2017 due to injury. The former FCS STATS freshman of the year threw 50 TDs in his first fifteen starts, but since then has seen multiple seasons cut short by injury. If Cookus returns to his freshman form and avoids landing his second targeting ejection (no other quarterback in football history has one), NAU could be the surprise team that moves into the upper crust of the conference. 

  1. Idaho

It will be tough for Idaho to have a more disappointing season than they had in 2018, when the Vandals picked up a total of three Big Sky wins. Whether there’s a turnaround lurking in Moscow is unclear. On the offensive side of the football, coach Paul Petrino will again start the year with a quarterback platoon, though until further notice, expect coach Petrino’s son Mason to eventually win the starting nod. If that’s the case, Idaho will continue to struggle on the offensive end, in spite of having strong receiving talent (particularly senior Jeff Cotton and sophomore Cutrell Haywood), just like they did in 2018, when the Vandals averaged 24.9ppg, good for third-worst in the conference. 

Where Idaho could be intriguing is on the defensive side of the ball. In 2018, the Vandals gave up the second most points per game in conference (37.5ppg), and were vulnerable essentially everywhere. That defense does not exist anymore. Coach Petrino brought in a lot of FBS transfers, with Noah Eliss (DL) , a former signee of Mississippi State, being the prized recruit. If the Vandals’ defense takes a significant step forward this year, Idaho might finish around .500. The limiting factor will circle back to the offense. Junior Colton Richardson has the arm to stretch the field, but struggled with injuries, turnovers, and a very short leash in 2018. Senior Mason Petrino is an intelligent player who makes few mistakes, but does not have the arm to threaten defenses with even intermediate throws, and early indications from Coach Petrino give his son a leg up to return as the starter for 2019. If that’s the case, the Vandals will need a defense in the mold of Montana State and Weber State to compete for the playoffs. We doubt they have that, but expect more from the Vandals in 2019 than we saw in 2018.  

  1. Idaho State

The Bengals return two All-Big Sky wide receivers in seniors Mitch Gueller and Michael Dean, but it’s unclear who will get the ball to them. Coach Rob Phenicie has not yet named whether senior Gunnar Amos (a University of Idaho transfer) or junior Matt Stuck will start, and with the Bengals opening 2019 with a week one bye, it’s unlikely we’ll learn the answer anytime soon. No matter who starts under center, the Bengals have made steady progress in two years under coach Phenicie, and look to finish with their second consecutive winning season for the first time since 2002-03.   

Penciled in Wins

  1. Portland State

There’s talent in Portland, no question. Tight end Charlie Taumoepeau might be the best NFL prospect in the Big Sky, and the Vikings recruiting class this year was ranked 13th by HERO Sports. Portland State showed they can compete by beating Montana 22-20 at the Grizzlies’ homecoming game in 2018, but otherwise only looked okay when playing the worst of the conference. 

  1. Cal-Poly

After starting 2018 at 1-4, Cal-Poly discovered their form and finished the season 4-2, including a win against Idaho State that helped keep the Bengals out of the playoffs. Coach Tim Walsh will have to find a way to replace the dearly departed Joe Protheroe (1,810 rushing yards) if the Mustangs are to again lead the FCS in time of possession. On the other side of the ball, the linebacker combo of sophomore Matt Shotwell and senior Nik Navarro (173 combined tackles) will need some help to keep Cal-Poly from surrendering points more efficiently (36.4ppg allowed in 2018) than the rest of the conference. 

  1. Southern Utah

Good luck projecting these guys. Southern Utah went 9-3 in 2017, then 1-10 last season, with their lone win coming in the Battle for the Bottom against Sacramento State. Due to injuries, the Thunderbirds started four quarterbacks last season, and projected starter (and the only returning quarterback with a positive TD-to-INT ratio) Chris Helbig should play more than five games this year, though he won’t do much to shore up the Big Sky’s worst defense from 2018 (41.5ppg allowed).

Every Week is a Bye Week

  1. Northern Colorado

The Bears are another team that can chalk up part of last season’s struggles to quarterback injuries. If senior Jacob Knipp can stay healthy, that alone should improve Northern Colorado’s league worst scoring offense (23.8ppg), which notched six FCS games in 2018 with fourteen points or less, though it won’t be enough to move the Bears from hanging out around the Big Sky cellar.

  1. Sacramento State

Sacramento State and first year head coach Troy Taylor have nowhere to go but up after winning exactly zero conference games in 2018. Injuries, particularly to starting quarterback Kevin Thomson, undoubtedly aided in the Hornets anemic offense (24.1ppg), which happens to be Coach Taylor’s specialty. A full year out of Thomson, the former Bobby Hauck recruit at UNLV, and the return of first team All-Big Sky running back Elijah Dotson (115 ypg) should help the Hornets look a little closer to their 2017 selves, when Sacramento State finished 6-2 in conference, than last year’s 0-7 model, but with maybe the roughest schedule in the conference, don’t expect the Hornets to come close to reaching their sixth winning season in the 21st century.

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About the Author

Brian Marceau

Brian Marceau writes fiction, teaches, and covers University of Idaho men's basketball for Tubs At The Club, all while voluntarily enduring Idaho Vandal football games. He is a retired connoisseur of $4-and-under wines, an unrepentant coffee snob, and a follower of Big Sky football and basketball.


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