Big Sky Power Rankings -- 2

Welcome to the second edition of ISJ Sports' weekly Big Sky Power Rankings. It's where we size up all 13 teams and evaluate each based on a combination of factors.

We have one week of Big Sky action in the books, and some surprises along the way.

One more note: Five Big Sky teams appear in the Sports Network FCS Top-25 College Football Poll this week. Montana State retained its No. 2 ranking, even gathering five first-place votes from folks who clearly have no idea what they're doing. Eastern Washington is at No. 7 for the second week in a row. After losing to Northern Arizona at home, Montana drops from No. 14 to No. 21. Coming in right behind UM is Northern Arizona (We suspect the same voters that put Montana State at No. 1 also kept the Griz above NAU in their polls, because, you know, it makes complete sense.)

Cal Poly enters the top 25 for the first time this season at No. 24. North Dakota, Sacramento State and Southern Utah all received votes.

Without further ado ...

1. Montana State Bobcats 4-0, 1-0 (PF:151 , PA: 181 ) (previously: 2)
Last week: beat Northern Colorado at home 41-16
This week: at Southern Utah

The Bobcats take over this week's top ranking not because MSU was particularly impressive beating Northern Colorado — because the No.2 team in the nation and the preseason favorite should look impressive at home versus a team that hasn't won a conference game since 2010 — but because Montana State doesn't have questions at quarterback.

At this ISJ Sports' blog, there are few things we value more than a good doughnut, Thanksgiving turkey or porcupine meatballs. One of those things is a starting quarterback. Montana State has Denarius McGhee and considering Eastern's quarterback situation (more on that below), we are compelled to move the Bobcats to number one.

While McGhee attracts all the headlines worthy of a three-year starting junior quarterback, we'd be remiss to not mention the Bobcats' other offensive star, Cody Kirk. Kirk is the conference's fifth leading rusher and leads the Big Sky in rushing touchdowns. We appreciate Kirk's downfield, bruising running style. If Montana State's young offensive line can continue to open lanes for Kirk and MSU's other running backs, the Bobcats are a balanced, deadly offensive juggernaut.

2. Eastern Washington Eagles, 2-1, 1-0 (PF: 72, PA: 53) (previously: 1)

Last week: beat Weber State 32-26 at Weber

This week: vs. Montana

No one outside of Eastern's locker room knows who the starting quarterback is for EWU's first home game of the season. Kyle Padron hasn't exactly live up to some of the preseason expectations heaped upon his shoulders before the Eagles ever took the field.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 225 pound junior QB has completed 48 percent of his passing attempts for four touchdowns and four interceptions. Considering Eastern deploys a short-passing game that relies on a QB's accuracy, Padron's completion percentage is troubling for EWU fans.

We move them to No. 2 for that reason alone. For now, the difference between EWU and MSU is that tight.

This week, Eastern takes on rival Montana, and considering UM's struggles stopping the run against NAU, we expect the Eagles will utilize its running game to supplement the air attack. Against Weber last Saturday, EWU accumulated 447 total yards — 206 rushing and 241 passing.

3. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, 3-1, 1-0 (PF: 133 PA: 108) (previously: 7)
Last week: beat Montana 41-31 on the road

This week: vs. Portland State

Anytime a team slays its demons and wins for the first time in Missoula, Mont., since 1986, that team is going to take a jump in ISJ Sports' rankings.

Zach Bauman, the Big Sky offensive player of the week, rushed for a career high 253 yards and three touchdowns in the Lumberjacks' comeback win over the Griz.

Bauman is an absolute stud and the early favorite for Big Sky player of the year. Now, in truth, the committee (of one) that puts together this list does not favor NAU's chances to remain in the top three. But then we looked at Northern's remaining schedule.

A tough road tests awaits NAU at North Dakota, but the Lumberjacks other remaining away games are at Northern Colorado and Idaho State.

4. Cal Poly Mustangs, 3-0, 1-0 (PF: 93 PA: 56) (previously: 4)
Last week: beat UC Davis 28-20 at home
This week: at North Dakota

In this week's Big Sky Power Rankings, we are introducing the inaugural Random School Fact of the Week!

Did you know Cal Poly is currently one of only two polytechnic campuses in the California State University school system?

(hey, we never promised the Random School Fact of the week would either be interesting or applicable to football)

Speaking of football, Cal Poly at North Dakota this Saturday is the game we find most interesting this weekend. Right now, MSU and Eastern are firmly entrenched at the top of the Big Sky rankings. NAU presented its case that the Lumberjacks could make it a big three, and this matchup could go a long ways in determining if either of these programs could make a run to winning the conference

(And as always with Cal Poly, it's a schedule anyone would love.)

5. North Dakota, 2-1 (PF: 187 PA: 99) (previously: 5)

Last week: beat Sacramento State 35-13 on the road
This week: host Cal Poly

We considered leapfrogging North Dakota over Cal Poly to No. 4, thinking along the lines that UND's wins over Portland State (non-conference) and Sac State and the close-loss at San Diego State, are more impressive than the Mustangs' victories over Wyoming, San Diego and UC Davis.

And North Dakota has the top scoring offense in the conference, averaging nearly 47 points a game. But this blog not only believes that a maple doughnut can brighten anyone's day. We firmly support defense. Cal Poly's D allows the fewest yards per game and holds opponents to 18.7 points per contest. For now, at least, that's reason enough to keep UND at No. 5. These teams can settle the debate Saturday.

6. Montana Grizzlies, 2-2, 0-1 (PF: 127 PA: 114) (previously: 3)
Last week: lost to Northern Arizona 41-31 at home
This week: at Eastern Washington

The Grizzlies haven't been 0-2 in the Big Sky since 1992. Can UM rally the troops on the road? You can bet the Eagles and their fans are amped for this game, but no fan base in the Sky travels better than UM's.

Last season, Montana dropped it's first conference game of the year to Sac. State, and then rebounded to win the Big Sky. That said, however, it feels like this year's team has more in common with the New Orleans Saints than UM teams of the past.

7. Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 2-2, 1-0 (PF: 128 PA: 149) (previously: n/a)
Last week: beat Portland State 49-42 on the road
This week: host Montana State

We've given this some serious thought, and we've finally come to a final conclusion. Southern Utah has the worst, the absolute worst mascot in the Big Sky.

Now that's really saying something considering that North Dakota doesn't officially have a mascot. A close second (or 12th) are the Bengals from Idaho State (what in the heck does a Bengal tiger have to do with the state of Idaho?).

The Thunderbirds takes No. 1 (or last) in our mascot ratings because ... one: Thunderbirds don't exist. The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force. I don't know, but it feels a bit like stealing to us. And unlike the replacement refs -- who, thankfully, have been replaced -- we don't believe in stealing things ... like games ... or mascots.

Ignoring our dislike for Southern Utah's mascot, though, we still find things to love about the football team. As we've said before, Brad Sorensen is really, really good, and we love our quarterbacks. Can he stay upright long enough to make plays down field versus Montana State's torrid pass rush?

8. Portland State Vikings, 1-3, 0-1 (PF: 130 PA: 166) (previously: 8)
Last week: lost to Southern Utah 49-42 at home
This week: at Northern Arizona

Last week, we lamented PSU's defense, pointing out that the Vikings were dead last in scoring D. Portland State then gave up 49 points to the Thunderbirds at home. Not good. We keep them in the eighth spot because everyone below them is likely worse. And we might still be thinking about the Vikings' preseason expectations.

9. Sacramento State Hornets , 2-2, 0-1 (PF: 90 PA: 129) (previously: 5)
Last week: lost to North Dakota 35-13 at home
This week: at Idaho State

Sac. State drops four spots to No. 9 after mascot-less North Dakota and it's big offensive line ran over the Hornets for 294 yards on the ground.

It was an odd game though, from a couple different areas. North Dakota entered Sacramento with the eighth best passing attack in the FCS, but Sac. State limited UND's effectiveness through the air.

Meanwhile, as the Hornets piled up a season-high 492 yard of offense. They struggled to finish off drives in the end zone, had a fumbled snap and an interception negate long drives. Plus, North Dakota blocked a punt and a Hornets' field goal attempt.

This week, Sac. State travels to face our No. 10 team, the Idaho State Bengals. If the Hornets can finish drives and eliminate special team's gaffes, then Sac. State can grab a crucial road win.

10. Idaho State Bengals, 1-1 (PF: 66 PA: 127) (previously: 10)
Last week: lost to Nebraska 73-7
This week: vs. Sac. State

In the past, we've pondered if putting ISU at No. 10 isn't a skosh too high. And after the lashing Idaho State received at the hands of Nebraska, we would have moved ISU down the list. But, really, the bottom of the Big Sky is a bit crowded, so the Bengals remain out of the cellar for now.

Now we're a bit down on the Bengals because while the effort level against the Huskers was good, it was still brutal to watch ISU just get manhandled.

But Idaho State, even though it's almost October, has still not played anyone at its own level. How the Bengals react to a conference opponent is anyone's guess. We know this, however, if head coach Mike Kramer wants to deliver, it's about high time the Bengals find a way to defend their home field.

11. Weber State Wildcats, 0-4, 0-1 (PF: 70 PA: 149) (previously: 12)
Last week: lost to Eastern Washington 32-26 at home
This week: at UC Davis

The Wildcats played Eastern tough while Northern Colorado was getting blown away by the Bobcats. That's enough, for now, to move Weber up one spot. In a game where the Wildcats were down from the very beginning, Weber State showed some fight in the second half.

At this point of the season that's about the only positive thing we can say about Weber.

12. UC Davis, 1-3, 0-1 (PF: 82 PA: 88) (previously: 13)
Last week: lost to Cal Poly 28-20 on the road
This week: host Weber State

The Aggies jumped out to a 10-0 lead against Cal Poly, but the Mustangs rattled off 28 straight before UC Davis added 10 points late.

For a moment, even it was brief, UC Davis ha a 10-point lead on the road. That's reason enough to move them up a spot to No. 12.

13. Northern Colorado Bears, 1-3, 0-1 (PF: 73 PA: 113) (previously: 11)
Last week: lost to Montana State 41-16 on the road
This week: bye

Bozeman, Mont., is not an easy place to play, granted, but Northern Col. assured us that the bottom of these rankings is where they truly belong.

It was 21-0 after the first quarter and the Bears managed just 266 total yards (UNC quarterback Seth Lobato was 13-of-31 for 214 yards, one touchdown and one pick).

The question now becomes, can the Bears win a Big Sky game this season?