CSJ Big Sky Conference Power Rankings — Week 10
Jerry Louie-McGee's punt return vs NAU comes in at No. 5 on the @NCAA_FCS Plays of the Week!#GoGriz pic.twitter.com/WugmuYySFv
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) November 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/NAU_Football/status/926954488019042305
It is looking a lot like honey–that is the honey state of Utah in the Big Sky race. It looks like the two members from that state in the league are nearly clinched for a spot in the playoffs.
Northern Arizona lost narrowly at Montana but had to play without its quarterback due to a rare targeting call going on a signal caller. But regardless, those two teams also look poised with wins in their last two games to also gain postseason play.
Here are the rankings for this week with last week’s numbers in parenthesis.
1. (2) Southern Utah (7-2 overall, 5-1 BSC)
Last week: Beat North Dakota 47-21 at home
This week at UC-Davis
The Thunderbirds took care of business at home and now must go on the road to face a strong upstart UC Davis squad this week.
2. (3) Weber State (7-2, 5-1)
Last week: Beat Eastern Washington 28-20 on the road
This week: at Portland State
The Wildcats got yet another impressive conference road win last week and must go back on the road this weekend to face perhaps a lesser opponent. Still can’t take anything for granted.
3. (1) Northern Arizona (6-3, 5-1)
Last week: Lost to Montana 17-15 on the road
This week: vs. Montana State
The Lumberjacks played well in the two point loss at times but couldn’t quite get the offense it needed to get over the hump. A home win, however, this week likely assures a postseason bid for NAU.
4. (5) Montana (6-3, 4-2)
Last week: Beat Northern Arizona 17-15 at home
This week: vs. Northern Colorado
The Grizzlies came through with an impressive win over a conference heavyweight last week for really the first time this year. Montana should not overlook UNC this week in preparation for the Brawl of the Wild game to end the regular season.
5. (4) Eastern Washington (5-4, 4-2)
Last week: lost to Weber State 28-20 at home
This week: at North Dakota
EWU is on thin ice right now to again get back to the playoffs. Even with two wins to end the season, there likely is no guarantee this year with seven wins. And a road game this week in what will be UND’s last official BSC game will not help matters.
6. (7) Sacramento State (5-4, 4-2)
Last week: Beat Northern Colorado 50-21 at home
This week at Cal Poly
The Hornets are still in the playoff picture as they share the same record as EWU. Two wins to end the season will look good to the playoff committee.
7. (10) UC Davis (5-4, 3-3)
Last week Beat Idaho State 56-17 on the road
This week: vs. Southern Utah
Inconsistency has been the concern for the young Aggies but they seem to be getting better. They just might give current front runner SUU a run for their money this week.
8. (6) Montana State (4-5, 4-2)
Last week: Lost to Kennesaw State 16-14 at home
This week: at Northern Arizona
It is odd that an out-of-conference game did this but a loss to KSU last week likely did the Bobcats in for this season to get to the postseason. A road trip this week also may not be too fun with NAU really needing a victory.
9. (8) Idaho State (4-6, 2-5)
Last week lost to UC-Davis at home 56-17,
This week: Bye
A strong and powerful season for the perennial conference doormat took a big hit with an ugly conference home loss. The Bengals get a late season bye to try to be ready for its season finale.
10. (9) North Dakota (3-7, 2-5)
Last week: Lost at Southern Utah 47-21
This week: vs. Eastern Washington
The awful season is just about done for UND. In the last official BSC game for the Hawks, they get a chance to keep another team likely at home with them should they defeat EWU in this one.
11. (11) Northern Colorado (2-6, 1-5)
Last week: Lost to Sacramento State 50-21 on the road
This week: at Montana
The Bears just can’t seem to win against a top half BSC team. They will get another chance this week on the road with the Grizzlies.
12. (12) Cal Poly (1-8, 1-5)
Last week: Beat Portland State 35-28 at home
This week: vs. Sacramento State
The Mustangs finally broke through with a win in the fight to stay out of last place last week in the close home victory over PSU. Cal Poly could keep it going with another win this week over Sac State.
13. (13) Portland State (0-9, 0-6)
Last week: Lost to Cal Poly 35-28 on the road
This week: vs. Weber State
The Vikings look like they will finish without a win this season with a home game against Weber this week and a road contest against Eastern Washington next week.

Originally from LaMoure, North Dakota, Kent is a 1996 graduate of North Dakota State University. His prior writing experience is over 15 years having previously worked with D2football.com, I-AA.org, and College Sporting News before coming to College Sports Journal in 2016. His main focus is college football is the Missouri Valley Football Conference within the Division I FCS. And in 2017, he began also to look at the FBS Group of Five conferences of the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt.
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