(Editor’s note: Big Sky Conference release)
OGDEN, Utah — With one week left before Selection Sunday, the Big Sky has four teams ranked overall in the STATS FCS and American Football Coaches (AFCA) Top 25 national polls.
The Big Sky had held a steady top six spots in the FCS polls over the past three weeks, but with teams forced to play each other down the line, the makeup looks a little different this week.
Weber State leads the way at No. 3 in the STATS FCS poll for the second straight week, while Eastern Washington moved into the No. 4 spot. With a loss to the Eagles on the road, UC Davis dropped to No. 9 this week. All three teams have a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky title this weekend with a win. The trio holds identical records at 8-2 overall and 6-1 in league play.
In the AFCA Coaches’ poll, the Eagles remain at No. 3, equaling their highest ranking for the second straight week, after reaching the spot previously during Week 6. The Eagles picked up a huge win this past weekend, when they defeated UC Davis, 59-20. The Aggies had entered the game ranked No. 4 in the FCS. Eastern Washington has now been ranked in the top 10 for 11 consecutive weeks. The Eagles will play at Portland State on Friday night.
Weber State picked up its fifth consecutive victory with a 31-18 win over in-state rival Southern Utah. The Wildcats were once again voted No. 4 in the AFCA Coaches’ poll – its highest ranking all season. Weber State will take on previously ranked Idaho State on Saturday.
The Aggies fell to Eastern Washington on the road. The loss dropped them from No. 7 to No. 11 in this week’s AFCA Coaches’ Poll. UC Davis has been ranked in the coaches’ poll since Week 3 of the season. The Aggies host Sacramento State this weekend.
For the first time this season, the Montana State Bobcats are ranked in the FCS Top 25 polls. The Bobcats were voted No. 25 in the FCS STATS Poll this week. Montana State is coming off a 35-7 win over Northern Colorado at home. The Bobcats (6-4, 4-3 BSC) are set to take on Montana in the Brawl of the Wild this Saturday.
This is the fifth consecutive week the Big Sky has three teams in the STATS FCS Top 10 poll. Prior to this season, the Big Sky last had three teams in the top tier in Week 1 of the 2015 season – Eastern Washington (7th), Montana (8th) and Montana State (9th) in the Coaches’ Poll.
Other Big Sky teams receiving votes were Idaho State and Montana.
The FCS STATS poll can be found below. To view the weekly AFCA coaches poll, please click here.
| Rank | School | Votes | Prev |
| 1 | NORTH DAKOTA STATE (10-0) | 3875 (155) | 1 |
| 2 | KENNESAW STATE (9-1) | 3677 | 2 |
| 3 | WEBER STATE (8-2) | 3502 | 3 |
| 4 | EASTERN WASHINGTON (8-2) | 3415 | 5 |
| 5 | SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (7-2) | 3262 | 6 |
| 6 | JACKSONVILLE STATE (8-2) | 2822 | 8 |
| 7 | JAMES MADISON (7-3) | 2806 | 9 |
| 8 | COLGATE (9-0) | 2691 | 10 |
| 9 | UC DAVIS (8-2) | 2635 | 4 |
| 10 | STONY BROOK (7-3) | 2379 | 12 |
| 11 | PRINCETON (9-0) | 2099 | 13 |
| 12 | NORTH CAROLINA A&T (8-2) | 1989 | 14 |
| 13 | WOFFORD (7-3) | 1838 | 15 |
| 14 | ELON (6-3) | 1794 | 7 |
| 15 | TOWSON (7-3) | 1784 | 20 |
| 16 | MAINE (7-3) | 1728 | 16 |
| 17 | DELAWARE (7-3) | 1572 | 11 |
| 18 | NICHOLLS (7-3) | 1528 | 17 |
| 19 | ETSU (8-2) | 1315 | 19 |
| 20 | DARTMOUTH (8-1) | 776 | 25 |
| 21 | SAN DIEGO (8-2) | 495 | NR |
| 22 | MCNEESE (6-4) | 447 | 18 |
| 23 | SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (7-3) | 412 | 21 |
| 24 | UIW (6-4) | 378 | NR |
| 25 | MONTANA STATE (6-4) | 152 | NR |
