Can Eastern Washington win its sixth Big Sky football title in eight years? Yes

Picking the Big Sky Conference football race is never easy, but here goes.

It’s a long way to November, but Eastern Washington and North Dakota - unbeaten co-champs last year - are still the class of the league.

Most coaches and media picked the Fighting Hawks to win, partly because they’ll host the Eagles in the next-to-last game os the season.

That isn’t enough. Eastern usually plays well on the road and on turf, and especially in the big games.

1. Eastern Washington – The Eagles have the best quarterback in the league in Gage Gubrud, an improving defense and a seamless coaching transition under Aaron Best. That should be enough.

2. North Dakota – The Fighting Hawks’ could say bye to the Sky with a title, thanks to quarterback Keaton Stensrud and running back John Santiago. The title could be won or lost against EWU on Nov. 11 in Grand Forks.

3. Cal Poly – Senior fullback Joe Protheroe, the league’s top returning back, leads the dreaded triple option. The defense will be better and the Mustangs don’t face EWU or North Dakota.

4. Northern Arizona – If quarterback Jake Cookus stays healthy, the Lumberjacks will be a factor. Receivers Emmanuel Butler and Elijah Marks are the best tandem in the league.

5. Weber State – The biggest wild card in the deck. The Wildcats lose some key players but are solid on both sides of the ball and the schedule is favorable.

6. Montana – Expectations have rarely been this low in Missoula, but the Griz have a strong receiving corps and one of the best front sevens in the league.

7. Montana State – Sophomore QB Chris Murray will carry the Cats on his shoulders. The defense, solid last year, will have to get better for MSU to move up.

8. Southern Utah – Looking for a darkhorse contender? T-Birds return QB Patrick Tyler and return eight starters from one of the top defensive units. They also get EWU and North Dakota at home.

9. Northern Colorado – After back-to-back 6-5 seasons, the Bears will regress with heavy losses on defense and the skill positions. And the schedule is brutal.

10. Sacramento State – It’s win or else for former EWU assistant Jody Sears (11-23 overall at Sac), who returns 18 starters and has a favorable schedule.

11. UC Davis – New coach Dan Hawkins inherits 14 starters, but must find a new QB and some urgency on a defense that couldn’t begin to stop the run.

12. Portland State – No one lost more to graduation than the Vikings, said goodbye to 23 seniors including two QBs. An insane schedule includes two FBS games and all the top league contenders in the Sky.

13. Idaho State – Mike Kramer’s “retirement” and the loss of 18 seniors will make for another long season in Pocatello under new coach Rob Phenicie.