An early look at how the 2017 Big Sky Conference football race shapes up
Spring football has been wrapped up for awhile around the Big Sky Conference, but it’s never too early to look ahead.
Apparently, league officials feel the same way. The email arrived recently, requesting an “expert” opinion on how the Big Sky Conference football race will finish this year.
The results will go into a preseason poll to be announced in mid-July, but here’s an early look at the picks.
1) Eastern Washington – This is the choice of a realist, not a homer. There was a lot of energy in spring camp under new coach Aaron Best, whose biggest obstacle, other than filling the recent surprise opening at offensive coordinator, may be another tough September schedule (Texas Tech, North Dakota State, Fordham, Montana).
The other challenge is finding a seamless transition to a new offensive coordinator following the sudden resignation of Fred Salanoa.
The drop-off at receiver will be offset by a strong offensive line, All-American quarterback Gage Gubrud and Best’s commitment to a better running game.
Eastern also needs to find a pass rush after the loss of sack-master Samson Ebukam.
2) North Dakota – The Fighting Hawks will contend for another title with nine returning offensive starters, including running back John Santiago.
Six are back on defense, including conference Defensive MVP Cole Reyes at safety, but look for a slight drop-off there.
A showdown with Eastern looms on Nov. 11 in Grand Forks, so book your flights now.
3) Weber State – There’s a lot of optimism in Ogden after third-year coach Jay Hill took the Wildcats to the FCS playoffs last season.
Weber returns eight starters to a defense that was among the league’s best at the end of the year.
However, Hill needs a new QB to replace three-year starter Jadrian Clark.
The schedule is brutal, with Big Sky games at Cal Poly, Montana State and Eastern (Nov. 4).
4) Montana – Look for Missoula to be rockin’ on Sept. 23 when Eastern comes to town for the conference opener.
Coming off a 5-6 season (3-5 Big Sky), the Grizzlies face a pivotal season under third-year coach Bob Stitt.
UM returns 17 starters and has great athleticism on defense, but is starting over at QB.
A favorable schedule has the Griz at home against NAU and Weber.
5) Northern Arizona – Last year’s preseason favorite, the Lumberjacks were felled early by injuries and never recovered.
Coach Jerome Souers enters his 20th season with just 11 returning starters (including only three on defense) but QB Case Cookus is among the best in the league (when he’s healthy) and he has the best WRs in the league.
NAU’s conference schedule is a dream: The Lumberjacks miss EWU, North Dakota and Weber.
6) Cal Poly – The Mustangs’ FCS-leading triple option is always tough to prepare for, especially with Big Sky rushing leader Joe Protheroe (123 ypg) returning.
Cal Poly also returns eight defensive starters and has the easiest schedule in the league, missing EWU, North Dakota and the Montana schools.
The Mustangs also get Weber and NAU at home.
7) Southern Utah – Demario Warren overachieved in his first year (6-5 overall, 5-3 conference), so don’t be surprised if the Thunderbirds (14 starters return) contend for the postseason.
SUU has perhaps the best front seven in the league, but will be tested by games against Weber, EWU, North Dakota and NAU.
8) Montana State – Second-year coach Jeff Choate returns 16 starters, but don’t expect much progress against the toughest schedule in the Big Sky (at EWU, North Dakota and NAU, plus Weber and Montana at home).
The Bobcats hope to build on the momentum of a win at Montana plus the return of QB Chris Murray and a solid offensive line.
9) Northern Colorado – The Bears are coming off their first back-to-back winning seasons in their D-1 history, but they return just five starters on defense.
This program will take a step backward in 2017.
10) Sacramento State – Fourth-year coach Jody Sears will get one more year to turn things around, and he has a fighting chance thanks to a league-high 18 returning starters.
The Hornets’ game at Eastern on Sept. 30 will be a homecoming event for Sears and assistant Paul Wulff.
11) Portland State – A year ago, the Vikings were coming off a banner season, but “Barney Ball,” named after coach Bruce Barnum, deflated to a 3-8 record last year.
PSU loses do-everything QB Alex Kuresa but returns 14 starters and will rebuild around a strong offensive line.
12) UC Davis – The Aggies will pay former Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins a league-high $265,000 a year to turn things around.
He will start with a defense that gave up 437 yards a game.
13) Idaho State – The abrupt retirement (or firing, depending on who you talk to) of Mike Kramer brings on the Rob Phenicie era.
Don’t expect a big improvement for the Bengals (1-7 in the Big Sky last year) despite the return of 14 starters.