OGDEN, Utah (August 8, 2016) - "The Big Sky Conference's football depth is apparent to several figures, but especially coaches in the FCS.
The Big Sky led all FCS conferences in selections on the FCS Coaches' Poll, with six #BigSkyFB teams making the list, and had five teams make the STATS FCS Top-25.
Portland State was the highest ranked Big Sky team in either poll, coming in a 12th in the Coaches’ Poll, while finishing at 17th in the STATS FCS Top-25. The Vikings return Bruce Barnum, the 2015 FCS Coach of the Year, along with quarterback Alex Kuresa, the 2015 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. Additionally, Vikings cornerback Xavier Coleman has been featured on multiple FCS preseason All-America teams.
Montana came in at 13th, in both polls. The Grizzlies finished the 2015 season at 8-5, with a playoff win over South Dakota State, who is picked 14th in the Coaches' Poll. The Grizzlies will play at consensus 5th-ranked Northern Iowa on Sept. 10.
The Eastern Washington Eagles were picked to win the Big Sky in 2015, but fell short, finishing with a record of 6-5. The STATS poll has the Eagles ranked 14th, while the Coaches' Poll has the Eagles ranked 17th, as they feature one of the toughest non-conference schedules in FCS football. The Eagles will open at FBS Washington State, before traveling on Sept. 10 to play top-ranked North Dakota State. Eastern Washington will host Northern Iowa on Sept. 17.
After being picked to finish at the top of the Big Sky, by both the league's coaches and media, Northern Arizona was picked 18th by both polls, after finishing 7-4 in 2015. The Lumberjacks return quarterback Case Cookus, the 2015 FCS Freshman of the Year, along with receiver Emmanuel Butler.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks were selected 19th in the STATS poll, and 21st in the Coaches’ Poll, after narrowly missing the playoff field in 2015. The Fighting Hawks open their season on Sept. 1, at Stony Brook. UND football returns Big Sky Preseason All-Conference running back, John Santiago, along with quarterback Keaton Studsrud.
Finally, being a defending Big Sky champion means something, as the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, in spite of losing a trio of defensive stars to the NFL, their starting quarterback and their head coach after the 2015 season, still received national recognition. The Thunderbirds were selected 24th in the FCS Coaches’ Poll, and will open their first season under Demario Warren on Sept. 1, when they face the University of Utah.
Both Weber State and Montana State received votes in both polls, with Southern Utah receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top-25 poll.
The Big Sky football season will kick off on Sept. 1, with conference play beginning Sept. 24."
ISU by the way plays seven of the eight teams that received pre season votes this year. Very, VERY difficult schedule.
PBP
The Big Sky led all FCS conferences in selections on the FCS Coaches' Poll, with six #BigSkyFB teams making the list, and had five teams make the STATS FCS Top-25.
Portland State was the highest ranked Big Sky team in either poll, coming in a 12th in the Coaches’ Poll, while finishing at 17th in the STATS FCS Top-25. The Vikings return Bruce Barnum, the 2015 FCS Coach of the Year, along with quarterback Alex Kuresa, the 2015 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. Additionally, Vikings cornerback Xavier Coleman has been featured on multiple FCS preseason All-America teams.
Montana came in at 13th, in both polls. The Grizzlies finished the 2015 season at 8-5, with a playoff win over South Dakota State, who is picked 14th in the Coaches' Poll. The Grizzlies will play at consensus 5th-ranked Northern Iowa on Sept. 10.
The Eastern Washington Eagles were picked to win the Big Sky in 2015, but fell short, finishing with a record of 6-5. The STATS poll has the Eagles ranked 14th, while the Coaches' Poll has the Eagles ranked 17th, as they feature one of the toughest non-conference schedules in FCS football. The Eagles will open at FBS Washington State, before traveling on Sept. 10 to play top-ranked North Dakota State. Eastern Washington will host Northern Iowa on Sept. 17.
After being picked to finish at the top of the Big Sky, by both the league's coaches and media, Northern Arizona was picked 18th by both polls, after finishing 7-4 in 2015. The Lumberjacks return quarterback Case Cookus, the 2015 FCS Freshman of the Year, along with receiver Emmanuel Butler.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks were selected 19th in the STATS poll, and 21st in the Coaches’ Poll, after narrowly missing the playoff field in 2015. The Fighting Hawks open their season on Sept. 1, at Stony Brook. UND football returns Big Sky Preseason All-Conference running back, John Santiago, along with quarterback Keaton Studsrud.
Finally, being a defending Big Sky champion means something, as the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, in spite of losing a trio of defensive stars to the NFL, their starting quarterback and their head coach after the 2015 season, still received national recognition. The Thunderbirds were selected 24th in the FCS Coaches’ Poll, and will open their first season under Demario Warren on Sept. 1, when they face the University of Utah.
Both Weber State and Montana State received votes in both polls, with Southern Utah receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top-25 poll.
The Big Sky football season will kick off on Sept. 1, with conference play beginning Sept. 24."
ISU by the way plays seven of the eight teams that received pre season votes this year. Very, VERY difficult schedule.
PBP