This also includes some alternative proposals:
The Vandals return to the Big Sky Conference next season. Perhaps it is time to pick divisions. In the FCS, divisions are for scheduling. There is no prevision for a championship game. The Big Sky conference has rarely been denied a second NCAA bid in the playoffs. It would be nice to decide a champion on the field. Perhaps the NCAA will change the rule and allow the two division champions to meet in Las Vegas to determine who will get the auto bid. When the CAA or other conference that has had divisions, usually they are both awarded a championship unless the two division champions met in the regular season. Then the winner of that game is awarded the championship. The NCAA auto bid would go to the higher ranked of the two teams.
The division names, by my choice, are after the two most popular national parks in the west.
The Yellowstone Division
Eastern Washington
Idaho
Idaho State
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
Portland State
The Grand Canyon Division
Cal Poly
UC Davis
Northern Arizona
Northern Colorado
Southern Utah
Sacramento State
Weber State
How the scheduling works
Each team will play 1 designated rival from the other division, plus one other game on a rotational basis. That will give the conference teams 8 games. The teams can play games against teams from the other division as non-conference games. However, this proposal has a problem. Weber State is one of the founders of the conference, and the other four founders: Idaho, Idaho State, Montana and Montana State will be together in the other division. Weber State would likely be assigned Idaho State as a recognized rival, and then play the other four founders once every six years. One way around this would be to switch with either Portland State or North Dakota, which would obviously present travel issues.
Alternative Proposal 1:
However, I have a solution to fix this that perhaps has not been discussed, or may it has. Cal Poly and UC Davis are in the Big West Conference. Is it possible, and I am not sure that it is, to resurrect the Big West Football Conference (Similar to the Missouri Valley Football Conference) and allow some schools to leave the Big Sky Conference for Football. For Example:
Big Sky Conference:
Eastern Washington
Idaho
Idaho State
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
Northern Colorado
Northern Arizona
Southern Utah
Weber State
Big West Football Conference:
Cal Poly
UC Davis
Portland State
Sacramento State
San Diego
Alternate Proposal 2: Keeping Idaho at the FBS level.
FBS Big Sky Conference (Primary Conference if not Big Sky)
Cal Poly (Big West)
Eastern Washington
Hawai'i (Big West)
Idaho
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota State (Summitt)
Portland State
Sacramento State
Grand Canyon Conference (FCS Big Sky...Probably must have a different name.)
UC Davis (Big West)
Idaho State
North Dakota
Northern Colorado
Northern Arizona
Southern Utah
San Diego (WCC)
Weber State
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Preview of the 9/10/17 college football week in Utah
Utah State at USC
You may have heard that the Trojans lost last week. Actually, they were embarrassed. It probably wasn't a fun week of practice in Los Angeles, either. The fans will be angry as well. They are hoping to take it out on the USU Aggies. Sagarin says that the Trojans should win by 11. I think it will be a little bit more spread out than that.
USC 35 Utah State 17
Weber State at South Dakota
Sometimes getting drubbed by your big brother is a good thing. It can be a learning experience. You learn what you weaknesses are and how to improve them. That does not necessarily mean that you will come away with a victory next time. Weber State now travels to the Dakota Dome which looks like the love child of the Kibbie Dome and the Walkup Skydome. It is basically a concrete Walkup. It should not be all that unfamiliar to the Wildcats. I expect that they will do better than the touchdown underdog that they are right now. I am not predicting a win.
South Dakota 24 Weber State 21
Southeastern Louisiana at Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds are a two-touchdown favorite against the Lions. SE LA was taken to the woodshed last week in Stillwater by the Cowboys. The T-Birds were stellar on defense against Utah last week, but the offense was another story. During the last few seasons, offense has never been the thing in Cedar City. It's been about defense, field position, forcing turnovers and special teams. After all of that, the offense should be good enough to take advantage. I expect a lot of that this week.
Southern Utah 45 SE Louisiana 15
BYU at Utah
Like last year, I have 3 scenarios for the BYU at Utah match-up. I think that either one is possible.
Scenario 1--Same ol' Stuff, different year.
Kalani Sitake hasn't been in Provo long enough to get Bronco Mendenhall completely out of the system. The Cougars come out nervous, cough up the ball, Utah builds a big lead, and the Cougars attempt to come back.
Utah 38 BYU 28
Scenario 2--Not last year's BYU team, but a similar result.
BYU comes to play, it is a close defensive struggle. It's a field position battle, possibly no one gets into the end zone. BYU's hero from last week proves that he is human and pushes wide a kick that could put the game into overtime.
Utah 9 BYU 6
Scenario 3--Utah did play an FCS school last week.
Utah doesn't respect BYU and expect to come out with an easy win. The offense does not produce, and the Utes are the ones who give the ball away. BYU's offense is methodical and deliberate. The do not put up big numbers in the first half, except in time of possession. BYU has a two-touchdown lead at the half 17-3. Utah comes back, does a little better in the 2nd half, especially on defense. The offense isn't quite experienced enough to finish a comeback. With a 3 point BYU lead, Utah's final drive ends on downs with less than a minute left.
BYU 24 Utah 21
You may have heard that the Trojans lost last week. Actually, they were embarrassed. It probably wasn't a fun week of practice in Los Angeles, either. The fans will be angry as well. They are hoping to take it out on the USU Aggies. Sagarin says that the Trojans should win by 11. I think it will be a little bit more spread out than that.
USC 35 Utah State 17
Weber State at South Dakota
Sometimes getting drubbed by your big brother is a good thing. It can be a learning experience. You learn what you weaknesses are and how to improve them. That does not necessarily mean that you will come away with a victory next time. Weber State now travels to the Dakota Dome which looks like the love child of the Kibbie Dome and the Walkup Skydome. It is basically a concrete Walkup. It should not be all that unfamiliar to the Wildcats. I expect that they will do better than the touchdown underdog that they are right now. I am not predicting a win.
South Dakota 24 Weber State 21
Southeastern Louisiana at Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds are a two-touchdown favorite against the Lions. SE LA was taken to the woodshed last week in Stillwater by the Cowboys. The T-Birds were stellar on defense against Utah last week, but the offense was another story. During the last few seasons, offense has never been the thing in Cedar City. It's been about defense, field position, forcing turnovers and special teams. After all of that, the offense should be good enough to take advantage. I expect a lot of that this week.
Southern Utah 45 SE Louisiana 15
BYU at Utah
Like last year, I have 3 scenarios for the BYU at Utah match-up. I think that either one is possible.
Scenario 1--Same ol' Stuff, different year.
Kalani Sitake hasn't been in Provo long enough to get Bronco Mendenhall completely out of the system. The Cougars come out nervous, cough up the ball, Utah builds a big lead, and the Cougars attempt to come back.
Utah 38 BYU 28
Scenario 2--Not last year's BYU team, but a similar result.
BYU comes to play, it is a close defensive struggle. It's a field position battle, possibly no one gets into the end zone. BYU's hero from last week proves that he is human and pushes wide a kick that could put the game into overtime.
Utah 9 BYU 6
Scenario 3--Utah did play an FCS school last week.
Utah doesn't respect BYU and expect to come out with an easy win. The offense does not produce, and the Utes are the ones who give the ball away. BYU's offense is methodical and deliberate. The do not put up big numbers in the first half, except in time of possession. BYU has a two-touchdown lead at the half 17-3. Utah comes back, does a little better in the 2nd half, especially on defense. The offense isn't quite experienced enough to finish a comeback. With a 3 point BYU lead, Utah's final drive ends on downs with less than a minute left.
BYU 24 Utah 21
Monday, September 5, 2016
Week 1 MVPs and Power Rankings
FBS Independents
Last I checked, BYU was still independent. I must avoid the temptation to put BYU in the Big 12 conference before they are there. However, there is a game against West Virginia on the schedule. That might be the time to address such things, especially if they are official by then.
Game of the Week: Texas 50 Notre Dame 47
Offensive MVP: BYU RB Jamaal Williams
Defensive MVP: Army DB Marcus Hyatt
Special Teams MVP: BYU K Jake Oldroyd
Power Rankings
1. BYU
2. Notre Dame
3. Army
4. Massachusetts
PAC 12
It was not a good start for the season for the PAC-12 South. But it is only the first week of the season. Colorado suddenly looks like the best team for the south. However, consider the level of competition. USC and UCLA both played FCS teams on the road. Colorado and Arizona played G5 schools. Utah and Arizona State played schools from the Grand Canyon Division of the Big Sky Conference (Yes, I came up with that just now, and I think they should use it. Thank you very much.) As far as USC is concerned, no one expected the Trojans to come away from Tuscolusa with a win, but no one expected them to lose that bad. However, Washington State laid the egg of the week at home against a team from the Yellowstone Division of the Big Sky Conference. I guess we now know which head coaches are on the hot seat.
Game of the Week: BYU 18 Arizona 16
Offensive MVP: California QB Davis Webb
Defensive MVP: Washington LB Keishawn Bierra
Special Teams MVP: Washington KR John Ross
Power Rankings:
1. Stanford
2. Oregon
3. Washington
4. California
5. Utah
6. Arizona State
7. Colorado
8. UCLA
9. Arizona
10. Oregon State
11. USC
12. Washington State
Mountain West
It was either swimming in the kiddie pool or the deep end for the Mountain West in week 1. Except for the Wyoming Cowboys. That turned into a pretty good game, and perhaps Wyoming is finally beginning to rise a little bit in the conference. I guess we will have to wait until week 2 to find out how good everyone really is. One other exception is Nevada. What happens when you nearly drown in the Kiddie Pool? Eventually you have to stand up.
Game of the Week: Wyoming 40 Northern Illinois 34
Offensive MVP: Utah State RB Devonte Mays
Defensive MVP:Boise State DE Jabril Frazier
Special Teams MVP: New Mexico KR Chris Ian Davis, Jr
Power Rankings
1. Boise State
2. San Diego State
3. Utah State
4. Wyoming
5. Air Force
6. New Mexico
7. UNLV
8. Nevada
9. San Jose State
10. Fresno State
11. Colorado State
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference
It was money week in the Big Sky Conference. That is where teams accept a huge payout from an FBS school or they play a Division II, Division II or NAIA school and run up the score. Either way, it's more of a glorified scrimmage. What do we learn? Sometimes nothing. Sometime a lot. This week we learned that SUU still has a pretty good defense. Eastern Washington is as good as expected. Sacramento State is going to struggle this year. There were two games that I wouldn't classify as money games. Montana State lost a close one at Idaho. Idaho will be returning to the FBS and the Big Sky Conference, soon. North Dakota struggled offensively at Stony Brook.
Game of the Week: Eastern Washington 45 Washington State 42
Offensive Player of the Week: Eastern Washington QB Gage Gubrud
Defensive Player of the Week: Idaho State LB Ryan Shields
Special Teams Player of the Week: Idaho State K Zak Johnson
Power Rankings:
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Cal Poly
4. Portland State
5. Idaho State
6. Northern Arizona
7. Montana State
8. Southern Utah
9. Weber State
10. UC Davis
11. Northern Colorado
12. North Dakota
13. Sacramento State
Last I checked, BYU was still independent. I must avoid the temptation to put BYU in the Big 12 conference before they are there. However, there is a game against West Virginia on the schedule. That might be the time to address such things, especially if they are official by then.
Game of the Week: Texas 50 Notre Dame 47
Offensive MVP: BYU RB Jamaal Williams
Defensive MVP: Army DB Marcus Hyatt
Special Teams MVP: BYU K Jake Oldroyd
Power Rankings
1. BYU
2. Notre Dame
3. Army
4. Massachusetts
PAC 12
It was not a good start for the season for the PAC-12 South. But it is only the first week of the season. Colorado suddenly looks like the best team for the south. However, consider the level of competition. USC and UCLA both played FCS teams on the road. Colorado and Arizona played G5 schools. Utah and Arizona State played schools from the Grand Canyon Division of the Big Sky Conference (Yes, I came up with that just now, and I think they should use it. Thank you very much.) As far as USC is concerned, no one expected the Trojans to come away from Tuscolusa with a win, but no one expected them to lose that bad. However, Washington State laid the egg of the week at home against a team from the Yellowstone Division of the Big Sky Conference. I guess we now know which head coaches are on the hot seat.
Game of the Week: BYU 18 Arizona 16
Offensive MVP: California QB Davis Webb
Defensive MVP: Washington LB Keishawn Bierra
Special Teams MVP: Washington KR John Ross
Power Rankings:
1. Stanford
2. Oregon
3. Washington
4. California
5. Utah
6. Arizona State
7. Colorado
8. UCLA
9. Arizona
10. Oregon State
11. USC
12. Washington State
Mountain West
It was either swimming in the kiddie pool or the deep end for the Mountain West in week 1. Except for the Wyoming Cowboys. That turned into a pretty good game, and perhaps Wyoming is finally beginning to rise a little bit in the conference. I guess we will have to wait until week 2 to find out how good everyone really is. One other exception is Nevada. What happens when you nearly drown in the Kiddie Pool? Eventually you have to stand up.
Game of the Week: Wyoming 40 Northern Illinois 34
Offensive MVP: Utah State RB Devonte Mays
Defensive MVP:Boise State DE Jabril Frazier
Special Teams MVP: New Mexico KR Chris Ian Davis, Jr
Power Rankings
1. Boise State
2. San Diego State
3. Utah State
4. Wyoming
5. Air Force
6. New Mexico
7. UNLV
8. Nevada
9. San Jose State
10. Fresno State
11. Colorado State
12. Hawaii
Big Sky Conference
It was money week in the Big Sky Conference. That is where teams accept a huge payout from an FBS school or they play a Division II, Division II or NAIA school and run up the score. Either way, it's more of a glorified scrimmage. What do we learn? Sometimes nothing. Sometime a lot. This week we learned that SUU still has a pretty good defense. Eastern Washington is as good as expected. Sacramento State is going to struggle this year. There were two games that I wouldn't classify as money games. Montana State lost a close one at Idaho. Idaho will be returning to the FBS and the Big Sky Conference, soon. North Dakota struggled offensively at Stony Brook.
Game of the Week: Eastern Washington 45 Washington State 42
Offensive Player of the Week: Eastern Washington QB Gage Gubrud
Defensive Player of the Week: Idaho State LB Ryan Shields
Special Teams Player of the Week: Idaho State K Zak Johnson
Power Rankings:
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Cal Poly
4. Portland State
5. Idaho State
6. Northern Arizona
7. Montana State
8. Southern Utah
9. Weber State
10. UC Davis
11. Northern Colorado
12. North Dakota
13. Sacramento State
Sunday, September 4, 2016
College Football Week 1 Review
Now that week 1 is over with, I would like to remind everyone that often teams that look good in week 1, don't amount to much the rest of the season and visa versa. I hope that I am not this guy, but I probably will be.
BYU 18 Arizona 16
The last two minutes of this game were fun. The rest of the game, in spite of being a defensive chess match from two programs known for scoring lots of points, was interesting. It wasn't exactly a punt fest. There was a lot of deliberate action by both teams. Clearly, the Bronco Mendenhall era is gone in Provo and fans will be happy that there is no more go fast go hard. No more 3 and out in 15 seconds. Arizona fans should also be happy not to see that either. The points will come as the season moves on.
BYU MVP: RB Jamaal Williams
Utah 24 Southern Utah 0
This is probably not the way that Utah wanted to start the season. (See the above photo.) I think that opening with an FCS program, and having your big rivals come to town next week probably made it a little bit difficult for KW and his staff to motivate the team. That happens to the best of programs. No need to panic. Utah will be ready for BYU next week. Besides, I think the defense WAS ready for the Thunderbirds. In spite of a bad showing on offense, the Utes still had twice as much everything as the T-Birds.
Utah MVP: S Marcus Williams
Southern Utah MVP: None Chosen
Utah State 45 Weber State 6
At least the score wasn't 70-0, for those of you remember that game from 3 years ago. The Weber State defense was gobbled up by the Aggie offense. Again, this is FBS vs FCS, and you are not exactly comparing the same caliber of athletes. If WSU players could run with USU players, they would be at USU. (Again, that is Captain Obvious speaking). However, it was probably much more of a learning experience for the Wildcats, who has some weaknesses exposed, and know what they need to fix to be ready for the rest of the season. We will have to wait another week for USU to know that.
USU MVP: RB Devante Mays
WSU MVP: RB Treshawn Garrett
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