Previewing the New Faces of the Big Sky Conference

The Big Sky Conference is changing things up in 2012.

This upcoming season, the conference is adding four new members, two in all sports and two in football only, which will increase its football-playing membership from nine to 13.

North Dakota, Southern Utah, Cal Poly, and UC Davis, all formerly of the Great West Conference, have the potential to shake up the conference race this season and will have the opportunity to contend for an FCS playoff berth this upcoming season.

As a result of the expansion, teams will not play a full round robin but still play eight conference games.  Therefore, scheduling will play a key role on the outlook of each Big Sky Conference team.

Here’s a quick look at each of the four Big Sky newcomers and the impact they will have this upcoming season.

Cal Poly

2011 Record: 6-5 (3-1 Great West)

The Scoop: Cal Poly will be one of the more intriguing teams in the Big Sky Conference the year along with its unique triple option offense.  Led by fourth year head coach Tim Walsh, the Mustangs return four starters on both sides of the football.  Arguably, the most notable returner is senior linebacker Kennith Jackson who totaled 80 tackles in 2011 with two interceptions along with 205 career tackles as a Mustang.  Leading Cal Poly’s rush heavy offense will be quarterback Andre Broadus who rushed for 646 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011 along with 1,235 passing yards.  Heading up the offensive line is senior center Geoff Hyde.

The Schedule: The Mustangs start the season against San Diego and the week after, travel to FBS Wyoming who will contend for a second straight bowl game this year behind QB Brett Smith.  As luck would have it, the Mustangs do not play Montana or Montana State in conference play.  Also missing from Cal Poly’s conference slate is Eastern Washington, however, the Mustangs will travel to Cheney to face the Eagles in a non-conference match up towards the end of the season.   Cal Poly’s toughest conference road game is likely at Weber State.  With the Mustang’s relatively easy conference schedule, they will have a shot to contend for a FCS playoff birth this season.

Preseason Poll Predictions: Media, No. 5 (one first place vote).  Coaches, No. 5.

North Dakota

2011 Record: 8-3 (3-1 Great West)

The Scoop: North Dakota enters the 2012 season coming off of their most successful season at the Division I level in 2011 going 8-3.  Led by head coach Chris Mussman entering his fifth year at the helm in Grand Forks, North Dakota returns an impressive nine starters on offense.  Leading the offense is junior Jake Miller, who rushed for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns, and sophomore wide receiver Greg Hardin, who received 43 catches for 549 yards in nine games before suffering a year ending injury.  Both Miller and Hardin earned first team all-Great West Conference honors in 2011.  Holding down the quarterback position will likely be senior Braden Hanson, a transfer from North Carolina who completed 9-of-16 passes for 185 yards in a backup role for the Tar Heels.  Returning on the defensive side of the ball are five starters, including defensive lineman Ross Brenneman who led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2011.

The Schedule:  North Dakota opens up the season at home against Division II Independent South Dakota Mines followed by a non-conference game against Portland State and a road trip to FBS San Diego State.  North Dakota faces a difficult conference schedule with road match ups against Eastern Washington and Montana State, along with home games against Cal Poly, Montana, and Southern Utah.  North Dakota does finish out the regular season with a very winnable road trip to Greenly facing Northern Colorado.

Preseason Poll Predictions: Media, No. 6.  Coaches, No. 10.

Southern Utah

2011 Record: 6-5 (1-3 Great West)

The Scoop:  One cannot preview the Southern Utah Thunderbirds without first mentioning quarterback Brad Sorensen, who will enter the 2012 season with high expectations as the Big Sky Conference preseason offensive MVP and a Walter Payton award candidate.  In 2011, Sorensen passed for 3,143 yards and 18 touchdowns.  The Thunderbirds do lose many key targets at the wide receiver position along with running back Austin Minefee, but will still have much needed talent on the offensive line with center Gavin Farr and Zach Brackus.  Leading the defense will be Cody Larsen, who made the FCS All-America team this season, and linebacker Chad Hansen, who led the Thunderbirds with 104 tackles in 2011.

The Schedule: The Thunderbirds will face one of the toughest schedules in all of FCS in 2012, including starting the season with two straight road trips against FBS opponents in Utah State and California.  After the home opener against Division II New Mexico Highlands, Southern Utah does not catch any breaks in the conference schedule with home games against Montana State and Eastern Washington, and a daunting trip to Missoula to play Montana.  The Thunderbirds will conclude the season with two straight away games at North Dakota and Northern Arizona.

Preseason Poll Predictions: Media, No. 8.  Coaches, No. 8 (one first place vote).

UC-Davis

2011 Record: 4-7 (1-3 Great West)

The Scoop:  UC Davis had an off-and-on season in 2011, with a loss in the middle of the season to Division II Humboldt State, but a huge win over rival Sacramento State to conclude the season.  Bob Biggs is entering his 20th and final season as the head coach of the Aggies.  Entering his third season as a starter for UC Davis is Randy Wright.  Wright passed for 2,250 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2011 with only six interceptions.  Also back for 2012 is senior center Ray Wilburn and senior guard Sean Davies.  Both Wilburn and Davies earned first team all-Great West Conference honors in 2011. Leading the Aggies defense will be senior defensive end Bobby Erskine and senior free safety Kevyn Lewis, who both made the preseason all-Big Sky Conference team.  The Aggies also feature senior punter Colton Schmidt, who averaged 42.3 yards per punt last season.

The Schedule: The Aggies start out the season by hosting Division II Azusa Pacific followed by a trips to FBS San Jose State and former Great West Conference opponent South Dakota State.  UC-Davis misses Montana in the conference schedule, but faces Cal Poly on the road to open Big Sky play and Eastern Washington on the red turf in Cheney.  The Aggies to receive many of their difficult conference opponents at home however, with Weber State, Montana State, and Portland State traveling to UC-Davis.  The Aggies also host the Causeway Cup against Sacramento State in the final regular season game.

Preseason Poll Predictions: Media, No. 11.  Coaches, No. 12.