Cal Poly tabbed fifth in Big Sky Preseason polls

Posted: Jul 17, 2012 9:32 AM by Andrew Masuda

The Cal Poly football team has been selected to finish fifth in the Big Sky Conference by the media and coaches in the 2012 preseason polls. Two-time defending co-champion Montana State finished first in both polls.

The polls, released on Tuesday, featured 13 teams for the first time. Cal Poly, UC Davis, Southern Utah and North Dakota football officially became members of the Big Sky this month after playing in the Great West Conference last year.

The Mustangs enter their inaugural season in the Big Sky after a 6-5 campaign in 2011 that included a share of the Great West Conference title. Quarterback Andre Broadous returns to lead Tim Walsh's offense, while Preseason All-Conference pick Kennith Jackson anchors the defense.

Rob Ash's Montana State squad, which has gone 7-1 in conference each of the past two seasons and advanced to the playoffs, earned seven first-place votes in the coaches' poll and a total of 136 points. In the media poll, the Bobcats received 30 of 40 first-place votes and 502 total points.

Eastern Washington, the 2010 Division I National Champion, was selected second in both polls, while perennial Football Championship Subdivision power Montana was tabbed third. Portland State was selected fourth.

The 2012 season begins on Thursday, Aug. 30. The first conference games are on Saturday, Sept. 22. All Big Sky teams will play eight conference teams. A new tiebreaker formula has been developed to break ties for the automatic bid to the Division I playoffs.

2012 Preseason Football Polls
Media Poll
1. Montana State (30)............................ 502
2. Eastern Washington (3).................. 453
3. Montana (5)...................................... 442
4. Portland State.................................. 334
5. Cal Poly (1).................................... 323
6. North Dakota ................................... 295
7. Weber State (1) .................................. 284
8. Southern Utah.................................. 258
9. Northern Arizona................................. 242
10. Sacramento State............................... 191
11. UC Davis....................................... 135
12. Idaho State................................... 115
13. Northern Colorado............................ 63

Coaches' Poll
1. Montana State (7)............................ 136
2. Eastern Washington (4).................... 131
3. Montana (1)............................. 126
4. Portland State ............................. 90
5. Cal Poly .................................. 86
6. Weber State.................................. 81
7. Northern Arizona.............................. 75
8. Southern Utah (1)............................. 74
9. Sacramento State.............................. 71
10. North Dakota ............................... 68
11. Idaho State.................................. 31
12. UC Davis..................................... 30
13. Northern Colorado ........................... 14