Since the start of the season, one team has stood atop these power ratings each week, courtesy of a national ranking, four results against power-conference competition, and three wins over the Big Ten — including two shutouts.
That changed Thursday night.
Utah State are the undisputed (for now, at least) Queens of the Beehive State after a 4-0 rout of No. 13 BYU.
The Aggies didn’t just beat their in-state rivals; they controlled Thursday night’s match in front of a program-record crowd of 3,181 in Logan, out-shooting the Cougars 22-9 and holding the visitors to just two shots on target.
Here’s how the rest of the state falls in behind, according to our extremely scientific (read: not at all) formula that subjectively compares programs in the same state:
Utah State (5-2-1)
The Aggies’ win over BYU was their fourth over an in-state opponent, and adds to 1-0 victories over Utah and Utah Valley and an 8-1 thrashing of Utah Tech in Logan.
Three of the four victories have come at home, and Utah State won’t play Weber State or Southern Utah this year.
That means Thursday night’s victory clinches a season sweep of in-state competition for the second time in the past three seasons.
BYU (4-2-1)
The Cougars have plenty of questions after Thursday’s humbling loss, and will take a two-match winless skid into the Big 12 opener next Friday, Sept. 18 at Arizona.
Hardly prolific (though adequate) before, BYU’s offense has ground to a halt since All-American forward Ellie Walbruch’s torn ACL suffered Sept. 3 in a 2-1 win over Colorado State.
But perhaps just as questionable is the strange goalkeeper battle between former starter Paiton Collins and last year’s NCAA Tournament hero Chelsea Peterson since the home opener Aug. 22 against USC.
Utah Valley (3-2-1)
Formerly questionable in the attack, the Wolverines are riding a three-match winning streak after packing their scoring boots in a pair of shutout wins over Washington State and New Mexico State at the OUTRIGGER No Ka Oi in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Utah Valley returns to the mainland Saturday night, hosting San Diego State at 7 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium. Did the Wolverines bring their offensive punch back?
Utah Tech (4-4-1)
The Trailblazers added to a historic 2-1 win over Utah with a 1-0 victory over Colorado State — but surrounded it with an 8-1 thrashing at Utah State and a 4-2 loss to CSU Northridge in St. George on Thursday night.
Head coach Lexi Brown’s group has one more nonconference tilt to tweak Thursday at New Mexico before Big Sky play begins Oct. 1 against Portland State.
Utah (2-3-2)
Reese Clem’s penalty kick in Corvallis helped the Utes stop a three-game losing skid with a 1-1 draw at Oregon State.
Utah closes nonconference play Saturday at Long Beach State before Big 12 fun begins next Friday, Sept. 18 at Arizona State.
Weber State (3-3-1)
Lily Blum scored twice in the Wildcats’ 3-2 home loss to South Dakota State, their second loss in three matches Thursday night.
Can Weber State course correct Sunday against UC Santa Barbara, or will nonconference finales at Utah Valley and home to Colorado State say more about the Big Sky favorites ahead of the conference opener Oct. 1 at Idaho?
Southern Utah (3-4)
The Thunderbirds halted a three-game losing spell with an 18-0 victory over Justice College, a non-Division I, non-NCAA program from Chandler, Arizona.
Can SUU keep the good vibes going when Northridge comes to town Sunday in the nonconference home finale? Big Sky play starts Oct. 1 against Montana, with only a road trip to Boise State in between.
