FB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 1

Football is upon us. What seems to be an exceptionally strong arsenal from the Southland Conference will formally debut when Nicholls hosts McNeese in Thibodeaux on Thursday night. A weekend of non-conference and FBS games will follow and we will get our first taste of the 2017 version of each of the eleven teams that make up the SLC.

But in order to give you a weekly rank, we have to start somewhere. Behold, the first football power rankings of the 2017 season:

These are not standings, but rather, an indication of weekly momentum. Follow us all season as we reveal our weekly rankings each Tuesday. Be sure to sign up for a free account right here and join the conversation below.

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1. Sam Houston State

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

One of several programs directly affected by the post-Hurricane Harvey flooding, Sam Houston State was forced to postpone its season opener scheduled for this past Sunday night in Huntsville against the Spiders of Richmond. It's a massive non-conference game for the Bearkats where they begin as the #3 team nationally facing a program ranked #7 (both in the coaches poll and STATS top 25).

The Bearkats were able to secure a new date and location for the battle and their prolific offense will get its first shot at a live opponent in Baylor's McLane Stadium on Friday night. Sam Houston State would love nothing more than to make a national statement but any win over Richmond will keep them atop this list.

2. Central Arkansas

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

Central Arkansas will open the season on Saturday in Manhattan, Kansas against Bill Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats. It's a money game, and UCA will not win. But can you imagine if they did?

UCA has their sights set on a conference championship and a better-than-expected showing this Saturday coupled with a Bearkats' loss to Richmond might give the Bears and early shot at our power rankings throne.

3. McNeese

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

The Cowboys will play an unconventional season opener against a league rival when they face Nicholls this Thursday to officially open the SLC season. Both teams have been affected by the adverse weather and McNeese has been practicing in the indoor facility used by UL-Lafayette this week.

It's a big rivalry game, though, and Nicholls is planning a "red-out" from the fans. It'll be an early test for both teams who enter the season with high expectations. Someone is going to leave 0-1 and disappointed.

4. Houston Baptist

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

The Huskies will compete in arguably the most winnable FBS game of the weekend when they travel to San Marcos to battle Texas State. Houston Baptist actually joined the Southland Conference in part because of a void left when the Bobcats departed for the Sun Belt Conference in 2012.

It will be just the third game against the Southland for Texas State since they departed and the Huskies will be looking to prevent the Bobcats from going 3-0 against their former league. Houston Baptist has no shortage of continuity with a big load of returning talent. This is an opportunity to make a statement against one of the weaker FBS programs nationally.

5. Stephen F. Austin

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

The Mustangs of SMU are on the plate for SFA and it will be the third meeting between these two programs since 2009. The Lumberjacks narrowly lost a tightly contested contest in their first meeting before being obliterated during a rematch in 2012.

Optimism remains high in Dallas and the Lumberjacks may be walking into a buzzsaw with a new defensive scheme and the task of stopping a prolific Chad Morris offense. Still, as far as FBS games have gone for the Lumberjacks over recent years, this probably represents the best chance for a shocking upset. How big would that be for this program?

6. Abilene Christian

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

ACU will have to wait until their conference schedule begins before they get a chance to play in their brand new digs in Abilene. In the meantime, the Wildcats will face the New Mexico Lobos to open the season. A year ago, Abilene Christian nearly played spoiler when they faced another Mountain West team, Air Force, and made a fight of it.

New Mexico is good but, again, as FBS "money" games go, this isn't one of the most ridiculously unfathomably difficult ones. If ACU starts the season as developmentally immature as many expect, with all new coaches and schemes, it still might be a long night for the Wildcats.

7. Southeastern Louisiana

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

I'm not a big believer in SELA but their camp sees this squad as a contender. They'll have their first chance to prove the doubters wrong when they open the season against UL-Lafayette on Saturday. It's an FBS game, but an opponent the Southland has had a few tight battles with.

McNeese lost an 8-point slug fest a year ago and Southeastern Louisiana will be looking to to do what their in-state rivals could not. There are so many unknowns on this team offensively that it will be a big wait-and-see, but a win this weekend or even a close game could see the Lions rocket up this list quickly.

8. Nicholls

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

Nicholls is the only team on this list with a true home game this week (after SHSU's relocation) and they'll need every advantage they can get when they face rival McNeese to begin the season on Thursday. The Colonels have transformed from a perennial joke to a legitimate FCS football program in a period of about three years. Their next step will be contending for a playoff berth - and while it's probably a bit early this year, they seem to think they're being overlooked.

What better way to make a move than to knock off the #3 team on this list?

9. Lamar

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

They're another mystery team with a new coaching staff. Lamar finally hit the reset button on their flailing program after last season's disappointing result but there aren't many who see the Cardinals as much more than a mid-to-bottom tier team again this season.

They have the benefit of a fairly weak FBS opponent in North Texas this weekend, and if it was anyone else playing, I'd give them a chance to pull off the upset.

But it's Lamar. They probably won't.

10. Incarnate Word

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

Picked last in the Southland Conference, UIW will open their season at Fresno State. The Bulldogs went winless in the Mountain West a year ago and it's almost a shame that a better Southland team didn't get this game in 2017.

Of course, Fresno State's lone victory of any kind last year came against an FCS team in easy 31-3 fashion - so maybe there really is that big a margin between the two classes of DI? It probably won't matter. UIW isn't going to win.

11. Northwestern State

2017 record: 0-0 | Last week's rank: N/A

The last time Northwestern State faced Louisiana Tech, the Demons walked away with a thrilling upset. Unfortunately, this program has fallen on hard times in recent years. It will be a tough task on Saturday and while history is on their side, once again, it's kind of a shame this opportunity to be competitive in an FBS game falls on the shoulders of a team not expected to enjoy much of a prosperous year.

We think it's going to be a long season for the Demons and they draw our final spot in our opening rankings. The good news? There's only one direction to move from here.