2020 Eastern Washington Eagles football team explained

Year:2020
Team:Eastern Washington Eagles
Sport:football
Conference:Big Sky Conference
Short Conf:Big Sky
Statsrank:10
Fcscoachrank:11
Record:5–2
Conf Record:5–1
Head Coach:Aaron Best
Hc Year:4th
Off Coach:Ian Shoemaker
Oc Year:2nd
Off Scheme:Multiple
Def Coach:Eti Ena
Dc Year:2nd
Def Scheme:4–2–5
Stadium:Roos Field
Bowl:NCAA Division I First Round
Bowl Result:L 20–42 vs. North Dakota State

The 2020 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Aaron Best, the Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

Preseason

Polls

On July 23, 2020, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Eagles were predicted to finish fourth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.[1]

Coaches poll
1Weber State135 (7)
2Montana128 (3)
3Montana State121 (1)
4Eastern Washington118 (1)
5Sacramento State99 (1)
6UC Davis83
7Northern Arizona68
8Portland State67
9Idaho66
10Cal Poly46
11Idaho State37
12Southern Utah33
13Northern Colorado13
Media poll
1Weber State546 (28)
2Montana496 (8)
3Montana State493 (6)
4Eastern Washington438 (1)
5Sacramento State389
6UC Davis325 (1)
7Portland State274
8Idaho273
9Northern Arizona238
10Cal Poly206
11Idaho State133
12Southern Utah105
13Northern Colorado88

Preseason All-Conference Team

The Eagles had two players selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Senior quarterback Eric Barriere was also selected as the Big Sky Preseason Most Valuable Player.[2]

Eric Barriere – Sr. QB (Preseason Offensive MVP)

Tristen Taylor – Sr. OT

Schedule

Eastern Washington released their initial full schedule on January 11, 2019.[3]

The Eagles were scheduled to play against Florida on September 5 in Gainesville, but this game was canceled on July 30 after the Southeastern Conference moved to a ten-game, conference-only schedule for its teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

On August 13, the Big Sky Conference canceled all fall sports, including football, and announced that these sports would begin competition in the spring of 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

On November 4, the Big Sky Conference announced a six game, conference-only football schedule for participating programs that will begin in February. Due to this shortened season, previously scheduled games against Western Illinois, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, and Weber State will not be rescheduled.[6]

On January 15, 2021, Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, and Sacramento State all opted out of the 2020 spring conference season.[7] The Big Sky Conference announced on the same day that they will move forward with a six game conference season with the remaining eight teams that have not opted out of the spring season.[8] On January 25, 2021, the Big Sky Conference announced its final spring football schedule.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eagles Selected to Finish Fourth in the Big Sky in 2020. July 23, 2020. July 23, 2020.
  2. Web site: Eric Barriere Selected as Preseason Offensive MVP in Big Sky. July 24, 2020. July 24, 2020.
  3. Web site: Wilmer . Brian . Eastern Washington releases 2019 and 2020 football schedules . FBSchedules.com . April 13, 2020 . January 11, 2019.
  4. Web site: Talty . John . SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season. AL.com. 30 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Greene . Brenna . Big Sky cancels 2020 football season, other sports amid COVID-19 concerns . krem.com. 5 November 2020.
  6. Web site: Collingwood . Ryan . Eastern Washington to host Idaho on March 13 as Big Sky releases 6-game schedule . krem.com. 5 November 2020.
  7. Web site: Collingwood . Ryan . ‘We’re ready to compete’: Eastern Washington, Idaho still plan on playing Big Sky spring football season after Montana, Montana State and Portland State opt out . spokesman.com. 15 January 2021.
  8. Web site: Big Sky Announces Changes to Football Spring Season and Indoor Track & Field Championship . bigskyconf.com. 15 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Adjusted Big Sky Spring Football Six-Game Schedule Announced . bigskyconf.com. 25 February 2021.