There is a lot to be determined about the status of college football in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, preseason prognosticators are still working in anticipation of the coming season.
 
Hero Sports released its Top 25 on Wednesday and the 13-team Big Sky Conference was prominent among the teams listed. Portland State came in among others receiving votes. Five Big Sky teams were in the Top 25, including four in the top nine. Sacramento State (the 2019 Big Sky co-champion) ranked highest at number four. The other co-champion, Weber State, was sixth. Montana placed seventh, Montana State ninth and Eastern Washington was 18^th.
 
Portland State was among nine teams receiving votes, listed alphabetically. The Vikings are scheduled to face four of the five ranked Big Sky teams (Montana State, Weber State, Sacramento State and Eastern Washington).
 
PSU comes off a 5-7 season in 2019, 3-5 in the Big Sky. The Vikings have 48 returning letterwinners and 13 returning starters. Senior quarterback Davis Alexander (3,445 yards total offense, 30 total touchdowns in 2019) returns to lead the offense while junior cornerback Anthony Adams (consensus first team All-American, 5 INTs, 19 PBUs in 2019) leads the defense.
 
Hero Sports Top 25

1. North Dakota State
2. South Dakota State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Sacramento State
5. James Madison
6. Weber State
7. Montana
8. Villanova
9. Montana State
10. Central Arkansas
11. Kennesaw State
12. Illinois State
13. Austin Peay
14. Furman
15. Delaware
16. Princeton
17. New Hampshire
18. Eastern Washington
19. North Carolina A&T
20. Florida A&M
21. The Citadel
22. Southern Illinois
23. Sam Houston State
24. Albany
25. Yale

Also receiving votes (alphabetical):
Alcorn State, Chattanooga, Dartmouth, Elon, Nicholls, Portland State, SEMO, UT Martin, Wofford