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Eastern Illinois at Eastern Kentucky
Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) • Richmond, Ky.
October 9, 2010 • 6 pm • TV: WAZOO Sports/ESPN 3.com

THE GAME
Historically a game for bragging rights in the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky enter this week's game with both teams looking to define a season based on the outcome.  EIU is off to an 0-5 start having lost seven straight games dating back to last year. A win would help the Panthers work towards a possible winning season with six games remaining. EKU is 1-3 following a win over Kentucky State on Saturday, but the Colonels have yet to play an OVC game this season and to stay in the title hunt they need to get off to a good OVC start. 

This will mark only the second time in five years that EIU and EKU have played in which neither team was nationally ranked. Only one time since EIU joined the OVC in 1996 have EIU and EKU met when both team had a losing record. In 2003 EIU entered the contest with a 1-4 mark while EKU was 2-4. The Colonels won that contest 41-0 which also marks the last time that EIU was shutout in a game. 

Eastern Illinois comes into the contest following back-to-back home losses to No. 4 Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri. Eastern Kentucky comes into the game following a 58-7 win over Division II member Kentucky State.

THE SERIES
This will mark the 18th meeting between Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois. The Colonels have won three straight in the series to hold a 10-7 series lead. EKU won 36-31 last year in Charleston playing in front of the 9th largest crowd to ever watch a home game at O'Brien Field. Since EIU joined the OVC in 1996 the series between the schools is tied 7-7 with the Panthers having won four straight between 1999-2002.