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Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee Tech
O'Brien Field (10,000)   •   Charleston, Ill.
Sept. 28, 2019   •  4 p.m.   •   TV: ESPN3

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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois opens the Ohio Valley Conference season this Saturday hosting Tennessee Tech.  EIU is off to an 0-4 start on the season following a 16-6 loss at Indiana State on Saturday.  Tennessee Tech is off to its best start since the 2011 season as the Golden Eagles beat Western Illinois last week to improve to 3-1 on the year.

• This will be the 24th season of play in the Ohio Valley Conference for Eastern Illinois. The Panthers hold an 18-5 all-time record in OVC openers.  EIU had its streak of six straight OVC opening wins snapped last season by Tennessee State.  EIU is 3-1 against Tennessee Tech in OVC openers with the last meeting between the two schools to open the OVC season coming in 2011 a 30-21 win by Tennessee Tech in Charleston.

• Eastern Illinois had three players finish with double figure tackles against Indiana State last Saturday as the Panthers were active on defense.  Austin Johnson led the way with a career high 13 tackles including three tackles for loss.  Dytarious Johnson and Antonio Crosby both added ten tackles.  

• Eastern Illinois added two turnovers gained to its season total on Saturday at Indiana State as freshman corner JJ Ross picked off a pass in the first quarter.  Later in the game freshman Anthony Shockey forced a fumble that was recovered by Terrell Greer.  EIU's defense has three interceptions this season which ranks 39th in the FCS and first in the OVC. 

THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech will be meeting for the 26th time as the two schools open the Ohio Valley Conference schedule against each other.  EIU holds a 19-6 all-time series lead including seven straight wins in the series.  Tennessee Tech's last win in the series was in 2011.  EIU won 52-38 last season in Cookeville after winning the previous two meetings by less than a touchdown (24-23 in 2017 & 30-24 in 2016).