The initial question in the Ohio Valley Conference could be, is anybody not struggling at this point?

The pair of teams that tied for the OVC title have busted out of the gate like a lame horse in a derby.

Eastern and Murray State have a combined 1-3 record in the early weeks of September.

Each member of the duo will be participating in the OVC-Gateway Challenge.

The Gateway is currently ahead of the eighth oldest conference by two, thanks to Southern Illinois’ pair of impressive victories over SEMO and Murray State.

“I regard the Gateway Conference as the premier I-AA conference in the country,” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. “From top to bottom they are loaded.”

Eastern plans on hosting an Illinois State team that is heating up after putting up 49 points on Truman State and putting up major yardage in a 49-22 loss to Illinois.

Eastern’s offense only had 66 yards combined in the second and third quarters of its 37-0 loss to Missouri last week.

“I’m really concerned about our offense,” Spoo said. “I just don’t know if we are a good offensive football team.”

The Panther defense held the Tigers scoreless until late in the first half. Eastern has forced seven turnovers in two games and holding opponents to a league-best 15 percent third down conversation rate.

“I know our defense played extremely well and has played well enough for us to win,” Spoo said.

Spoo stated the Illinois State game will be an incredible challenge for his team. The Panthers hope they can match the Redbirds’ intensity.

“I know our guys are interested in the whole OVC-Gateway aspect of it and it’ll be key for our guys to gain that type of experience,” Spoo said.

The Murray State Racers are still reeling from thier lackluster performance against nationally ranked Southern Illinois losing 32-7 in Carbondale.

“It was just one of those games where we didn’t come ready to play,” Murray State head coach Joe Pannunzio said.

Pannunzio hasn’t even begun gameplanning for Indiana State because he is more worried about taking care of repeated mistakes on his own team.

“Shoot, right now we’re just trying to take care of ourselves because we’re struggling right now,” Pannunzio said.

Pannunzio does believe the OVC-Gateway challenge could impact at-large playoff selections later in the year.

“I do see it affecting who they choose and if so, we need to start beating some Gateway teams because they have a great conference,” Pannunzio said.