Look it up in the record books — that’s an order from coach Dino Babers. The 2013 schedule is the most difficult in Eastern football history.

“It is the toughest schedule in the history of EIU football. Google it,” Babers said.

The Ohio Valley Conference schedule is routine. Routinely difficult, I might add. But what separates this schedule from those past is its non-conference schedule — a schedule that could very well have the defending OVC champions heading into conference play at 0-4.

The first four games on the Panthers’ schedule has them traveling to San Diego State, Southern Illinois-Carbondale and Northern Illinois, while hosting Illinois State in the 102nd Mid-America Classic.

“We’re playing San Diego State,” Babers said. “That is one of the premiere programs on the West Coast. Unless you’re west of Mississippi, you have no idea what that school represents.”

Babers said San Diego State is a program that has “talent coming out of its ears,” as he considers it to be a Pac-12 Conference caliber team.

Eastern will then travel to Carbondale to face the Salukis, which many have ranked as a top 25 FCS team. The Salukis, a team that openly overlooked Eastern in its 49-28 loss to the Panthers last season, will surely not being doing the same this season.

“Southern Illinois has the advantage right now,” Babers said. “Psychologically, it’s going to be easier for their coach to get them to play than it will be to get my guys to play.”

The 102nd Mid-America Classic will follow, in which Eastern fell to Illinois State last season 54-51 in double overtime.

This season, the Redbirds are ranked as high as No. 5 in FCS polls, while the Panthers highest ranking is No. 19.

“That game, the rankings won’t matter,” Babers said. “Whatever you print in the paper won’t matter. Whatever I say to the team won’t matter, it’s Illinois State, it’s Eastern Illinois. It’s going to be a war.”

To round out the grueling non-conference schedule, Eastern travels to DeKalb for its toughest game of the season against the Northern Illinois Huskies, a team that competed in the Orange Bowl last season.

Northern is led by Heisman candidate Jordan Lynch, who ranked fourth in FBS in total offensive yards per game with 353.79.

It may seem unprecedented that the same Eastern football team from last year could begin its season 0-4, but with two FBS opponents and two top 25 FCS opponents, it is not out of the question.

OVC play is where Eastern will look to defend its title as conference champions, but the pressure to perform will start long before the Panthers see any OVC action.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].