Early returns

We're about a week into the nominating period for the OVC Football Blog Games of the Year, with about a week left to go. As a reminder, the concept is posted here, and the entire OVC 2006 schedule (minus D-II games) is posted here. Don't forget to e-mail your nominations to ovc@cableone.net by July 11.

The nominees so far for OVC matchup:

• UT-Martin @ Murray State, Nov. 18 - Matt Griffin's old team visits Matt Griffin's new team.
• Eastern Illinois @ Eastern Kentucky, Oct. 14 - The 2005 champs take on the runners-up. Could be the OVC title game.
• Jacksonville State @ Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 30 - A battle of OVC heavyweights, old and new.
• Jacksonville State @ Eastern Illinois, Nov. 18 - These two schools can lay claim to the last five OVC titles between them. This game could decide who wins it in '06.

For I-AA out-of-conference game:

• Jacksonville State @ Furman, Sept. 2 - JSU now is looking to avenge a lopsided 2004 playoff loss and a last-second defeat in the thrilling 2005 season opener.
• Eastern Illinois @ Illinois State, Sept. 16 - An in-state matchup between the OVC and the Gateway Football Conference.
• Western Kentucky @ Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 9 - Another in-state OVC-Gateway game, but this, ladies and gentlemen, is the Battle of the Bluegrass.

For OVC vs. I-A game:

• Tennessee Tech @ MTSU, Sept. 14 - The renewal of an old OVC rivalry.
• Eastern Kentucky @ Cincinatti, Sept. 2 - Not many miles separate these two schools. How far apart are their football teams?
• Eastern Illinois @ Illinois, Sept. 2 - The OVC champ Panthers "play up" in-state, against Illinois, who went 2-9 in 2005.
• Tennessee State @ Vanderbilt, Sept. 23 - A cross-town matchup between the OVC and the SEC. The big question is, who will really get the home-field advantage?

See anything missing? Get your nominations into ovc@cableone.net!