Thursday gameday news

Two games on this week's slate are being played tonight.

Murray State at Jacksonville State, 5 p.m. CT, CSS
#22 UT-Martin at Tennessee Tech, 7 p.m. CT

And now, the news:

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle looks at how the Austin Peay State staff use the 17 hours of practice time each week allowed by the NCAA.

Eastern Illinois linebacker Clint Sellers will not return this season, according to the (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. The pre-season all-American and Buchannan Award nominee injured his shoulder in a kickoff during the Panthers' opening game against Illinois, and he has not healed as quickly as had been hoped. EIU coach Bob Spoo also has missed the 4-6 week deadline for returning to the team that had been predicted when he underwent surgery just before the season. The paper also previews EIU's game Saturday with Southeast Missouri State.

The Richmond (Ky.) Register says Eatern Kentucky still believes it it can win the OVC after an 0-2 start in league play. Coach Danny Hope tells the paper, “There is a lot of football left to be played and I don’t have the time or the mathematical skills to assess the probabilities of us being at the top of the conference,” Eastern Kentucky University coach Danny Hope said. “You just have to take care of the people you have left to play and take care of yourself.”

The Colonels likely will continue to matchup against their traditional rivals, Western Kentucky, even if the Hilltoppers move up to I-A, according to the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal. The WKU board of trustees votes on the move Nov. 2. WKU athletic director Wood Selig says he envisions a 10-year home-and-home series.

The Gadsden (Ala.) Times examines Jacksonville State's staunch defense in one story. In another, the paper examines JSU's chances of finishing atop the conference standings.

The Murray (Ky.) Ledger & Times says the Gamecocks will present the biggest challenge yet for Murray State's Racers.

The (Nashville) Tennessean says Tennessee State wide receiver Mike Mason will return to the field for next week's game against Tennessee Tech. He suffered a knee injury two weeks ago in the game against Jackson State.

Tennessee Tech's Golden Eagles have surprised many with a 2-0 start in OVC play. The team is determined to keep turning heads, according to the (Cookeville, Tenn.) Herald-Citizen.