The battle of Alabama figures to go a long way toward helping decide the Ohio Valley Conference football championship.

Jacksonville State and Samford -- who also just happen to be first-year OVC members -- square off Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

Visiting Jacksonville State (6-3, 4-1) is tied for first place in the OVC. Samford (6-3, 4-2) is just a half-game behind, but a loss would all but end the Bulldogs' title hopes.

"We have a chance to make a run here," said Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe during Tuesday's weekly OVC teleconference.

Jacksonville State and Samford, located about an hour apart, have been longtime rivals, with the Bulldogs leading the series 21-17-2. Games between the squads are generally fierce -- and Saturday's contest figures to follow that trend with so much riding on the outcome.

"It's probably the biggest game we've had on our campus in a long time. We're excited about it," Samford coach Bill Gray said. "In-state rival, being so close in proximity, new conference, then throw in the fact they're at the top of the heap."

Added Crowe, "There's a history here that has a lot of value. I'm certain the game is going to be well attended. The last time we were down there we set an attendance record for that stadium and I anticipate there being more people for this game."

The Jacksonville State-Samford game isn't the only OVC contest Saturday that carries major championship implications for both teams.

Tennessee State (6-3, 4-1), which is tied for first with the Gamecocks, visits preseason favorite Southeast Missouri State University (3-6, 3-2).

A loss wouldn't knock the Tigers out of the title picture, but it would mean the best they could likely do is tie for the title.

Meanwhile, the Indians -- who have won three of their last four games after an 0-5 start -- have dates remaining against Tennessee State and Jacksonville State, the only league teams with one loss, so they still control their own destiny. If they win their final three games, they can do no worse than tie for the title.

"Considering the slow start, all the injuries we've had and everything else that has happened, we're pleased to be in this position," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "This is just like the playoffs for us. We can't afford to lose another game."

Eastern Kentucky (4-5, 3-2), which is tied with Southeast for fourth place and also just a game out of first, is also still very much in the title picture heading into a home contest against Tennessee-Martin.

"We have an opportunity to keep our postseason hopes alive," Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope said. "But Tennessee-Martin plays hard enough to beat anybody if you don't take care of business."

Defending co-champion Eastern Illinois (3-6, 2-3) was all but eliminated from the race after Saturday's loss at Tennessee State. Barring a miracle, the Panthers will almost certainly miss the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for the first time in four years.

"It's a matter of character now," Eastern Illinois coach Bob Spoo said.

The OVC's other three teams -- defending co-champion Murray State (3-7, 2-4), Tennessee Tech (2-6, 1-4) and Tennessee-Martin (2-8, 1-5) -- had previously been knocked out of title contention.

OVC tie-breaker

Last year, when Eastern Illinois and Murray State shared the OVC title, it marked the first time the conference wound up with co-champions since 1990.

Given the scrambled state of the league this year, it would almost be a surprise if there weren't co-champions.

And it's not out of the question that more than two squads will share the crown for just the second time in the OVC's 55-year history. In 1962, there was a four-way tie for the title.

If there is a two-way tie, then the winner of the head-to-head meeting receives the OVC's automatic NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth.

In the event of a three-way tie, and head-to-head play cannot break the deadlock, then the OVC office will conduct a draw to determine the playoff representative.

If more than three teams tie, then the squad with the best record against the fellow tying teams earns the playoff bid.