It's doubtful that things can get much crazier in Ohio Valley Conference football circles.

A week after preseason favorites Eastern Kentucky and Murray State suffered surprising defeats, Eastern Kentucky lost again -- and this time it was a history-maker.

When Murray State claimed a 28-21 win in Richmond, Ky., on Saturday, it marked the first time the Colonels had suffered back-to-back OVC home losses in the 29-year history of Roy Kidd Stadium and it marked Eastern Kentucky's first homecoming defeat in 25 years.

The Colonels hadn't lost consecutive home conference games since 1966 at Hanger Stadium.

Murray State's big victory, coming on the heels of an upset loss to Middle Tennessee, put the Racers squarely back in the hunt for the OVC title.

In fact, things are so wide open in the OVC race that four of the league's eight teams have one conference loss or less.

Eastern Illinois leads the way at 2-0 while Murray State and Middle Tennessee are both 3-1 and Tennessee State is 2-1. Eastern Illinois faces a big test this Saturday at Middle Tennessee.

Tennessee State could the OVC's hottest team with consecutive impressive conference road victories -- 31-21 over Eastern Kentucky two weeks ago and 38-7 over Southeast Missouri on Saturday -- and an overall three-game winning streak.

Not since 1990 has the OVC title been won by a team with one loss, but -- unless Eastern Illinois can run the table -- that appears to be a distinct possibility. Only once in league history (1962) has the conference championship been won by a team with two losses.

* In addition to Murray State beating Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State routing Southeast Missouri, other league results over the weekend saw Tennessee Tech slip past Tennessee-Martin 31-24 in overtime and Eastern Illinois drop a 36-22 non-conference decision to Illinois State.

Tennessee Tech, picked as a darkhorse OVC contender before the season, has been a mystery. The Eagles broke a four-game losing streak against Tennessee-Martin -- but barely escaped a huge upset against the league doormat.

* Eastern Illinois visiting Middle Tennessee is the feature OVC game this week.

Other league contests pit Eastern Kentucky at Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin at Tennessee State. Southeast Missouri visits Southwest Missouri in non-league action.

* Tennessee State quarterback Leon Murray and Murray State defensive end Kenneth Knotts earned the league's weekly offensive and defensive honors.

Murray had 262 yards of total offense against Southeast Missouri. He threw for 227 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 35 yards and a TD.

Knotts had eight tackles, including three for 24 yards in losses, and two quarterback sacks against Eastern Kentucky.