Aside from a few players lost to the size difference that will always exist between Division I-A and I-AA programs, the Panthers came out of Saturday’s game exactly as they entered it: trying to figure out how good or bad they are.

Sure, they got blasted on the scoreboard. It is difficult to explain away a 42-17 loss by saying that it shouldn’t have been that bad.

But Eastern had the Illini scared.

They forced Illinois head coach Ron Zook to make a big decision late in the first half.

With less than a minute remaining, Illinois had a second-and-goal situation from the one-yard line.

Two runs for no gain set up a fourth down. Everybody in Memorial Stadium knew who was going to get the ball after a timeout.

But the Panthers couldn’t stop senior running back Pierre Thomas, and the Illini went up by two touchdowns at the end of the first half.

Illinois pulled away in the second half after a questionable call on first-and-goal (Eastern passed rather than try to punch the ball in) and a horrific call by the officials (apparently, there’s a new rule that says a receiver has to take five steps before a pass is considered complete).

These two plays happened when Eastern was trying to cut the Illini lead to one touchdown.

In the second half, the Panthers were going to be within a touchdown of a I-A team.

It is definitely a positive Eastern can take out of the game.

The biggest difference in the game was the considerable size difference on the line. The Illini average 308 pounds on the offensive line. Eastern’s starting defensive line averaged only 264 pounds.

Illinois rushed for 345 yards Saturday, obviously taking advantage of its superiority on the line.

In fact, Thomas said after the game they could have driven a van through the holes the line was opening up.

But the Panthers rarely will face such a disparity on the line.

When they play other I-AA programs, Eastern’s speed on the line should be able to offset any size advantage.

It is something they couldn’t do Saturday because, let’s face it, I-A programs draw better all-around athletes than I-AA.

The Panthers play I-AA Indiana State in their home opener Saturday.

When they do, they will play an offensive line that is similar to the teams Eastern will face in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Only then will the Panthers be able to accurately gauge just how good – or bad – they will be this season.