Eastern didn’t think its season would end Saturday. Talk of a national championship and advancing deep into the I-AA playoffs was all around the football offices in August. Now, the talk will center on recruiting efforts, replacing seniors and the status of head coach Bob Spoo (above). Although the 24-13 loss to Illinois State was devastating to the Panthers and their fans, here are three other playoff losses in Eastern history that outweigh Saturday’s loss.

1. 1980 against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo – Eastern’s dream of two Division II national titles in three years ended on Dec. 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. The Panthers had three scoring chances, but fumbled twice inside Cal Poly’s 5-yard line and were intercepted on Cal Poly’s 15-yard line in losing 21-13.

2. 1996 at Northern Iowa – Despite holding a 20-minute advantage in time of possession, Eastern turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter. Eastern had a first-and-goal with the ball on UNI’s four-yard line, but could not put the ball in the end zone before time expired in Eastern’s 21-14 loss.

3. 1983 at Indiana State – These two Gateway Conference opponents met up in the first round and produced a double overtime thriller. Freshman quarterback Sean Payton – yes, that Sean Payton – threw an interception on the Panthers’ second possession in overtime, setting up a game-winning 25-yard field goal by Indiana State and a 16-13 Sycamore win.