Eastern football has been ranked 17th in the Coaches Football Championship Subdivision poll. The Panthers were picked to win a third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference title, which would be their fifth overall title in the OVC.

All of this is good news.

But the bad news is how harsh injuries have depleted this year’s roster.

So far, junior running back Norris Smith has a knee injury for an indefinite time, junior free safety Seymour Loftman is out with a shoulder injury for the rest of the season, and junior wide receiver Adam Kesler is lost for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

All three of these injuries are major setbacks in the road to a third OVC title, yet it doesn’t mean the destination will not be reached.

But it does make it a bumpier road.

Many younger players will need to step up to the challenge and take a bigger role in the team.

The secondary could especially need the help, since Loftman was the only returning starter slated to return.

Eastern does have the talent though to make it to the playoffs, but a few key elements must be kept in order to do so.

For one, Eastern can’t have any more serious injuries to the roster – players like remaining running back senior Ademola Adeniji, who was Vincent Webb, Jr.’s back up in 2004. As the most experienced back on the team now, he will not only need his experience but also his leadership abilities to help put together a formidable rushing attack in the case that Smith does not return soon or at all this season.

Another slightly encouraging factor for hopes of a third straight title is that only one other OVC team is ranked and that is Tennessee Martin at 18th.

Unfortunately, UT-Martin is not facing the same injury problems and they also shared the OVC title with Eastern last season.

They are a serious threat to win the title this year, especially since the Skyhawks defeated the Panthers in the regular season last year.

Eastern will open its season against Tennessee Tech, who finished 4-7 overall and 4-4 in the OVC last year.

Eastern should defeat the Golden Eagles, which will lead to a nice start to the new season.

But all of these rankings are just predictions and numbers. What will really matter and be of most value is that the Panthers will stay healthy and have younger players and back-ups step in to reach the post-season again.

If that happens, then Eastern should have a fair shot at winning the OVC title again and reaching the postseason, regardless of some injury setbacks.