Let's be honest.

If and when Penn State finishes its demolition of Eastern Illinois, little will have changed about the Panthers' direction.

The game has absolutely no effect on how the Panthers will finish in the Ohio Valley Conference. Whether they lose 70-0 or pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football history, it won't give them an advantage against Eastern Kentucky, which has already defeated the Panthers.

But none of that matters Saturday.

This game means everything.

Never mind this will be the biggest crowd ever to see an Eastern Illinois football team compete, even if Penn State fails to sell out its 107,000-plus seat stadium. Never mind the $450,000 the Lions are shelling out to Eastern Illinois just to make the Panthers their whipping boys for a day.

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game -- lose big, lose with respect or shock the world -- only positives can come out of it.

Exposure means everything for a college football player, and there isn't much more exposure than playing in the biggest stadium in the country on an ESPN network.

Dorothy, this isn't Kansas anymore. Or O'Brien Field, for that matter.

Win or lose, Saturday's game helps put Eastern Illinois on the map. For guys like center Chaz Millard, it's an audition to help build an NFL resume. For a guy like quarterback Jake Christensen, it's a chance to prove he's still got what it takes to succeed on the big stage. And for others, it's a chance to make themselves a blip on the radar of NFL scouts.

What can be expected Saturday is up for debate. The Lions will play without Sean Lee. Penn State coach Joe Paterno said Lee would be out regardless of the opponent, but pundits argue Paterno isn't losing any sleep over missing one of the best linebackers in the country this week.

Even still, it's not expected to be pretty. If Paterno has his way, his starters will be out by halftime.

But Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo's crew is hungry. Tuesday's practice was arguably the most loose of the season. And members of the team had a players-only gathering after their customary unit meetings.

No, it might not matter. It might not matter how hungry the Panthers are Saturday. Penn State is good. Really good. But anything can happen.

And regardless of what ends up happening, Saturday is monumental for the Panthers.

See you in Happy Valley.