Saturday's PSAC West contest at Indiana's Miller Stadium between co-leading California (3-2, 2-0) and IUP (3-2, 0-2) lost some of its luster when the Crimson Hawks dropped their last two games.
Thee's still plenty at stake, however, in one of the conference's top rivalries.
California is going after its fourth-straight win and eyeing a return to the national rankings.
IIUP hasn't had a losing season since 1982 when it was also the last time the team started out 0-2 in the West.
Injuries played a key role in both of IUP's defeats.
Three starters - wide receiver Javon Rowan and free safety Andre Henderson and All-America cornerback Akwasi Owusu-Anash - went to the sidelines in the 20-16 loss to Mercyhurst in Erie.
Junior tailback Tobias Robinson, the conference's leading rusher, left in the second quarter of the 7-3 setback to Slippery Rock with a hamstring injury.
As far as Cal coach John Luckhardt is concerned, IUP is as good as ever.
"They're extremely talented," he said.
The most talented is Owusu-Ansah, a 6-1, 205-pound senior who's drawn the attention of NFL scouts and s expected to get drafted.
Owusu-Ansah led the conference in interceptions last year with eight, including a school-record three against Gannon.
Besides starring in the secondary, Owusu-Ansah is one of the country's premier return specialists. His 35.5-yard kick return average is third in the nation and his 6.6-yard punt return stat is third in the conference.
Owusu-Ansah returned the second half kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in IUP's 28-21 win over Southern Connecticut and he started the second half against Slippery Rock with a 51-yard return which set up the Crimson Hawks' field goal.
Robinson, who's expected to play against the Vulcans, had three straight 100 yard games before getting hurt. For the season he's gained 513 yards.
Last year Robinson gained 1,203 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
Cal's defense, however, limited Robinson to six yards on 10 carries in the Vulcans' 21-19 win at Adamson Stadium.
IUP quarterback Andrew Krewatch will be starting his fourth game against the Vulcans.
In the 21-17 IUP win at Adamson Stadium as a freshman, Krewatch completed 24 of 41 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns.
Krewatch hit 21 of 50 for 253 yards and a touchdown and 12 of 27 for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the losses to Cal.
Despite being one of the top passers in the school's history, Krewatch was pulled after his third interception against the Rock and replaced by redshirt freshman Pat Smith.
Krewatch underwent an MRI earlier in the week which showed he has tendonitis in his right (throwing) shoulder.
IUP's defense, meanwhile, is second in the conference in total defense allowing 266 yards - 95 rushing and 171 passing.
"Their defense is very good," noted Luckhardt.
The Crimson Hawks held the Rock to eight first downs and 105 total offense yards.
Cal junior quarterback Josh Portis, meanwhile, has sparked the Vulcans' three-game win streak with 10 touchdown passes and only one interception.
Krewatch is 77 of 152 for 957 yards and five touchdowns while Portis is 69 of 132 for 11 scores. Krewatch has been intercepted eight times and Portis four times.
The Vulcans' AJ Jackson (29 recptions for 369 yards) and Crimson Hawks' Mychal Skinner (23 receptions for 298 yards) are ranked three-four in the conference in pass-catching.
LEFTOVERS: The kickoff is 1 p.m. Cal has averaged over 200 rushing yards the last two games after averaging 125 in the first three.
