Eastern Michigan's Chris May intercepts the ball in front of University of Michigan's Roy Roundtree during the fourth quarter of the Wolverine's home game against Eastern Michigan University at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The story line is difficult to ignore.

Two struggling Mid-American Conference football teams. Thirteen combined losses. Zero combined wins.

On the same field.

Yet, for all of the struggles Eastern Michigan and Ball State have experienced this season, someone has to win Saturday at Rynearson Stadium (1 p.m., WEMU, 89.1-FM, WCHB, 1200-AM).

For the Eagles, which has ushered in first-year coach Ron English with six straight losses, a victory would validate the progress English's players believe they have made.

The improvements haven't carried over to Saturday, when Eastern Michigan has lost by an average of three touchdowns. The offense has produced 13.5 points per game, ranking the Eagles 118th out of 120 Division I-A programs.

At 0-7, Ball State hasn't fared much better, averaging 19.9 points per game under first-year coach - and former Michigan assistant - Stan Parish.

Both teams face difficult schedules ahead, leaving players to wonder if they can't win on Saturday, when will they?

"We're trying not to look at who we're playing as much as focus on what we have to do right now because we're not where we want to be," Eastern Michigan quarterback Kyle McMahon said Wednesday.

"As it's been all year, we're fighting for that first win, so it's more (about) trying to take each week and what's right in front of you."

English has done his best to maintain that focus. In Eastern Michigan's team room, the only game listed on the schedule board is Ball State. Despite his team's 0-6 record, English asks his players to forget about the fact they haven't won.

But losing has taken its toll. After last week's 28-6 loss to Kent State, English walked into a locker room where players sat in front of their lockers, heads down. Some were crying.

"We were disappointed," senior cornerback Johnny Sears said. "We played hard, we changed the way we played (from the week before) - we were emotionally invested so to come out with a loss, it really hurt."

The pain of losing, though, has changed the way the Eagles practice. Because English's players want to win so badly, practices have been more spirited and intense, mixing hard-hitting drills with teaching moments aimed at getting Eastern Michigan ready for game day. "You could come out here and say, 'We're 0-6 - what's the point?' or you could come out and say, 'We're 0-0, let's get better right now,'" McMahon said. "We just have to do what needs to be done so we can get a win."

Now, Eastern Michigan faces another of the nation's six winless teams. Of the Division I-A teams that haven't won, three play in the MAC. Ball State finds itself in a similar situation as the Eagles, knowing that if the first win of the season doesn't come Saturday, finding a victory may be tough the rest of the way.

Parish, frustrated with the Cardinals' losing ways, won't allow one game to dictate the tone for rest of the season.

"I'd like to think every week is let-it-all-hang-out," Parish said at his weekly press conference "These kids have enough on their minds. (What are you going to say), 'Listen guys, if we don't do this, it's what? Are they going to shoot us all and send us home?'

"You don't want to put kids in that predicament. It's another game, and we have to prepare hard and win. The what-ifs just add more demons."

English looks at Saturday's game as the start of the second half of the season. He also senses his players' desire to get things turned around.

"I think it's really starting to bother them," English said. "And until (losing) starts to bother you, you're not going to change it, so I hope that's the case."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2554 or jeffarnold@annarbor.com