2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Record	1–0 (0–0 MVFC)
Head coach	Todd Stepsis (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Nate Thompson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Al Smith (1st season)
Home stadium	UNI-Dome
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Indiana State		0	–	0					1	–	0
No. 1 North Dakota State		0	–	0					1	–	0
Northern Iowa		0	–	0					1	–	0
No. 3 South Dakota State		0	–	0					1	–	0
No. 20 Southern Illinois		0	–	0					1	–	0
Youngstown State		0	–	0					1	–	0
No. 6 Illinois State		0	–	0					0	–	1
Murray State		0	–	0					0	–	1
North Dakota		0	–	0					0	–	1
No. 4 South Dakota		0	–	0					0	–	1
As of August 31, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team will represent the University of Northern Iowa in the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers will compete as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and will be led by first-year head coach Todd Stepsis. ^[1] Stepsis takes over for longtime coach Mark Farley, who retired from coaching at the end of the 2024 season. ^[2] Stepsis will be assisted by first-year offensive coordinator Nate Thompson and first-year defensive coordinator Al Smith. The Panthers play home games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	1:00 p.m.	Butler *	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	ESPN+	W 38–14	9,079
September 6	3:00 p.m.	at Wyoming *	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	Altitude2
September 13	4:00 p.m.	Eastern Washington *	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	ESPN+
September 20	7:00 p.m.	at Utah Tech *	Greater Zion Stadium St. George, UT	ESPN+
October 4	4:00 p.m.	North Dakota	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	ESPN+
October 11	2:00 p.m.	at South Dakota State	Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Brookings, SD	ESPN+
October 18	1:00 p.m.	South Dakota	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	ESPN+
October 25	2:00 p.m.	at Southern Illinois	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	TBA
November 1	2:00 p.m.	at Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
November 8	1:00 p.m.	Murray State	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	TBA
November 15	2:30 p.m.	at North Dakota State	Fargodome Fargo, ND	ESPN+
November 22	1:00 p.m.	Youngstown State	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	TBA
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Central time

^{[3] [4]}

Preseason

MVFC poll

Main article: 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season § Preseason

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Panthers were predicted to finish eighth in the conference. ^[5]

Game summaries

All times are Central time

Butler

See also: 2025 Butler Bulldogs football team

Butler Bulldogs (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	7	0	0	14
Panthers	10	7	14	7	38

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: August 30
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 72 °F (22 °C)

Statistics	BUT	UNI
First downs	19	25
Total yards	336	448
Rushing yards	147	213
Passing yards	189	235
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22-36-2	17-28-0
Time of possession	31:43	28:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Andrew	189
	Rushing	Andrew	75
	Receiving	Loss	81
Northern Iowa	Passing	Schecklman	214
	Rushing	Bey-Buie	81
	Receiving	Kershaw	65

at Wyoming (FBS)

See also: 2025 Wyoming Cowboys football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (1–0) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (FBS) (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Cowboys (FBS)	-	-	-	-	0

at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY

• Date: September 6
• TV: Altitude2

Statistics	UNI	WYO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wyoming	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Eastern Washington

See also: 2025 Eastern Washington Eagles football team

Eastern Washington Eagles (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 4:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)

Statistics	EWU	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Washington	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Utah Tech

See also: 2025 Utah Tech Trailblazers football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Trailblazers	-	-	-	-	0

at Greater Zion Stadium, St. George, UT

• Date: September 20

Statistics	UNI	UTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Utah Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

North Dakota

See also: 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Hawks	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 4:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	UND	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at South Dakota State

See also: 2025 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Jackrabbits	-	-	-	-	0

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 2:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	UNI	SDST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
South Dakota State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team

South Dakota Coyotes (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Coyotes	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	SDAK	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
South Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Southern Illinois

See also: 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• Date: October 25
• Game time: 2:00 PM

Statistics	UNI	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Illinois State

See also: 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 2:00 PM

Statistics	UNI	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Murray State

See also: 2025 Murray State Racers football team

Murray State Racers (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Racers	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: November 8
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)

Statistics	MURR	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Murray State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Bison	-	-	-	-	0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

• Date: November 15
• Game time: 2:30 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	UNI	NDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
North Dakota State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Youngstown State

See also: 2025 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penguins	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

• Date: November 22
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)

Statistics	YSU	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Youngstown State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "Todd Stepsis named University of Northern Iowa head coach". unipanthers.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. December 3, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
2. "UNI Football head coach Mark Farley to retire at conclusion of 2024 season". unipanthers.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. November 10, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
3. "Northern Iowa Panthers Schedule 2025". ESPN . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
4. "2025 Football Schedule". University of Northern Iowa . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
5. "Missouri Valley Football Announces predicted order of finish". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.