2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

Last updated

2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football
Northern Iowa Panthers wordmark.svg
Conference Missouri Valley Football Conference
Record1–0 (0–0 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNate Thompson (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorAl Smith (1st season)
Home stadium UNI-Dome
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
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.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 301:00 p.m. Butler * ESPN+ W 38–149,079
September 63:00 p.m.at Wyoming * Altitude2
September 134:00 p.m. Eastern Washington *
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+
September 207:00 p.m.at Utah Tech *ESPN+
October 44:00 p.m. North Dakota Dagger-14-plain.png
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+
October 112:00 p.m.at South Dakota State ESPN+
October 181:00 p.m. South Dakota
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+
October 252:00 p.m.at Southern Illinois TBA
November 12:00 p.m.at Illinois State ESPN+
November 81:00 p.m. Murray State
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
TBA
November 152:30 p.m.at North Dakota State ESPN+
November 221:00 p.m. Youngstown State
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
TBA
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • All times are in Central time

[3] [4]

Preseason

MVFC poll

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

Butler Bulldogs (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs770014
Panthers10714738

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 72 °F (22 °C)
StatisticsBUTUNI
First downs1925
Total yards336448
Rushing yards147213
Passing yards189235
Passing: Comp–Att–Int22-36-217-28-0
Time of possession31:4328:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ButlerPassingAndrew189
RushingAndrew75
ReceivingLoss81
Northern IowaPassingSchecklman214
RushingBey-Buie81
ReceivingKershaw65

at Wyoming (FBS)

Northern Iowa Panthers (1–0) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (FBS) (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Cowboys (FBS)----0

at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY

StatisticsUNIWYO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
WyomingPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Eastern Washington

Eastern Washington Eagles (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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)
StatisticsEWUUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Eastern WashingtonPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Utah Tech

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Trailblazers----0

at Greater Zion Stadium, St. George, UT

  • Date: September 20
StatisticsUNIUTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Utah TechPassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Dakota

North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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+
StatisticsUNDUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at South Dakota State

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Jackrabbits----0

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNISDST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
South Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

South Dakota

South Dakota Coyotes (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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+
StatisticsSDAKUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Southern Illinois

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Salukis----0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
StatisticsUNISIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Illinois State

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
StatisticsUNIILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Murray State

Murray State Racers (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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)
StatisticsMURRUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Murray StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at North Dakota State

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. North Dakota State Bison (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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+
StatisticsUNINDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Youngstown State

Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
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)
StatisticsYSUUNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Youngstown StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IowaPassing
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.