Northern Iowa Panthers football

Northern Iowa Panthers football
2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team
First season1895 (1895)
Athletic directorMegan Franklin
Head coachTodd Stepsis
1st season, 3–9 (.250)
LocationCedar Falls, Iowa
StadiumUNI-Dome
(capacity: 16,324)
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMissouri Valley
ColorsPurple and old gold[1]
   
All-time record707–464–47 (.600)
Bowl record1–1 (.500)
Conference championships
IIAC: 1927, 1928
NCC: 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964
AMCU: 1981, 1982, 1984
Gateway: 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
MFVC: 2008, 2010, 2011
Consensus All-Americans1
RivalriesDrake (rivalry)
Iowa State
North Dakota State
Southern Illinois
Fight song"UNI Fight"
MascotTC/TK Panther
Marching band"The Pride of Panther Nation"
Websiteunipanthers.com

The Northern Iowa Panthers football program represents the University of Northern Iowa in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The program began in 1895 and has fielded a team every year since with the exceptions of 1906–1907 and 1943–1944. The Panthers play their home games at the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have appeared in the Division I FCS playoffs 22 times, third most among all current teams but have never won an FCS Division I championship.

History

See also: List of Northern Iowa Panthers football seasons

Classifications

  • NCAA College Division (1956–1972)
  • NCAA Division II (1973–1980)
  • NCAA Division I-AA/FCS (1981–present)

Conference memberships

Championship and postseason history

Conference championships

Northern Iowa has won thirty-three conference titles,[2] the most out of the four Iowa Division I institutions. The Panthers have won two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, twelve North Central Conference championships, three Association of Mid-Continent Universities football championships and sixteen Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.

Year Conference Overall record Conference record
1927 IIAC 7–0–1 6–0
1928 IIAC 5–1–3 4–0–2
1940 NCC 8–1 5–0
1941 NCC 5–3 5–0
1942 NCC 6–1 5–0
1946 NCC 4–1–2 2–0–1
1947 NCC 5–3–1 4–0
1948 NCC 7–3 5–0
1949 NCC 5–2 5–1
1952 NCC 6–2 5–1
1960 NCC 9–1 6–0
1961 NCC 7–2 5–1
1962 NCC 7–1–1 5–0–1
1964 NCC 9–2 5–1
1981 AMCU 5–6 2–1
1982 AMCU 4–6–1 2–0–1
1984 AMCU 9–2 2–1
1985 MVFC 11–2 5–0
1987 MVFC 10–4 6–0
1990 MVFC 8–4 5–1
1991 MVFC 11–2 5–1
1992 MVFC 12–2 5–1
1993 MVFC 8–4 5–1
1994 MVFC 8–4 6–0
1995 MVFC 8–5 5–1
1996 MVFC 12–2 5–0
2001 MVFC 11–3 6–1
2003 MVFC 10–3 6–1
2005 MVFC 11–4 5–2
2007 MVFC 12–1 6–0
2008 MVFC 12–3 7–1
2010 MVFC 7–5 6–2
2011 MVFC 10–3 7–1

College Division bowl games

Northern Iowa played in the NCAA's College Division from 1937–1972.[3] Twice in those years they qualified for a College Division bowl game.[4]

Year Bowl Record Opponent Result
1960 Mineral Water Bowl 9–1–0 Hillsdale College L 6–17
1964 Pecan Bowl 9–2–0 Lamar (TX) W 19–17

Division I-AA/FCS playoff games

The Panthers have made twenty-two appearances in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs, with an overall record of 24–22.

Year Round Opponent Result
1985 Quarterfinal
Semifinal		 Middle Tennessee
Georgia Southern		 W 28–21
L 33–40
1987 First round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal		 Youngstown State
Arkansas State
Northeast Louisiana		 W 31–28
W 49–28
L 41–44 2OT
1990 First round Boise State L 3–20
1991 First round
Quarterfinal		 Weber State
Marshall		 W 38–21
L 13–41
1992 First round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal		 Eastern Washington
McNeese State
Youngstown State		 W 17–14
W 29–7
L 7–19
1993 First round Boston University L 21–27 2OT
1993 First round Montana L 23–29
1995 First round
Quarterfinal		 Murray State
Marshall		 W 35–34
L 24–41
1996 Quarterfinal
Semifinal		 William & Mary
Marshall		 W 38–35
L 14–31
2001 First round
Quarterfinal
Semifinal		 Eastern Illinois
Maine
Montana		 W 49–43
W 56–28
L 10–38
2003 First round
Quarterfinal		 Montana State
Delaware		 W 35–14
L 7–37
2005 Quarterfinal
Semifinal
National Championship		 New Hampshire
Texas State
Appalachian State		 W 24–21
W 40–37
L 16–21
2007 First round
Quarterfinal		 New Hampshire
Delaware		 W 38–35
L 27–39
2008 First round
Quarterfinal
 Maine
New Hampshire
Richmond		 W 40–15
W 36–34
L 20–21
2010 First round Lehigh L 7–14
2011 Second round
Quarterfinal		 Wofford
Montana		 W 28–21
L 10–48
2014 First round
Second round		 Stephen F. Austin
Illinois State		 W 44–10
L 21–41
2015 First round
Second round
Quarterfinal		 Eastern Illinois
Portland State
North Dakota State		 W 53–17
W 29–17
L 13–23
2017 First round
Second round		 Monmouth
South Dakota State		 W 46–7
L 22–37
2018 First round
Second round		 Lamar
UC Davis		 W 16–3
L 16–23
2019 First round
Second round
Quarterfinal		 San Diego
South Dakota State
James Madison		 W 17–3
W 13–10
L 0–17
2021 First round Eastern Washington L 9–19

FCS National Championship games

Season Game Record Opponent Result
2005 National Championship 11–4 Appalachian State L 16–21

UNI-Dome

The UNI-Dome opened in 1976, as the home of the UNI Panthers football team. The facility's capacity for football is 12,200.[5] At football games, where cold temperatures are frequently an issue for fans, the UNI-Dome announcers will announce "conditions at game time" prior to each game. The announcers will announce the weather in the town where the visiting team is from, the current weather conditions outside the Dome, and then say "Inside - 72 degrees, no wind, welcome to the Dome!" to emphasize the fact that a domed stadium is not affected by the weather. Heading into the 2025 season, the Panthers have a home record of 233–68–1 in the UNI-Dome, having won nearly 80 percent of their games in the UNI-Dome.[5]

All-Americans

First Team Selections [6][7][8][9][10]

  • Paul Jones, E, 1937 (WR)
  • Paul DeVan, HB, 1949 (AP)
  • Lou Bohnsack, C, 1952 (AP)
  • LeRoy Dunn, T, 1955 (WR)
  • Dick Formanek, T, 1956 (WR)
  • George Asleson, G, 1960 (AP)
  • Jerry Morgan, QB, 1960 (WR)
  • Wendell Williams, G, 1961 (AP)
  • Dan Boals, FB, 1962 (WR)
  • Randy Schultz, FB, 1964 and 1965 (AP)
  • Ray Pedersen, G, 1967 (AP)
  • Mike Timmermans, T, 1975 (AP)
  • Brian Mitchell, PK, 1990 and 1991 (AP)
  • Kenny Shedd, AP, 1992 (AP)
  • William Freeney, LB, 1992 (AP)
  • Andre Allen, LB, 1994 (AP)
  • Dedric Ward, WR, 1995 and 1996 (AP)
  • Eric Harris, LB, 1999 (AP)
  • Brad Meester, C, 1999 (AP)
  • Adam Vogt, LB, 2001 (AP)
  • Mackenzie Hoambrecker, PK, 2002 (AP)
  • Dre Dokes, DB, 2006 (AP)
  • Brannon Carter, LB, 2007 (AP)
  • Chad Rinehart, OL, 2007 (AP)
  • James Ruffin, DL, 2009 (AP)
  • Ben Boothby, DL, 2011 (AP)
  • Michael Schmadeke, PK, 2014 (AP)
  • Jack Rummells, OL, 2014 (AP)
  • Deiondre' Hall, DB, 2015 (AP)
  • Karter Schult, DL, 2016 (AP)
  • Jared Brinkman, DL, 2020-21c and 2021 (AP)
  • Trevor Penning, OL, 2021 (AP)
  • Matthew Cook, 2023, K (AP)

WR=Williamson Ratings; AP=Associated Press;

c - 2020-21 selections include players who played Fall 2020 and teams (such as Northern Iowa) which moved their schedule to Spring 2021 due to COVID

Notable players

Future non–conference opponents

Announced schedules as of October 23, 2025.[11]

2026 2027 2028 2029 2031
at Eastern Washington Butler at Iowa State at Iowa at Iowa State
Drake at Nebraska
at Iowa
 

References

  1. ^ University of Northern Iowa Athletics Style Guide (PDF). January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "UNI Championship Seasons". Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "Northern Iowa Panthers". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  4. ^ "Northern Iowa Bowl History". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "2025 UNI Panther Football Media Guide" (PDF). p. 2.
  6. ^ "2016 Northern Iowa Football Media Guide". Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "FCS Football: AP releases 2016 FCS All-America Team". Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "2020-21 Associated Press FCS All-America Team". Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jared Brinkman, Trevor Penning earn 2021 AP All-America Football Team honors". Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  10. ^ "South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski and Monmouth RB Jaden Shirden lead AP FCS All-America team". Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "Northern Iowa Panthers Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
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