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COLLEGE FOOTBALL · 2026

Northern Iowa Panthers

1st in MVFC

3–22026 RECORD · GAMES REPORTED
Record3–25 completed games reported
Points per game26.4Calculated from reported scores
Points allowed / game28.2Calculated from reported scores
Offensive success rate—CollegeFootballData advanced metric

Across 5 completed games reported in 2026, Northern Iowa has scored 132 points and allowed 141. Its scoring margin is -1.8 points per game. Counts reflect the source’s coverage and may change after corrections.

ESPN · Last available snapshot Oct 12, 7:42 AM UTC · Source refresh pendingData methodology
PROGRAM & BIOGRAPHY

About Northern Iowa

College football team of the University of Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa Panthers competes in college football. This profile combines the 2026 schedule, the reported roster and season statistics with sourced program context.

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.

Inception (Wikidata)
1895
Adapted from Northern Iowa Panthers football on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Revision 1362324940 · Source revised
Conference
Not reported
Latest ranking
See the latest polls
Home venue
UNI-Dome
COVERAGE FROM ESPN

Northern Iowa news & coverage

More coverage

Headlines and short previews link to the original publisher. Team associations follow ESPN tags; some stories cover multiple programs.

THE SEASON, GAME BY GAME

2026 schedule & results

Sep 5
@E Washington
L 24–34Roos Field
Sep 12
vsDrake
W 56–14UNI-Dome
Sep 19
@Iowa
L 0–55Kinnick Stadium
Sep 26
vsIllinois St
W 28–21UNI-Dome
Oct 10
vsNorth Dakota
W 24–17UNI-Dome
Oct 17
@Youngstown St
6:00 PM ETStambaugh Stadium
Oct 24
@S Illinois
2:00 PM ETSaluki Stadium
Oct 31
vsIndiana St
2:00 PM ETUNI-Dome
Nov 7
vsS Dakota St
2:00 PM ETUNI-Dome
Nov 14
@South Dakota
2:00 PM ETThe DakotaDome
Nov 21
@Murray St
2:00 PM ETRoy Stewart Stadium
THE PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM

2026 roster

28Love AdebayoRB5' 8"190 lbsSeniorWest Saint Paul, MN
39Kaden Amigon-SuiterRB6' 0"210 lbsJuniorColumbus Junction, IA
1Will AndersonQB6' 2"200 lbsFreshmanOmaha, NE
72Lance BerendsOL6' 5"300 lbsSeniorHartley, IA
75Connor BestOL6' 3"295 lbsSophomoreCedar Falls, IA
64Hayden BishopOL6' 3"280 lbsFreshmanCedar Falls, IA
17Kai BlackTE6' 3"245 lbsSeniorUrbandale, IA
43Michael BormannRB6' 1"235 lbsSophomoreDubuque, IA
60Joe BriesemeisterOL6' 5"275 lbsSophomoreMount Vernon, IA
63Henry BunnOL6' 4"290 lbsSophomoreClear Lake, IA
22Christian CollinsRB5' 10"210 lbsSophomoreGreen Bay, WI
84Ian CollinsWR6' 0"187 lbsSeniorCharles City, IA
16Cyrus CourtneyWR6' 2"195 lbsJuniorCedar Rapids, IA
15Jaxon DaileyQB6' 3"230 lbsSeniorPleasant Hill, IA
83Kaleb DiersTE6' 6"250 lbsSophomoreMarion, IA
87Sam DrexlerWR6' 1"185 lbsFreshmanUrbandale, IA
6Jaiden Ellis-LaheyWR6' 3"210 lbsSeniorBethlehem, PA
71Dylan EscalanteOL6' 6"310 lbsJuniorSurprise, AZ
78Colby EskildsenOL6' 7"290 lbsSophomoreNorthwood, IA
72Yusif FofanahOL6' 5"285 lbsFreshmanKimberly, WI
19Graham FriedrichsenWR6' 2"207 lbsSeniorUrbandale, IA
3Vincenzo GianforteQB6' 0"208 lbsSophomoreCedar Rapids, IA
14Ben GordonWR6' 1"200 lbsJuniorVan Meter, IA
68Gracen GruverOL6' 3"295 lbsSophomoreMoore, OK
62Jack HearneOL6' 2"305 lbsSeniorUrbandale, IA
ESPN · Updated Oct 11, 12:52 PM UTCData methodology
PRODUCTION & EFFICIENCY

Season statistics

Passing

Completion Percentage62.3
Completions76
Interception Percentage2.50
Interceptions3
Longest Pass68
Net Passing Yards929
Net Passing Yards Per Game185.8
Passing Attempts122
Passing Touchdown %4.90
Passing Touchdowns6
Passer Rating137.4
Total Sacks15

Rushing

Rushing Attempts173
Rushing Yards579
Yards Per Rush Attempt3.3
Long Rushing43
20+ Yard Rushing Plays0
Rushing Touchdowns10
Rushing Yards Per Game115.8
Rushing Fumbles0
Rushing Fumbles Lost0
Rushing 1st downs32
Team Games Played5
Total Yards1,508

Receiving

Receptions76
Receiving Targets0
Receiving Yards929
Receiving Yards929
Receiving Touchdowns6
Long Reception68
20+ Yard Receiving Plays0
Receiving Yards Per Game185.8
Receiving Fumbles0
Receiving Fumbles Lost0
Receiving Yards After Catch47
Receiving First Downs35

Miscellaneous

Total 1st downs86
Rushing 1st downs32
Passing 1st downs37
1st downs by penalty17
Third Down Conversions22
Third Down Attempts59
3rd down %37.29
Fourth Down Conversions0
First Downs Attempts4
4th down %0.00
Total Penalties30
Total Penalty Yards256

Defense

Solo Tackles178
Assist Tackles182
Total Tackles360
Sacks7
Sack Yards81
Stuffs33
Passes Defended22
Average Interception Yards37.2
Long Interception80
Miscellaneous Touchdowns0
Kicks Blocked2
Tackles For Loss20

Defensive Interceptions

Interceptions5
Interception Yards186
Interception Touchdowns1

General

Fumbles6
Forced Fumbles7
Fumbles Recovered8
Fumbles Touchdowns0
Games Played5

Returning

Kick Returns8
Kick Return Yards163
Yards Per Kick Return20.4
Long Kick Return28
Kick Return Touchdowns0
Punt Returns5
Punt Return Yards13
Yards Per Punt Return2.6
Long Punt Return47
Punt Return Touchdowns1
Punt Return Fair Catches0
Kick Return Fumbles Lost0

Kicking

Field Goal Made2
Field Goal Attempts6
Field Goal Percentage33.3
Long Field Goal Made39
Field Goal Attempts 1-190
Field Goal Attempts 20-291
Field Goal Attempts 30-393
Field Goal Attempts 40-491
Field Goal Attempts 50+1
Extra Points Made18
Extra Point Attempts18
Extra Point Percentage100.0

Punting

Punts23
Punt Yards980
Long Punt71
Gross Average Punt Yards42.6
Net Average Punt Yards42.6
Punts Blocked0
Punts Inside 207
Touchbacks3
Fair Catches9
Punt Returns10
Punt Return Yards0
Average Punt Return Yards0.0

Scoring

Rushing Touchdowns10
Receiving Touchdowns6
Return Touchdowns1
Total Touchdowns17
Field Goals2
Kick Extra Points18
Total Two Point Conversions0
Total Points132
Total Points Per Game26.4
ESPN · Last available snapshot Oct 12, 7:42 AM UTC · Source refresh pendingData methodology